US Open
The US Open closes the Grand Slam season, running from 30 August to 13 September 2026 at Flushing Meadows. It is the fastest and loudest of the four majors, and the 15-day format used since 2025 gives the top seeds an extra day of recovery in the opening week.
Key Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Qualifying | 24 to 27 August |
| Main draw begins | Sunday 30 August |
| Women’s final | Saturday 12 September |
| Men’s final | Sunday 13 September |
| Venue | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York |
Note the Sunday start. The main draw began on Sunday 30 August, not the Monday, which is a change some calendars still get wrong.
The Men: No Sinner, and Alcaraz Back
Jannik Sinner is not here. The world No. 1 withdrew on 21 August with the right knee problem that had already forced him out of Cincinnati, saying he had returned to court but needed more recovery time. It is the first Grand Slam he has missed since 2019, and he was the 2024 champion and last year’s runner-up, so a large block of ranking points goes with him. Alexander Zverev becomes the top seed in his absence.
Carlos Alcaraz is here, and that is the other half of the story. The defending champion has confirmed he will play, ending a four-month absence with the wrist injury that cost him Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, the National Bank Open and Cincinnati. He starts his defence without a hard-court match behind him, which is a genuine unknown — but a tournament that looked like it might lose both of its biggest names has kept one of them.
The Women: Sabalenka Chasing Three
Aryna Sabalenka tops the rankings and is going for a third consecutive US Open title, something no woman has managed since Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014. Her Cincinnati build-up ended in the last 16 against Sara Bejlek. New York suits her better than any other major: the court speed rewards first-strike tennis and asks fewer questions of her movement.
Coco Gauff, Iga Świątek and Elena Rybakina are the most credible opposition.
The British Interest
Thinner than usual. Emma Raducanu, champion here in 2021, has withdrawn with a grade-four stress fracture in her right leg, and Jack Draper missed the cut for direct entry, entered qualifying, then withdrew before playing with the bone bruising in his left arm that has troubled him for over a year. That leaves nine Britons in the main draw: Cameron Norrie, Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery, Jan Choinski, Toby Samuel and Harry Wendelken in the men’s draw, with Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart and Francesca Jones in the women’s. The cut-off for direct entry was No. 101 for the men and No. 102 for the women.
Mixed Doubles in Qualifying Week
The revamped mixed doubles event is again staged during qualifying week rather than alongside the main draw, and it has attracted a far stronger field than the old format did.
How to Watch in the UK
Sky Sports Tennis holds the exclusive UK rights and shows the tournament through to both finals, with streaming via NOW. Full detail is in our US Open live stream guide.
Predict the Draw Yourself
The full 128-player draw is loaded into our free bracket predictor, exactly as it was made on 27 August. Pick every match from the first round to the final, lock the calls you trust and simulate the rest, then crown your champion and share the whole bracket in one link.
Predict the men’s draw (ATP) → · Predict the women’s draw (WTA) →
FAQ
US Open FAQs
When is the US Open 2026?
The main draw runs from Sunday 30 August to Sunday 13 September 2026, with qualifying from 24 to 27 August.
Who are the defending champions?
Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka. Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in the 2025 men’s final and Sabalenka beat Amanda Anisimova in the women’s.
Are Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper playing?
Raducanu is out. She withdrew with a grade-four stress fracture in her right leg. Draper missed the cut for direct entry to the main draw and entered qualifying but withdrew before playing, with the long-standing bone bruising in his left arm.
What time are the US Open finals in the UK?
Both finals are afternoon sessions in New York, which puts them in the UK evening. The women’s final is on 12 September and the men’s on 13 September.
More Coverage
See our US Open predictions, betting tips, prize money breakdown and qualifying guide. Full coverage sits on our US Open hub · Sinner withdraws, every event we follow is in the tournaments index, and the dates are in the 2026 tennis calendar.