The
The women's tour is similarly wide open, characterized by a four-way race for the world No. 1 ranking. Aryna Sabalenka, who dominated the early months of the year, has seen her form dip recently, opening the door for rivals like Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and
Men's Contenders and the Shadow of Injury
Carlos Alcaraz enters the tournament as the betting favorite at +250, though his path is fraught with uncertainty. After a strong start to the year, his recovery from a wrist injury has been cautious, and his lack of recent competitive match play at the best-of-five level remains a significant question mark. Should he falter, Alexander Zverev (+300) stands as a primary challenger. The French Open champion has been a consistent force in hard-court Slams, reaching the semifinals in six of his last 12 appearances on the surface.
Novak Djokovic (+700) continues to defy age, though his 2026 campaign has been marked by a reduced schedule and inconsistent results. Despite a disappointing exit in Cincinnati, his track record at major events suggests he cannot be discounted. Meanwhile, American hopes are pinned on Ben Shelton (+900) and Taylor Fritz (+1200). Shelton has enjoyed a breakthrough 2026 with a 76% win rate on hard courts, while Fritz has found late-summer form, reaching three finals in his last six events.
Women's Draw: A Battle for Supremacy
Coco Gauff (+500) enters the US Open with significant momentum following a dominant summer hard-court swing, including a title run in Cincinnati. Her ability to rebound from setbacks makes her a formidable contender for her third career Slam. Iga Swiatek (+550) remains a statistical anomaly; while her return game is arguably the most intimidating on tour, her success at the biggest stages has been inconsistent despite her high volume of lopsided set victories.
The draw also features the return of Naomi Osaka (+1000), who has shown flashes of her championship-winning form throughout the summer. Elena Rybakina (+1100) remains a major threat for the No. 1 ranking, provided she can manage the ankle injury that forced her withdrawal from recent mixed doubles events. As the tournament begins, the absence of legends like Serena Williams and the late-career swan song of Stan Wawrinka add layers of narrative to an event that remains, as always, a collection of 256 unique stories.
