US Open 2026: Schedule, Key Contenders, and Prize Money Breakdown

Update: 29 August 2026, 3:40:53 PM

The 2026 US Open main draw begins this Sunday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. As the season’s fourth and final Grand Slam, the tournament brings together the world’s elite tennis stars and emerging talents, though several notable players will be absent due to injury.

The mixed doubles competition has already concluded, with the Czech duo of Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik securing the title on Wednesday night after defeating Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.

Tournament Schedule

Women’s singles semifinals: September 10
Men’s singles semifinals: September 11
Women’s final: September 12
Men’s final: September 13
Quarterfinals (Men’s and Women’s): September 8

World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the tournament, stating he is “very sad and disappointed” as he continues to recover from a right knee injury sustained during his Wimbledon victory. His absence means fans will miss the anticipated “Sincaraz” rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz, the defending champion, returns to the court after a four-month absence due to a wrist injury. Other high-profile absentees include Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, Britain’s Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu, Victoria Mboko, and Hailey Baptiste.

Novak Djokovic, currently ranked world number five, is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title. Despite struggling with the humidity in Cincinnati, the 39-year-old remains a major threat after reaching the Australian Open final and Wimbledon semifinals this year. Meanwhile, Roger Federer has confirmed he is not making a comeback, with his recent New York appearance serving as an exhibition ahead of his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

On the women’s side, Coco Gauff is looking to repeat her 2023 success, though she faces stiff competition from top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and world number two Elena Rybakina. Jessica Pegula, the oldest player in the top 10, remains a strong contender on home soil, while teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva enters the tournament at a career-high ranking of world number five. Additionally, Alex Eala of the Philippines is a player to watch following her breakthrough maiden WTA title in Washington.

The tournament also features several notable wildcards. Serena and Venus Williams have received a doubles wildcard, marking their return to the event where they previously won titles in 1999 and 2009. Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 champion, was also granted a late wildcard entry following significant fan support. The report also notes that the season of Honey Deuce cocktails at Flushing Meadows is upon us as the 2026 US Open main draw gets under way in New York this Sunday. The report also notes that here’s everything you need to know about the US Open main draw. The report also notes that the Italian pulled out of hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati that serve as a warm-up for the US Open. The report also notes that serena and Venus Williams receive doubles wildcard: The 23-time Grand Slam champion received a women’s doubles wildcard alongside older sister Venus. The report also notes that winning in 1999 and 2009, they have played together at the US Open nine times. The report also notes that 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka handed last-minute wildcard: The former world number three was left off the initial list of wildcard entries in his farewell season, but was handed the entry on Wednesday after several days of outcry from fans over his exclusion. The report also notes that teen sensation Moise Kouame makes US Open debut: The 17-year-old made history at this year’s French Open when he became the youngest male Grand Slam winner in 17 years. The report also notes that however, the Frenchman’s US Open debut ended in the qualifying round after defeat to Nishesh Basavareddy of the US.