Carlos Alcaraz's return to tennis immediately commands the spotlight as the US Open draw delivers a fascinating roadmap toward the season's final Grand Slam championship. After time away from competition with a wrist injury, the seven-time major champion arrives in New York in defense of last year's hard-court title with questions about his ability to rediscover his dominance quickly. Alcaraz's placement headlines a loaded men's bracket despite the recent withdrawal of Jannik Sinner (knee), filled with dangerous early-round opponents and emerging contenders eager to capitalize.
The women's draw carries similar intrigue, with several title threats facing difficult paths through the opening week at Flushing Meadows. Draw day always boasts potential blockbuster matchups in the later rounds and Alcaraz's comeback adds another layer of suspense. If his body and timing cooperate, the sport's most electric star could quickly turn this tournament into his own welcome-back celebration under the lights.
No American man has won a major since Andy Roddick beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in the 2003 US Open final. Taylor Fritz's trip to the US Open final in 2024 was the closest an American man has come to ending the streak in two decades. Fritz is the second highest-seeded American in the men's draw at No. 9, behind eight-seeded Ben Shelton.
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka is the No. 1 seed on the women's side and beat American Amanda Anisimova in last year's tournament final, 6-3 7-6 (7-3). Sabalenka has four career slams, but has not captured a major this year. American Coco Gauff, who's seeded fourth, won the US Open in 2023 and beat Jessica Pegula in straights on Sunday in Cincinnati to win her first title of 2026.
Gauff lost to Karolina Muchova in the Wimbledon semifinals earlier this summer in her best majors showing of the season. Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Rinky Hijikata The rest of the seeded-women's draw as follows
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