With Sinner out, Alcaraz just back and Sabalenka struggling, the US Open feels truly open again
- No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner is sidelined, and Carlos Alcaraz is returning to defend his title after missing four months due to a right wrist injury sustained in April.
- Alcaraz and Sinner dominated last year's U.S. Open and the preceding major tournaments, meeting in the French Open and Wimbledon finals before facing each other in the U.S. Open final.
- Two-time defending U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has struggled recently, losing in the fourth round at Wimbledon and in hard-court tournaments since, putting her No. 1 ranking at risk.
- Multiple women players, including No. 3 Jessica Pegula, now have realistic chances to win the title, with Pegula noting there are no longer one or two super dominant players.
- Novak Djokovic is competing in the tournament, though he may be showing signs of age.
- The U.S. Open begins Sunday, with Pegula opening in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Djokovic leading the night session, followed by 46-year-old Venus Williams facing Sofia Kenin.
The 2026 U.S. Open men's and women's tournaments are shaping up to be more competitive than last year, with several top players either absent or struggling. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is sidelined, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is returning after a four-month absence due to a right wrist injury. Last year, Alcaraz and Sinner dominated the major tournaments, meeting in the French Open and Wimbledon finals before Sinner won the U.S. Open final, making the tournament feel predetermined.
On the women's side, two-time defending U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has experienced a summer slump, losing in the fourth round at Wimbledon and in subsequent hard-court tournaments. This recent poor form has put her No. 1 ranking in jeopardy. In contrast, multiple women players now have realistic chances to compete for the title, with No. 3 Jessica Pegula noting that there are no longer one or two super dominant players who seem destined to win.
The tournament begins Sunday with several notable matches scheduled, including Pegula's opening match in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Djokovic leading the night session. Novak Djokovic is also competing, though he may be showing signs of age. Despite the increased openness of the competition, American player Frances Tiafoe cautioned that winning still requires beating seven opponents, underscoring that the tournament remains highly competitive.
辛纳缺席、阿尔卡拉斯刚复出、萨巴伦卡表现不佳，美网重现开放局面
2026年美网男女赛事的竞争格局比去年更加开放，多位顶级选手要么缺席，要么表现不佳。世界排名第一的詹尼克·辛纳缺席，卫冕冠军卡洛斯·阿尔卡拉兹因右腕伤缺赛四个月后复出。去年，阿尔卡拉兹和辛纳统治了各大满贯赛事，先后在法网和温网决赛相遇，最终辛纳赢得美网决赛，使比赛显得结果已定。
女子方面，两届美网卫冕冠军阿琳娜·萨巴伦卡经历了夏季低迷，在温网第四轮和随后的硬地赛事中失利。这种近期的糟糕表现使她的世界第一排名面临威胁。相比之下，多位女选手现在都有现实的争冠机会，世界排名第三的杰西卡·佩古拉指出，不再有一两位绝对统治的选手似乎注定获胜。
赛事周日开始，多场值得关注的比赛已排定，包括佩古拉在亚瑟·阿什球场的开场比赛和德约科维奇领衔晚场。诺瓦克·德约科维奇也在参赛，尽管他可能显示出年龄的影响。尽管竞争变得更加开放，美国选手弗朗西斯·蒂亚福指出，获胜仍需击败七位对手，强调了赛事仍然竞争激烈。