U.S. Open preview 2026: 30 tennis champions, contenders and rising stars to watch in New York

The 2026 U.S. Open begins Sunday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, featuring 30 players to watch across men's and women's draws. In the men's competition, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returns from a four-month wrist injury, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is absent with a knee injury, opening the door for Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, and top American players. On the women's side, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka enters on inconsistent form as the entire WTA top 10 boasts Grand Slam or WTA 1000 titles, making the field exceptionally competitive.