The 2026 US Open entry list has thrown up some major talking points, with former top-10 player Jack Draper and veteran Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov both failing to earn direct main draw spots at Flushing Meadows.
Draper, who began the year ranked No. 10 in the world, has tumbled to No. 147 following a nightmare injury-plagued season. An arm problem cost him the Australian Open, a knee issue ruled him out of Roland Garros preparations, and his persistent arm injury ultimately kept him away from Wimbledon too. With only 13 top-level matches played this year, the slide in the rankings was almost inevitable. He does have upcoming chances to recover points, with appearances scheduled at the Washington DC Open and the Brownsburg ATP 75 Challenger.
Dimitrov, currently sitting at No. 142, endured a difficult first half of the season, losing in the first round at Melbourne and failing to navigate qualifying at Roland Garros. A Wimbledon wildcard did yield a fourth-round run, though he was stopped there by British talent Arthur Fery.
Fery himself is the feel-good story of this entry list. His stunning Wimbledon run, which ended at the semi-final stage, rocketed him into the top 40. That surge means the British No. 1 has earned his first-ever direct Grand Slam entry, a remarkable milestone after four previous Wimbledon appearances all came via wildcards.
Heading the entry list is world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, followed by Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic, among other tour heavyweights. Stan Wawrinka, who has announced he will retire after the 2026 season, misses the cut at No. 118.
TennisDraw users will want to factor these seeding and entry details into their US Open bracket predictions as the draw approaches.
