McEnroe's Bold Zverev Endorsement
With Jannik Sinner sidelined by a knee injury after claiming his fifth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, the 2026 US Open men's draw has cracked wide open. Tennis legend John McEnroe has stepped into the debate by naming Alexander Zverev as his favorite to lift the trophy at Flushing Meadows.
Speaking to Eurosport, McEnroe pointed to Zverev's physical conditioning and mental strength as decisive factors. The German, who claimed his first major at this year's French Open, endured early exits in both Montreal and Cincinnati, yet McEnroe remains convinced the results are misleading. "He is more confident than ever," McEnroe argued, adding that in best-of-five sets, Zverev becomes especially difficult to topple due to his remarkable fitness. McEnroe also highlighted that without Sinner in the draw, the path to the final looks considerably cleaner for Zverev.
Uncertainty Clouds Alcaraz and Djokovic
The two biggest question marks heading into the tournament hang over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz has not played a singles match in more than four months after suffering a wrist injury in April, making his readiness a genuine concern. Djokovic, meanwhile, has played just once since Wimbledon, losing in the opening round in Cincinnati.
McEnroe acknowledged the unpredictability this creates, noting that roughly ten players could realistically spring a surprise. On the TODAY show, he singled out American contenders Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe as players capable of capitalizing if Alcaraz struggles to regain full match sharpness.
TennisDraw users have been closely tracking Zverev's shifting odds, making him one of the most debated bracket picks heading into the tournament.
