A Field Without Its Usual Order
The 2026 US Open men's singles tournament is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who cruised to his second Wimbledon title earlier this season, is now sidelined with a knee injury and will not compete in New York. That absence alone would shake up the draw, but the uncertainty surrounding defending champion Carlos Alcaraz adds another dramatic layer to an already fascinating event.
Alcaraz has not played a competitive singles match since sustaining a serious wrist injury at the Barcelona Open back in April. The injury forced him to miss both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and he even had to abandon comeback plans at the Cincinnati Open just weeks ago. Despite all that, he arrived at Flushing Meadows and surprised many by entering the mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams earlier this week. His serve speed and forehand both looked below his usual standard, sparking fresh debate about his readiness for a best-of-five-set singles battle. Former champions Andy Roddick and Greg Rusedski have openly questioned the wisdom of returning at a Grand Slam, with Rusedski calling it a significant risk.
Djokovic Eyeing History
With Sinner out and Alcaraz's fitness in question, Novak Djokovic finds himself with a legitimate shot at history. The 39-year-old Serb is currently tied with Margaret Court at 24 Grand Slam singles titles, and a victory in New York would give him the record outright. However, Djokovic himself appeared to struggle physically during a second-round loss in Cincinnati, raising questions about how he will hold up in the heat of New York.
With so many storylines colliding at once, TennisDraw users have been split across multiple bracket picks heading into this wide-open draw.
