Carlos Alcaraz will walk into Flushing Meadows as the defending champion and, on paper, the player most capable of lifting the US Open trophy again. But there is one major question hanging over the Spaniard: what version of Alcaraz will turn up in New York?
The 23-year-old has not played a competitive singles match since April, when a wrist injury brought his Barcelona Open campaign to an abrupt end. He subsequently missed the Madrid and Rome Masters, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the North American hard-court swing. His return will therefore come at the biggest possible stage, with no build-up tournament to help him rediscover his rhythm.
That makes Alcaraz the favourite, but not an unquestioned one. He has not played for nearly five months, and while his training has intensified in recent weeks, match sharpness is something that cannot be replicated on a practice court. Even his mixed-doubles appearance alongside Serena Williams in New York offered only a limited glimpse of where his competitive game currently stands.
Yet there is reason not to write him off.
ALCARAZ HAS SHOWN HE CAN WIN WITHOUT A BUILD-UP
Interestingly, Alcaraz has already provided evidence that a lack of competitive preparation does not necessarily translate into a poor Grand Slam campaign.
Before the Australian Open earlier this year, the Spaniard did not play an official warm-up tournament. He arrived in Melbourne without a conventional tournament build-up and proceeded to win the title, completing his career Grand Slam at just 22. It was a reminder of how quickly Alcaraz can find his level when the stakes rise.
The difference this time is the nature of the break. His Australian Open preparation followed an off-season, whereas this US Open return comes after a wrist injury and a prolonged spell away from the tour.
That distinction matters.
Alcaraz was 22-3 before his injury in 2026, winning the Australian Open and Doha. His quality before the layoff was never in question. The uncertainty is whether he can immediately reproduce that level against players who have spent the summer competing on hard courts.
SINNER’S ABSENCE GIVES DJOKOVIC A HUGE OPENING
If Alcaraz’s fitness and form create one layer of uncertainty, Jannik Sinner’s absence creates another.
The world No. 1 withdrew from the US Open because of a right knee injury after a remarkable season in which he went 44-3 and won six titles, including Wimbledon. Sinner’s absence removes the player who has beaten Djokovic in five of their last six meetings and eliminates one of the biggest obstacles between the Serbian and another major title.
For Djokovic, this could hardly have arrived at a better time.
Also Read: Djokovic, Alcaraz in same half of draw
The 39-year-old is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, but his recent form has hardly screamed certainty. His only competitive match since Wimbledon before the US Open came in Cincinnati, where he suffered a first-round defeat to Thiago Agustin Tirante. It was hardly the preparation the four-time US Open champion would have wanted.
But Djokovic has repeatedly shown that Grand Slams can bring out a different version of him.
He reached the Australian Open final earlier this year and the Wimbledon semi-finals, demonstrating that his ability to navigate seven matches over two weeks remains intact. With Sinner out and Alcaraz returning from injury, Djokovic has been handed an opportunity to find his feet when it matters most.
ZVEREV SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED
Then there is Alexander Zverev, perhaps the player who could quietly disrupt the Alcaraz-Djokovic narrative.
The German enters New York as the top seed after Sinner’s withdrawal and has already broken through for his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. He followed that with another major final at Wimbledon, where Sinner defeated him in four sets. In other words, Zverev has reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals.
That alone makes him impossible to overlook.
Zverev’s US Open history is also significant. He reached the final in 2020, losing to Dominic Thiem after holding a two-set lead, and has since made the semi-finals and multiple quarter-finals in New York. His recent hard-court form has been less convincing, with early defeats in Toronto and Cincinnati, but his serve and baseline game remain particularly dangerous on the surface.
With Alcaraz potentially rusty and Djokovic coming off an early Cincinnati exit, Zverev has a genuine chance to seize the opportunity.
THE DARK HORSES
Beyond the obvious names, the US Open field has enough firepower to make the tournament unpredictable.
Ben Shelton is an obvious candidate. The American has enjoyed an excellent hard-court summer and successfully defended his Canadian Open title, while Taylor Fritz remains a proven threat after reaching the 2024 US Open final. Both have the weapons to trouble the leading contenders, particularly with the home crowd behind them.
Daniil Medvedev is another player who cannot be ignored, particularly on hard courts. The former US Open champion is capable of absorbing enormous pressure from the baseline and turning matches into physical battles.
Alex de Minaur, meanwhile, could benefit enormously from the open nature of the draw. His consistency and movement make him a difficult opponent over five sets, while Arthur Fils arrives with momentum after winning Cincinnati and collecting several notable victories this season.
Even Stefanos Tsitsipas deserves a mention. The Greek has been rediscovering his form in 2026 and won his first title in 16 months at Gstaad before returning to the top 50. He is not among the primary favourites, but a confident Tsitsipas can still trouble the biggest names.
And that is what makes this US Open so fascinating.
Alcaraz has the status of defending champion and the talent to make the layoff irrelevant. Djokovic has perhaps his clearest opportunity yet to reach 25 majors. Zverev has the momentum of back-to-back Grand Slam finals. Behind them sits a group of hungry challengers waiting for one of the favourites to blink.
The question, then, is not simply whether Alcaraz can defend his crown.
It is whether his long absence makes him vulnerable enough for Djokovic, Zverev or one of the chasing pack to finally take advantage.
Where to watch US Open 2026 matches?
Star Sports Network has the broadcasting rights for US Open 2026. Live Streaming of the matches will be available on JioHotstar.
Men’s top seeds in US Open 2026
Alexander Zverev (Germany), Carlos Alcaraz (Spain), Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada), Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Flavio Cobolli (Italy), Alex de Minaur (Australia), Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton (USA), Taylor Fritz (USA), Arthur Fils (France)
– Ends
