The United States Tennis Association has officially released the direct entry lists for the 2026 US Open, with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner headlining the men's and women's fields respectively.
Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion at Flushing Meadows, tops the WTA rankings and will be chasing a historic third consecutive title in New York. No woman has achieved that feat since Serena Williams dominated from 2012 to 2014. The Belarusian powerhouse arrives as the overwhelming favourite, having firmly established herself as the world's premier player on hard courts.
On the men's side, Sinner enters as the ATP No. 1 following his Wimbledon triumph over Alexander Zverev in July — his fifth Grand Slam title. The Italian will be looking to reclaim the US Open crown he won in 2024, which Carlos Alcaraz claimed from him in last year's final. Despite missing the past two majors with a wrist injury, Alcaraz (world No. 3) is entered in the field and is expected to return to competition during the North American hard-court swing.