The final Grand Slam of the 2026 tennis season is taking shape in New York, but the story is already bigger than the singles draw.
The US Open main draw begins August 30, while Fan Week and qualifying are getting underway ahead of the tournament. This year, the buildup has already produced several major talking points, from Serena Williams returning to Flushing Meadows to Jannik Sinner’s injury-forced withdrawal and Arthur Fils arriving in New York with the biggest title of his young career.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz create a blockbuster pairing
One of the biggest attractions of Fan Week will be the unlikely partnership of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz.
The two stars have received a wild card into the US Open mixed doubles championship, creating one of the most high-profile teams in the event. For Williams, it marks a return to competitive action at the US Open after her last appearance at Flushing Meadows in 2022.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and six-time US Open singles champion, announced her return to competitive tennis earlier this year after a four-year break. She also recently played doubles with her sister Venus Williams in Cincinnati.
For Alcaraz, the mixed doubles appearance adds another storyline to his return to the US Open. He is the reigning men’s singles champion, making the pairing with Williams one of the most anticipated attractions of Fan Week.
The mixed doubles competition has become a much bigger part of the US Open experience after organizers moved it into Fan Week and redesigned the event. The 2026 field includes several other major pairings, including Novak Djokovic with Aryna Sabalenka and Taylor Fritz with Jessica Pegula.
Arthur Fils arrives after a breakthrough in Cincinnati
While much of the attention is on established stars, Arthur Fils enters the US Open with serious momentum.
The 22-year-old Frenchman captured his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open on August 23, defeating American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 in the final.
Fils responded impressively after losing the second set. He regained control in the deciding set, using his aggressive baseline game and powerful serving to pull away from Tiafoe.
The victory represents a major step forward for Fils, particularly after a difficult period involving injuries. He now arrives in New York with the confidence that comes from beating a strong field and winning his first Masters 1000 championship.
The Cincinnati final itself was historic, as it was the first Masters 1000 men’s singles final between two Black players, adding another layer of significance to Fils’ breakthrough and Tiafoe’s run.
Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal changes the men’s picture
One of the biggest blows to the tournament came before the main draw even began.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open because of a right knee injury. The US Open confirmed the decision on August 21, saying the injury had already prevented Sinner from competing in Montreal and Cincinnati.
Sinner’s absence removes one of the biggest favorites from the men’s singles field and changes the competitive landscape in New York.
The timing is particularly significant because Sinner had won Wimbledon earlier this summer and was expected to be one of the central figures in another battle for Grand Slam supremacy. His withdrawal means the US Open will proceed without the world’s top-ranked men’s player.
It also puts greater attention on the players who remain in the draw, including Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, as well as rising contenders such as Fils.
The US Open story starts before the main draw
Although the US Open’s main singles competition does not begin until August 30, the tournament atmosphere is already building at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Fan Week combines qualifying, player appearances, practices and the revamped mixed doubles competition, giving fans several days of action before the traditional Grand Slam draw gets underway. The mixed doubles championship is scheduled during Fan Week, with qualifying, semifinals and the final taking place before the main singles tournament.
That means the 2026 US Open is already offering plenty of major storylines before the first singles champion is crowned.
Serena Williams’ return, her partnership with Alcaraz, Fils’ breakthrough victory in Cincinnati and Sinner’s withdrawal have given the tournament a dramatically different feel even before the opening day of the main draw.
A very different US Open awaits in New York
The absence of Sinner is a major change, but it also creates an opportunity for the rest of the men’s field.
Fils arrives with confidence after the biggest title of his career. Alcaraz has the spotlight of being the defending champion while also sharing the court with Williams in one of the tournament’s most talked-about events. Djokovic remains one of the most experienced Grand Slam contenders in the field.
Meanwhile, the women’s draw brings its own collection of major storylines, with Coco Gauff heading to New York after winning her second Cincinnati title by defeating Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4.
The US Open may not officially begin until August 30, but the headlines have already started in New York.
