U.S. Open Entry List Confirms Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Gauff for 2026 Tournament
The United States leads all nations with 28 direct entries, while Aryna Sabalenka targets a historic third consecutive title in a draw determined by July rankings.
The official entry list for the 2026 U.S. Open, released on Tuesday, confirms a robust field of international contenders for the tournament scheduled to run from 23 August to 13 September. Reigning men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are confirmed in the men’s draw, while Coco Gauff features prominently in the women’s field. The entries were finalised based on the rankings published on 20 July, with direct entry cutoffs set at No. 102 for women and No. 101 for men.
Alcaraz returns to competitive play following a wrist injury that kept him off the tour since April. The seven-time Grand Slam champion is reportedly fully recovered and is expected to resume his season at the Cincinnati Open next month. Djokovic enters the tournament seeking his 25th Grand Slam singles title, a pursuit that would extend his record in the sport. Joining them in the men’s draw are World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, the two-time Wimbledon champion, and World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, the French Open winner.
On the women’s side, two-time U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka aims to secure a third consecutive title. A victory would make her the first woman to achieve this feat since Serena Williams, who won the title in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Williams, now 44, is not currently listed on the entry sheet but may be awarded a wild card in the coming month. She is joined in the field by World No. 2 Elena Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, and No. 4 Gauff.
The United States leads all nations in representation, with 28 players earning direct entry into the main draw, comprising 14 men and 14 women. American women are led by Pegula, Gauff, and No. 9 Amanda Anisimova. The men’s contingent includes Top-10 players Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, alongside Michael Zheng, a former Columbia University star who reached the third round at Wimbledon.
The overall field comprises 17 former Grand Slam singles champions, including 10 former U.S. Open winners. Eight players are utilising special or protected rankings, including Lois Boisson, Juncheng Shang, Irina-Camelia Begu, and Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Singles Main Draws are scheduled to begin on Sunday, 30 August, with the tournament concluding on 13 September.
