Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner Lead 2026 US Open Entry Lists

Entry Lists and Qualifying Fields at the U.S. Open

The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) released the official direct entry lists on Tuesday, confirming the initial fields for the season’s final Grand Slam tournament. According to Wtatennis, the women’s field includes 104 direct entrants, with 16 spots reserved for qualifiers and eight additional places allocated for wild cards. The cutoff for direct entry was set at World No. 102 for women and No. 101 for men, based on the July 20 rankings from the WTA and ATP Tours, as reported by the Dailygazette.

While the entry list marks a significant milestone, it does not guarantee participation. Tenngrand notes that the lists merely confirm which players have signed on, leaving the door open for late withdrawals or changes in status. Among the notable names appearing on the list is Carlos Alcaraz, who is ranked No. 3. Alcaraz has been sidelined for nearly four months due to a wrist injury, having not competed since the Barcelona Open in April. Although he was recently cleared to resume tennis activities with the goal of returning for the North American hard-court swing, his exact status for the tournament remains uncertain.

Sabalenka’s Pursuit of History in New York

Aryna Sabalenka arrives in Flushing Meadows as the heavy favorite to claim her third straight U.S. Open title. Should she succeed, she would become the first woman to win three consecutive U.S. Open championships since Serena Williams accomplished the feat between 2012 and 2014, according to the Bryantimes. Sabalenka is currently the betting favorite at Kalshi, as noted by Yahoo, reflecting her dominant 39-4 hard-court record over the past year.

The women’s field is deep, featuring 29 of the top 30 players from the PIF WTA Rankings. Notable participants include Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, 2024 U.S. Open finalist Jessica Pegula, and 2023 winner Coco Gauff. Victoria Mboko is a significant absence from the initial list, as she continues to recover from a lower-body injury sustained at Queen’s Club.

Jannik Sinner and the Men’s Contenders

On the men’s side, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner enters the tournament as the favorite to secure his second U.S. Open title. Sinner, who recently won his fifth major championship at Wimbledon by defeating Alexander Zverev, is looking to reclaim the trophy he lost to Alcaraz in the 2025 final. According to Yahoo, Sinner has been particularly dominant on hard courts, posting a 55-5 record over the previous 52 weeks.

The men’s field also includes several players utilizing protected rankings, such as Filip Misolic, who rounded out the direct entry list at No. 101. In total, eight players—five women and three men—are using special or protected status to enter the main draw. As the tournament approaches, attention will shift to the USTA’s selection of wild card recipients, which the Eagletribune reports will be announced closer to the event’s start.

Tournament Logistics and Betting Outlook

The 2026 U.S. Open is scheduled to take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with the main draw beginning on Sunday, August 30. For those following the betting markets, tennis futures offer a look at the current expectations for the field.

While the field is set, the final composition of the 128-player singles draws remains subject to the results of qualifying tournaments held the week before the main event. With major names like Alcaraz and Holger Rune—who has been sidelined since October 2025 with an Achilles’ tendon rupture—still navigating their return timelines, the final weeks of the North American hard-court swing will be critical in determining who is healthy enough to compete in New York.