The 2026 US Open could be one of the most open in the men's singles for a number of years with world number one Jannik Sinner having been ruled out of the tournament through injury.
The Italian is suffering with a knee problem and will not feature at Flushing Meadows, but his long-term rival, Carlos Alcaraz, will be back in action, although he has not played on the ATP Tour in more than four months due to a long-term wrist injury.
Between them, Sinner and Alcaraz have won 10 of the last 11 Grand Slam titles, but with the former ruled out and the latter lacking match sharpness, the door could be open for someone else to get their name on the trophy.
Novak Djokovic won the last of his 24 Grand Slam titles at the 2023 US Open and he is still chasing a record 25th success in one of the big four events, while Alexander Zverev broke the Sinner/Alcaraz monopoly by triumphing at this year's French Open.
There is also plenty of American interest, with Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe also considered serious contenders to become the first US player to win their home Grand Slam since Andy Roddick 23 years ago.
2026 US Open ATP betting picks and predictions
Taylor Fritz to win US Open (+1000)
The bottom half of the draw is attracting plenty of headlines with Alcaraz and Djokovic on collision course to meet in the semi-finals, although former champion Daniil Medvedev, as well as the winners of the last two ATP Masters 1000 events, Shelton and Arthur Fils, may have a say in that.
While there is still quality in the top half of the draw, Zverev is the only former Grand Slam champion in the section and after following up his success at the French Open with a run to the Wimbledon final, he has to be considered a major contender.
However, preference is for Fritz to end America's 23-year wait for a US Open men's singles champion, with the 28-year-old fresh from landing his first title of 2026 at last month's Washington Open.
Fritz has pedigree at the US Open, beating Zverev and Tiafoe en route to reaching the final at Flushing Meadows in 2024 where he found Sinner too hot.
The Californian also reached the quarter-finals of his home slam in 2023 and 2025 and he should have no problems getting past American teenager Darwin Blanch in round one.
A fourth-round meeting with fifth-seed Flavio Cobolli could lie in wait - although the Italian has never been beyond round three in New York - while Fritz has a better head-to-head record against potential quarter-final opponent Felix Auger-Aliassime and Zverev, who he cannot face until the last four.
Whoever comes through the bottom half of the draw will no doubt have had to negotiate some gruelling encounters, so if he can get through, Fritz could finally land his elusive first Grand Slam title.
Arthur Fils to win fourth quarter (+350)
It has been a mixed year for Fils, with injuries forcing him to miss the first two Grand Slam events of the year, but he heads into this tournament off the back of his biggest victory of his career after beating Tiafoe in the Cincinnati Open final earlier this month.
The 22-year-old also saw off three other players in the world's top 20 in Jiri Lehecka, Alex de Minaur and Flavio Cobolli on his way to lifting that title and he should be confident of performing better than on his two previous US Open appearances when he failed to make it beyond the second round.
A tough first-round match against former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas awaits in the first round, but provided he can negotiate that contest, there are no obvious stumbling blocks until a potential fourth-round showdown with Shelton.
Fils triumphed in that pair's only previous meeting outdoors at the 2024 Japan Open Tennis Championships, a tournament he went on to win, and his victory in Cincinnati will give him belief that he can repeat that trick.
Alcaraz could await in the quarter-finals but even if the two-time US Open champion does make it that far, there are still going to be question marks given this is his first tournament appearance since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open in April, and Fils can exploit any rustiness.
This could be a breakout tournament for Fils, who after landing a first ATP Masters 1000 title, could now be set to enjoy a Grand Slam breakthrough as well.
2026 US Open ATP outright odds
Carlos Alcaraz | +220 |
Alexander Zverev | +275 |
Novak Djokovic | +650 |
Taylor Fritz | +1000 |
Ben Shelton | +1000 |
Arthur Fils | +1100 |
Rafael Jodar | +1200 |
Felix Auger Aliassime | +2500 |
Flavio Cobolli | +3300 |
Daniil Medvedev | +3300 |
Jakub Mensik | +3300 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
