With World No. 1 Jannik Sinner unable to compete with a knee injury, Alexander Zverev is the No. 1 seed in the U.S. Open men’s singles draw.
It was more predictable on the women’s side, as World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka received the top seed. The United States Tennis Association released both draws Thursday.
Zverev, the German who won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June, will face Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the first round in New York. If seeds hold, he would face No. 6 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia in the quarterfinals, and Zverev’s on the same side of the draw as Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, the defending champion, is the No. 2 seed for his first singles event since injuring his right wrist in April. Alcaraz teamed up with Serena Williams for the U.S. Open mixed doubles event earlier this week, winning one match before losing their second.
The Spanish star will face Russia’s Roman Safiullin in the first round. No. 8 seed Ben Shelton looms as a potential quarterfinal foe, and they’re on the same side of the draw as No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia and No. 7 Daniil Medvedev of Russia.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, heads to New York to defend the only Grand Slam title she won in 2025. The Belarus native, who also won the U.S. Open in 2024, will face Camila Osorio of Colombia in the first round.
Sabalenka is on the same side of the draw as No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, who will resume her quest for her first Grand Slam title, and 2026 Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, the No. 6 seed.
On the other side of the draw, No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan could meet No. 8 Iga Swiatek of Poland in a quarterfinal showdown. Also on that side of the draw are No. 4 seed Coco Gauff and No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva, the French Open champion from Russia.
Rybakina will play Thea Frodin, Pegula will open against Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania and Gauff will face Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey in the first round.
Main-draw action begins on Sunday and runs through Sept. 13.
–Field Level Media
