Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Alcaraz Draws Djokovic Half as Sabalenka Chases US Open Three-Peat
The US Open tennis tournament has announced its matchups.
Carlos Alcaraz, the defending men’s champion, is coming back after missing months because of a wrist injury.
He will first play Roman Safiullin.
His side of the draw also includes Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.
Djokovic is trying to win his 25th Grand Slam title.
In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed and defending champion.
She will start against Camila Osorio and hopes to win the tournament for a third year in a row.
Other strong players, including Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina, could make the tournament difficult for her.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returns from a wrist injury to face Roman Safiullin in the US Open first round.
Alcaraz shares the men’s bottom half with Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and other former champions.
Four-time champion Djokovic begins against Mariano Navone while pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka opens against Camila Osorio and is seeking a third consecutive US Open championship.
Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev also face demanding potential routes through their respective draws.
- Who
- Defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, along with Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Coco Gauff and other leading players.
- What
- The US Open draw has placed the defending champions on challenging potential routes to the final.
- When
- The draw was announced Thursday, ahead of the US Open; Alcaraz is returning after a reported layoff of more than four months, described elsewhere as five months.
- Where
- The matches will be played at the US Open in New York.
- Why
- The draw determines the players’ possible opponents as they pursue the title, with Alcaraz returning from injury and Sabalenka seeking a historic three-peat.
- Alcaraz’s opener
- Roman Safiullin
- Djokovic’s opener
- Mariano Navone
- Sabalenka’s opener
- Camila Osorio
- Djokovic’s target
- A record 25th Grand Slam title
- Sabalenka’s goal
- A third consecutive US Open title
- Alcaraz’s injury
- A wrist injury that kept him out of singles action for more than four months; the report also describes the layoff as five months
- Potential Alcaraz semifinal
- Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe or Brandon Nakashima