Headline: US Open 2026 Set to Begin with Major Highlights and Record Prize Money
The US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year, is set to kick off on Sunday, August 30, with extensive coverage available across the BBC. The world’s leading tennis players will converge in New York, competing not only for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles but also for record prize money.
Among the key attractions this year is the return of Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles, as well as a much-anticipated doubles reunion for sisters Serena and Venus Williams.
When is the US Open 2026?
The main draw of the US Open begins on Sunday, August 30, and runs through to the men’s singles final on Sunday, September 13, with the women’s final scheduled for the day before. Qualifying matches for both the men’s and women’s singles events commenced on Monday and will conclude on Friday, with play cancelled on Thursday due to rain. The mixed doubles competition, now a standalone two-day event since 2025, held earlier this week was won by Czech duo Jakub Mensik and Karolina Muchova, who secured a title and $1 million in prize money.
Who won the US Open in 2025?
In 2025, Carlos Alcaraz claimed the men’s singles title, overcoming Italian competitor Jannik Sinner with a scoreline of 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka claimed the women’s singles title after defeating American Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). The men’s doubles title went to Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos, while Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe triumphed in the women’s event. Additionally, Japan’s Tokito Oda and Yui Kamiji took home the wheelchair singles titles.
How to follow on the BBC
The BBC Sport website will provide live text commentary, reports, features, and analysis during the two-week event. BBC Radio 5 Live Sport will broadcast daily commentary live from the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, featuring tennis correspondent Russell Fuller alongside commentators Katie Smith, Abigail Johnson, and David Law. Additionally, podcasts summarizing the major stories from the tournament can be found by searching “tennis” on BBC Sounds.
No Raducanu or Draper – which British players are taking part?
British singles contenders Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper will not participate in the US Open. Raducanu is still recovering from a stress fracture incurred during the grass-court season, which also forced her withdrawal from Wimbledon. Draper is sidelined due to a long-term arm injury that has impeded his progress since he reached the semi-finals in 2024. Cameron Norrie, the current British number one, arrives with strong recent performances, while Wimbledon semi-finalist Arthur Fery and Jan Choinski join him in the men’s draw. Jacob Fearnley, Toby Samuel and Harry Wendelken are one win away from securing their spots after winning their initial qualifying matches. Katie Boulter will represent in the women’s draw, with Heather Watson and Harriet Dart competing to join her.
Who are the in-form players for the US Open?
The anticipated rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner remains on hold, as the pair have not faced each other at a Grand Slam since the Australian Open in January. Alcaraz missed both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a wrist issue, while Sinner has been ruled out due to a knee problem, following his July victory at Wimbledon.
As Alcaraz aims for his 25th Grand Slam title, several players will look to capitalize on Sinner’s absence. In the women’s category, world number one Sabalenka seeks to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win the title for three consecutive years, although her recent form has been inconsistent.
Who are the US Open top seeds?
The men’s and women’s singles draws were revealed on Thursday, August 27. In the first round, Alcaraz will face Roman Safiullin from Russia, while Sabalenka is set to play against Colombia’s Camila Osorio.
What is the US Open prize money?
The US Open will offer the largest prize fund in Grand Slam history this year, totaling $108 million (£79.2 million), representing a 20% increase from last year. Each singles champion will receive $5.5 million (£4.03 million), a 10% rise from 2025. First-round losers will take home $140,000 (£102,667), marking a $30,000 and 27% increase from the previous year.
What is the doubles schedule?
Mixed doubles events ran from August 24 to 26, where Muchova and Mensik teamed up for their first victory. The women’s doubles competition will begin on Thursday, September 3, with the men’s event starting the following day.
US Open 2026 schedule
- 30 August – 1 September: Men’s and women’s singles first round
- 2-3 September: Men’s and women’s singles second round
- 3 September: Men’s doubles begins
- 4-5 September: Men’s and women’s singles third round
- 4 September: Women’s doubles begins
- 6-7 September: Men’s and women’s singles fourth round
- 8 September: Wheelchair doubles begins
- 8-9 September: Men’s and women’s singles quarter-finals
- 9 September: Wheelchair singles begins
- 10 September: Women’s singles semi-finals
- 11 September: Men’s singles semi-finals, wheelchair doubles finals
- 12 September: Women’s singles final, men’s doubles final, wheelchair singles finals
- 13 September: Men’s singles final
The fourth and final Grand Slam of the year is approaching, with the US Open getting under way on Sunday – and there is comprehensive coverage across the BBC.
The world’s top players will gather in New York where, in addition to one of the sport’s major prizes, record prize money is on line.
Advertisement
From the return of entertainer Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles to an eagerly anticipated doubles reunion for Serena and Venus Williams, here is all you need to know.
When is the US Open 2026?
The US Open main draw begins on Sunday, 30 August.
The 15-day hard court tournament concludes with the men’s singles final on Sunday, 13 September, with the women’s a day before.
Qualifying for the men’s and women’s singles events started on Monday and will conclude on Friday, after play was cancelled on Thursday due to rain.
The mixed doubles competition, which became a standalone two-day competition in 2025, took place earlier in the week.
Advertisement
Czech pair Jakub Mensik and Karolina Muchova walked away with the title and $1m in prize money.
Who won the US Open in 2025?
Spain’s Alcaraz defeated Italian rival Jannik Sinner 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 to win the US Open men’s singles title last year.
The women’s singles title was won by Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who beat American Amanda Anisimova 6-3 7-6 (7-3).
The men’s doubles competition was won by Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentine Horacio Zeballos, while Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe won the women’s event.
Japan’s Tokito Oda and Yui Kamiji won the men’s and women’s wheelchair singles titles respectively, while Dutchman Niels Vink took the men’s quad wheelchair title.
Advertisement
How to follow on the BBC
The BBC Sport website will bring you live text commentaries, reports, features and analysis across the fortnight.
BBC Radio 5 Live Sport will provide daily commentaries live from the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York across BBC Sounds.
Tennis correspondent Russell Fuller will be joined by fellow commentators Katie Smith, Abigail Johnson and David Law, plus summarisers Annabel Croft, Pat Cash, Daniela Hantuchova, Mark Woodforde and Leon Smith.
There will also be podcasts recapping the biggest stories from of the tournament – just search ‘tennis’ on BBC Sounds to find it.
Advertisement
No Raducanu or Draper – which British players are taking part?
Arthur Fery will be making his US Open main-draw debut [Getty Images]
Two of Britain’s big hopes in the singles competitions – Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper – have announced they will not compete at the US Open.
Former US Open winner Raducanu is continuing her recovery from a stress fracture.
The 23-year-old sustained the injury during the grass-court season and was forced to make a late decision to pull out of Wimbledon.
Meanwhile, Draper, a semi-finalist in 2024, has withdrawn because of the long-term arm injury that has stalled his progress.
The 24-year-old former British number one was ranked inside the world’s top five when he suffered bone bruising in his left serving arm and has played just 16 matches in the past 12 months.
Advertisement
British number one Cameron Norrie arrives in good form after reaching the semi-finals in Los Cabos and fourth round in Montreal.
He is joined in the men’s draw by Wimbledon semi-finalist Arthur Fery and Jan Choinski.
Jacob Fearnley, Toby Samuel and Harry Wendelken are one win away from joining them after winning their first two qualifying matches.
Katie Boulter is in the women’s draw, while Heather Watson and Harriet Dart will go head-to-head in a bid to join her in the final round of qualifying.
Who are the in-form players for the US Open?
Carlos Alcaraz (right) beat Jannik Sinner in last year’s US Open final [Getty Images]
The wait for the return of the exciting rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner goes on.
Advertisement
Sinner and Alcaraz produced a clean sweep of the Grand Slam titles in both 2024 and 2025, winning four majors apiece in a duopoly which has morphed into a generational duel.
But the pair have not played at the same Grand Slam since January’s Australian Open.
Alcaraz was forced to miss the French Open and Wimbledon because of a wrist problem, while a knee issue has ruled Sinner out of the US Open.
Sinner has not competed since he lifted his fifth career Grand Slam singles title by beating Alexander Zverev at the All England Club in July.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, made his return to competitive action alongside American great Serena in the mixed doubles competition in New York on Tuesday, reaching the quarter-finals.
Advertisement
Novak Djokovic will be bidding for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title, while a host of players will be looking to take advantage of Sinner’s absence.
In the women’s event, world number one Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win the title three years in a row.
However, Sabalenka is in shaky form, with her top ranking also under threat.
Elena Rybakina – who beat Sabalenka to win the Australian Open in January – will become number one if she reaches the semi-finals regardless of other results.
Rybakina can become number one without playing a match provided Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff do not win the title.
Advertisement
One of the big occasions at this year’s tournament will be the return of the Williams sisters in a Grand Slam doubles competition.
Serena and Venus have been given a wildcard for the women’s doubles, and 46-year-old Venus will also play singles in New York.
Who are the US Open top seeds?
The draws for the men’s and women’s singles competitions at the US Open took place on Thursday, 27 August.
Alcaraz faces Russia’s Roman Safiullin in the first round while Sabalenka will play Colombia’s Camila Osorio.
The top seeds in the men’s draw are:
The top seeds in the women’s draw are:
Advertisement
What is the US Open prize money?
The US Open is this year offering the biggest prize fund in Grand Slam history with a total of $108m (£79.2m) up for grabs – marking a 20% increase on last year.
The singles’ champions will receive $5.5m (£4.03m) each in a 10% increase on 2025.
First-round losers will take home $140,000 (£102,667) – which is $30,000 and 27% more than last year.
The prize pool includes a $2m (£1.47m) contribution to a welfare fund, which leading players have been demanding from all the Grand Slams.
What is the doubles schedule?
The mixed doubles took place from 24-26 August.
Muchova and Mensik paired up for the first time to win the mixed doubles title, beating Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic in the final.
Advertisement
The tournament’s revamped mixed doubles format has attracted criticism for favouring the allure of the sport’s top singles stars at the expense of established doubles players.
But the crowds turned out and produced a terrific atmosphere for the tournament’s headline act, Alcaraz and Williams, with about 15,000 people watching inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The women’s doubles begins on Thursday, 3 September, and the men’s event gets under way on Friday, 4 September.
US Open 2026 schedule
30 August-1 September: Men’s and women’s singles first round
2-3 September: Men’s and women’s singles second round
Advertisement
3 September: Men’s doubles begins
4-5 September: Men’s and women’s singles third round
4 September: Women’s doubles begins
6-7 September: Men’s and women’s singles fourth round
8 September: Wheelchair doubles begins
8-9 September: Men’s and women’s singles quarter-finals
9 September: Wheelchair singles begins
10 September: Women’s singles semi-finals
11 September: Men’s singles semi-finals, wheelchair doubles finals
12 September: Women’s singles final, men’s doubles final, wheelchair singles finals
13 September: Men’s singles final
[/gpt3]