On the women’s side, Sabalenka retains her status as the leading contender

Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka have been awarded the top seeds for the 2026 US Open, following the withdrawal of world number one Jannik Sinner due to a persistent knee injury. The announcement was made on August 27, 2026, in New York, where the tournament is set to begin later this week. Zverev, representing Germany, and Sabalenka, from Belarus, will now carry the expectations of being the highest-ranked players in their respective draws. The seeding adjustment comes after Sinner, who had held the ATP world number one spot for several months, was forced to withdraw from the Grand Slam event after failing to recover in time. His absence opens the path for Zverev to claim the men’s top seed, a position he has not held at a major since his runner-up finish at the 2020 US Open.

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On the women’s side, Sabalenka retains her status as the leading contender, having recently won the Australian Open and maintained consistent form throughout the summer hard-court season. How the Seeding Shift Affects Tournament Dynamics Zverev’s elevation to the top seed means he avoids potential early clashes with other elite players like Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, who are now seeded second and third respectively. This could provide him a more favorable route to the second week, though his recent form has been inconsistent, with early exits at Wimbledon and the Canadian Open. Sabalenka, meanwhile, faces a challenging bottom half of the draw that includes defending champion Coco Gauff and rising star Mirra Andreeva.

Her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game remain her biggest assets

Her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game remain her biggest assets, but she will need to improve her return game to counter varied opponents. Can Zverev Handle the Pressure of Being Top Seed? Despite his strong serve and improved mental resilience under new coaching, Zverev has struggled to convert deep runs into titles at Grand Slams outside of his 2020 final appearance. Analysts note that his ability to manage long matches and handle crowd pressure in Arthur Ashe Stadium will be critical. Sabalenka, on the other hand, has shown greater consistency in high-stakes matches, having won two Grand Slam titles in the past year. Her experience in tight semifinals and finals may give her an edge in navigating the latter stages. Frequently Asked Questions Why was Jannik Sinner unable to play?

Jannik Sinner withdrew due to a knee injury that did not heal sufficiently in time for the tournament, despite weeks of rest and rehabilitation. What does this mean for Zverev’s ranking? While Zverev gains the top seed at the US Open, his ATP world ranking remains unchanged; seeding is based on recent performance and tournament-specific criteria. Is Sabalenka the favorite to win the women’s draw? Sabalenka is among the favorites, but not the sole one—players like Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff also pose serious threats depending on draw placement and form.