The final Grand Slam of the tennis season is almost upon us, with the US Open set to bring together the world’s best players. They will be meeting on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, and we can be sure that this will be yet another spectacle. Each year, the tournament offers memorable matches, stunning comebacks, and the odd surprise. However, this time around, there seem to be clear favourites.
The conditions in New York are also among the toughest on the ATP Tour, with high temperatures and humidity often becoming just as important as the quality of the opposition. That combination means favourites do not always have an easy route to the trophy, even if they arrive in top form.
Why Sinner Deserves Favourite Status
It has to be said that Jannik Sinner has been the outstanding player throughout much of 2026. The Italian has progressed by building on the success he had last season. We have seen him with consistently high standards in some of the biggest tournaments, and his ability on hard courts is hard to match. There’s no doubt that his serve has become more and more reliable, and opponents have few chances to break.
The betting markets clearly show what Sinner is capable of, with him being a clear favourite before the tournament gets underway. Anyone looking at tennis odds online will see that he is far ahead of the chasing pack. This is because he has shown few weaknesses over the last 12 months. Unless we see a dramatic drop in form or an injury has an impact, he will certainly be starting as the man that everyone else is trying to beat.
Another factor working in Sinner’s favour is his impressive record against many of his biggest rivals. He has repeatedly found solutions against players who previously caused him problems, giving him a psychological advantage that could become important during the closing stages of another Grand Slam.
Can Alcaraz Successfully Defend His Title?
Carlos Alcaraz can’t be overlooked. He is one of the most naturally gifted players in the sport, and he demonstrated that last season when he beat Sinner in the US Open final. He has speed, power, and creativity that come together to make him capable of producing performances that opponents just can’t match.
The only uncertainty here is his fitness. His season has been disrupted by a wrist injury, and that means he has had limited time to prepare. If he manages to appear in the tournament, it may well be that he hasn’t played enough competitive tennis this season to be at his best and challenge for the title.
If Alcaraz arrives fully fit, few would be surprised to see him reach another final. His ability to adapt during matches and produce spectacular winners from almost impossible positions means he is always capable of changing the direction of a contest within a few games.
Zverev and Djokovic Cannot Be Ignored
A look at the season that Alexander Zverev has had shows that it is perhaps the strongest of his career so far. His first serve is one of the best in the sport, and he has worked on his movements and consistency to become an even bigger challenge. Perhaps his biggest hurdle is his head-to-head form with Sinner: the Italian continues to have the upper hand whenever they meet.
While Novak Djokovic may be in the latter stages of his career, he certainly can’t be ignored. Grand Slam tennis is something where experience matters, more so in the second week. He understands how to manage his energy levels and to cope with increasing levels of pressure when it really matters. This all may matter more than just what the rankings are showing right now.
For those following the tournament through WePari, both players could offer value if the draw opens up or one of the leading favourites suffers an early exit. Neither would welcome facing Sinner at his very best, but both possess enough experience and quality to punish any dip in performance.
Prediction
Sinner deserves to begin the tournament as the favourite because he has combined consistency, confidence and outstanding hard court form throughout 2026. Zverev appears the most likely challenger if he can overcome his recent struggles against the Italian, while Alcaraz remains the biggest unknown because of his injury concerns. Djokovic should never be dismissed, particularly over five sets, and several younger players have the talent to produce surprise runs.
The US Open has a long history of producing unforgettable moments, but based on current form it is difficult to look beyond Sinner as the player most likely to leave New York with another Grand Slam title. If he maintains the standards he has produced for most of this season, the rest of the field will need something special to stop him.
