The men’s side of the upcoming US Open is shaping up to be a thriller. In recent years, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic have maintained an iron grip on Grand Slam hardware. But this time, as the sport heads to New York, injuries and a lack of summer match play have created a beautiful, unpredictable situation, according to tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Patrick Mouratoglou Weighs In on 2026 US Open Men’s Draw After Sinner and Alcaraz’s Extended Absences
Alcaraz has confirmed that he will play at the US Open, while Sinner is also expected but has yet to confirm his participation after a knee injury forced him to withdraw from Cincinnati. However, both stars have spent significant time away from competition, raising questions about their form and making this year’s US Open particularly unpredictable.
“This US Open is probably one of the most interesting Grand Slams on the men’s side for I don’t know how long,” Mouratoglou stated in his Instagram reel. “The situation is unique, the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for quite a long time… that makes this Grand Slam incredibly exciting.”
While Alcaraz and Sinner remain the standard-bearers of the current era, having won three of the last four editions, stepping into 5-set matches in New York without warm-up tournaments is a massive challenge. Mouratoglou believes that opens a door for the rest of the tour and a few talented young players who have been making an impact on hard courts.
Mouratoglou highlighted the Canadian Open champion Ben Shelton, Arthur Fils, Jakub Mensik, Learner Tien, Rafael Jodar, and João Fonseca as players who could make a big statement at the US Open. “Those guys will have a chance if Alcaraz and Sinner are not at the level,” Mouratoglou said. “Those guys are potentially Grand Slam winners.”
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Just hours ago, Alcaraz confirmed his return to tennis after a four-month absence due to a right wrist injury. The seven-time Grand Slam champion copied soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano’s famous “Here we go” phrase, posting a photo with a US flag on X. The injury had forced him to miss several tournaments, including the French Open, Wimbledon, and Cincinnati.
Meanwhile, Sinner has not played since beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final to win the title for a second straight year. The Italian is currently dealing with right knee inflammation, which forced him to withdraw from both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open. His fitness remains a concern ahead of the US Open, and he has yet to confirm his participation.
The US Open is set to begin its main draw on August 30.
