US Open 2026 WTA Preview

The 2026 ATP & WTA Season has proved to be spectacular thus far. With a brand new champion on the WTA side for the first three majors of the year, the stage is set for a climactic finish to the WTA Grand Slam season. Check out our ATP Preview here.

Aryna Sabalenka’s slam season has been somewhat marred. Though the defending champ has had a firm grip on the number one ranking all season long, she has not made a slam final since her loss to Elena Rybakina in Australia. But her season has still been strong, as she’s still managed to capture three titles this year, including the Sunshine Double combo of Indian Wells and Miami. As the two-time defending champ, Aryna looks to become the first woman to threepeat at a Slam since Iga Swiatek in 2024 and the first on a hard court since Serena Williams at the US Open in 2014.

Though it took her a while to do so, Iga Swiatek captured her first title of 2026 at the National Bank Open at Toronto in mid-August, defeating Elena Rybakina to cap off a stellar week. Iga’s 2026 has been lower than her usual standards, with her failing to advance past the quarterfinal stage at any of the first three slams of the year; the first time she’s not managed to do so since 2021. However as far as hard courts are concerned, the slower playing speed in New York will play to Iga’s strengths, as her game is built more around elite movement and defense. Look for a reinvigorated Swiatek to make a deep run at a tournament where she is a former champion.

Coco Gauff is no longer the future of American women’s tennis; she’s its face. After winning her maiden slam here three summers ago and taking home the trophy at the French Open last year, Gauff has settled in consistently in the top 5 of the WTA. After having a match point in the semifinals of Wimbledon this year, Gauff shook off the disappointment with a strong showing to the semifinals of Toronto (l. to Rybakina). Always proving to be a tough out with her world-class defense and counterpunching, look for Gauff to trouble any opponent unfortunate enough to be drawn in her section. Can Coco become the first American woman to win multiple slams at the same event since the Williams sisters? Gauff stormed through the field at the Cincinnati Open, taking home the trophy ahead of the US Open for the second time in her career. The last time she won this title she backed it up with bringing home the US Open trophy, can she pull it off again?

Elena Rybakina silenced those who proclaimed her as a “one-slam-wonder” earlier this year in January when she took home the Australian Open trophy after being down 0-3 in the final set. Her remarkable form has continued in this year, with a title on indoor clay in Stuttgart, and several finals to back up her 41 wins on the year (second only to Jessica Pegula). Heading into the US Open, Rybakina currently holds the top spot in the race to the WTA finals, a tournament where she is the defending champion. On top of that, Rybakina leads the WTA tour with 338 aces on the season, far above Linda Noskova’s second-place with 261. When Rybakina is finding her A-game she is nigh unplayable. Look for a deep run if Rybakina can maintain her serving form and stay healthy. Her injury retirement in Cincinnati poses some concerns though, so be on the lookout for an early round upset.

While an American man hasn't won a major singles title since 2003, American women's tennis has never fallen off and has been some of the strongest in the world for decades. Currently, 15% of the WTA's Top 100 is comprised of Americans. There are a whole host of American women who are more than capable of taking home a Slam title.

Take Amanda Anisimova for example, a two-time Slam finalist last year. Though her year hasn't been comparitively as strong, look for Anisimova to back up her run last year with a good draw. With her big-hitting game, Anisimova is capable of blowing anyone off the court. As is Madison Keys, who has already claimed one major title, defeating the at-the-time world number two and one back-to-back in the semifinals and finals of the Australian Open in 2025. Don't forget about Jessica Pegula either, a finalist here two years ago (l. to Sabalenka), who has posted a very strong summer, with a finals run in DC, a semifinal run in Toronto, and another finals run in Cincinnati. Pegula's consistent game and steady nature make her a frustrating opponent for anyone to play against. Be sure to be on the lookout for some upsets too coming from any one of the following: Ann Li, Peyton Stearns, McCartney Kessler, and Taylor Townsend (who is surely wanting to avenge her finals loss in doubles last year).

And then there's Serena. While she suffered a knee issue during a close first-round loss to Maya Joint at Wimbledon, Serena Williams looked stronger physically in her return to court alongside her sister Venus in doubles at the Cincinnati Open. Officially confirmed for a blockbuster mixed doubles pairing with Carlos Alcaraz, look for Serena to continue to fine-tune her game ahead of a possible doubles pairing with Venus for one last ride.

It seems like each and every year the WTA is witness to a whole host of extremely talented young players, oftentimes seamlessly making the leap into professional competition at a much younger age than their ATP counterparts.