VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — In this 1xBet review, we preview the US tournament and assess the prospects of the leading favorites in the men’s singles draw.
The main draw of the final Grand Slam of the season gets underway on August 30, with the men’s singles final scheduled for September 13. Compared with last year, the tournament’s total prize pool has increased by 21% to $108 million, an all-time record in tennis history. The winners of both singles events will receive $5.5 million and 2,000 ranking points each.
Will Carlos Alcaraz defend his title?
Just a few weeks ago, Jannik Sinner was considered the clear favorite to win the 146th US Open, with odds of 1.64 on his victory. At that time, Carlos Alcaraz, the Italian’s main rival, was ranked second in 1xBet’s long-term predictions with odds of 3.06. However, shortly before the start of the 2026 US Open, the world’s No. 1 player withdrew from the tournament.
Sinner’s withdrawal from this year’s US Open has slightly reshuffled the rankings of the top 5 contenders for the title:
- Carlos Alcaraz – 30% chance of winning.
- Alexander Zverev – 27%.
- Ben Shelton – 10%.
- Taylor Fritz – 9%.
- Rafael Jódar – 7%.
The title race is expected to come down to Alcaraz and Zverev, who are positioned in opposite halves of the draw. However, the Spaniard is heading into his title defense far from his best physical condition. The reigning US Open champion suffered a serious injury in mid-spring and spent more than four months off the court. In late August, Carlos teamed up with Serena Williams for two mixed doubles matches at the US Open. In the short tournament played under a revamped format, the star duo won their Round of 16 game but bowed out in the quarterfinals.
A lack of competitive match practice could prove costly for Carlos. Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, has even advised him against returning to tournaments featuring best-of-five-set matches, where a game can last 3 to 4 hours even in the early rounds. Add to that the prospect of playing every day in the high temperatures and humidity typical of New York in early fall. The Carlos we see now is likely a very different player from the one who was competing before his wrist injury.
How will Zverev respond?
Alexander has a more favorable path to the final than Carlos Alcaraz. This year, the Italian-Spanish dominance of men’s tennis was disrupted, allowing the German to reach his first Grand Slam triumph. Zverev will surely look to make the most of the situation.
What was Djokovic hoping for?
For several years now, Novak has held the unofficial status of the third-ranked player in men’s singles. Indeed, the most decorated tennis player in history is gradually slowing down, but he can still defeat any opponent except Sinner and Alcaraz. In 2024 and 2025, Yannick and Carlos were seeded No. 1, blocking Novak’s path to his 25th Grand Slam title. At this year’s tournament, the Serbian had one fewer obstacle in his way, with the hope that the Spaniard would bow out before the semifinals.
However, Nole himself bowed out in the first round, losing to the relatively unknown Argentine Mariano Navone in five sets. It was another sign for Djokovic that he should bring his career to a fitting end.
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