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2026 US Open
30 August – 13 September
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Queens, New York
Alexander Zverev arrives at the 2026 US Open with a very different status from previous years. No longer the perennial Grand Slam contender still searching for his breakthrough, the German heads to New York as a major champion after claiming his first Grand Slam title at the French Open earlier this season.
That triumph over Flavio Cobboli in Paris finally delivered the reward that had eluded Zverev for so long and transformed the narrative around his career. His next challenge is to prove that success was not a one-off, and the US Open provides an ideal stage to do so.
Zverev has long possessed the weapons required to win at Flushing Meadows. His huge serve, powerful baseline game and ability to absorb pressure make him a formidable hard-court opponent, while his experience of reaching the 2020 US Open final means he knows exactly what it takes to go deep in New York.
The 29-year-old's preparations, however, have been mixed. He suffered an early defeat to Tallon Griekspoor in Montreal, subsequently describing the performance as probably the worst match he had played this season. He is now using Cincinnati to sharpen his game ahead of the final Grand Slam.
Zverev has no interest in simply building another deep run. His ambitions are considerably higher: “If I go to the US Open it's not to win a couple of rounds, but to win the title.”
He will face formidable competition, with Jannik Sinner and defending champion Alcaraz among the principal favourites. Sinner's preparations have been disrupted by a knee injury that forced him to withdraw from Cincinnati, potentially opening the door for Zverev and the rest of the chasing pack.
Zverev's run to the Wimbledon final, where he lost to eventual champion Sinner, also demonstrated his ability to remain a factor deep into the biggest tournaments.
The US Open now represents his chance to add a second Grand Slam to his collection. Having finally broken through in Paris, Zverev enters New York with belief, experience and a very clear target: another major title.
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