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27 Jul 2026 | 13.53
The North American hard court swing kicks off one of the most crucial stretches of the 2026 season, with Washington, Canada, and Cincinnati as key stops before the US Open 2026. The absence of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic in Canada presents an extraordinary opportunity for many players before the top contenders return on their way to New York.
Hard courts remain the preferred surface for a large portion of the elite, and the upcoming weeks should help answer numerous questions. The return of Alcaraz, the ability of Djokovic and Zverev to challenge the established power, the progress of the young players, and the uncertainties among the world's top female players add excitement to a tour that will also generate huge anticipation around Serena Williams following her surprising comeback at Wimbledon.
What will be the highlights of the lead-up to the US Open 2026?
1. Will we finally witness new chapters in the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry?
It's almost paradoxical to note that Sinner and Alcaraz have yet to face each other in 2026. Two men expected to lead the major rivalry of this generation have taken separate paths for much of the season, primarily due to the wrist injury suffered by the Spaniard in Barcelona.
Alcaraz was able to start the year by winning the Australian Open, but he has been out of competition for months, and there are numerous questions surrounding his return. Everything indicates that Cincinnati should be the stage for his comeback, although the truly important thing will not only be to see him back on the court, but to verify how his wrist responds at the highest level and how long it takes him to regain competitive rhythm.
Meanwhile, Sinner has continued to extend his dominance. His recent title at Wimbledon confirms that he arrives at this stage of the season in a privileged position with huge goals ahead. The Italian has withdrawn from Canada, so Cincinnati emerges as the first real possibility for both to meet again in the same draw.
A Sinner-Alcaraz before the US Open would hold enormous value. It would allow to assess the true state of the Spaniard and offer new clues on how a rivalry that has been frozen for months could evolve. If it doesn't happen, all the anticipation will shift directly to New York.
2. Will Djokovic and Zverev return as the major alternatives to the established power?
If someone has shown during this year that the duopoly can be broken, it is Alexander Zverev. His title at Roland Garros marked the culmination of a very long pursuit of his first Grand Slam, and Wimbledon subsequently confirmed that the victory may have mentally freed the German. Although Sinner managed to stop him in the London final, Sascha enters the hard court with a completely different confidence.
Canada represents a golden opportunity for Zverev. Without Sinner, Alcaraz, or Djokovic, the German inevitably assumes the role of the main reference in the draw and has the chance to once again conquer a Masters 1000, something he has not achieved since 2024. A strong result would further strengthen his candidacy for the US Open.
And then there's Djokovic. At 39 years old, the Serbian continues to carefully select where to compete, with his absolute priority being the Grand Slams. New York offers another opportunity to pursue the coveted 25th major, as well as various historical records of longevity and victories at Flushing Meadows. The big question mark remains his physical condition: Wimbledon showed that he can still overcome extremely demanding matches, but also that the subsequent recovery is becoming increasingly challenging.
Behind both, there is a large group waiting for their opportunity. Ben Shelton deserves special attention in a setting that greatly enhances his virtues. His serve, explosiveness, and confidence on big stages suggest that he could lead a successful tour. Let's not forget about Daniil Medvedev either. The Russian is going through a period of redefinition after parting ways with Thomas Johansson, but some of the best moments of his career occurred precisely at this time of the season. Going back to basics could make him one of the dark horses.
3. Will Jódar, Fonseca, Mensik, and Tien become protagonists?
Grass presented a slight obstacle for a generation seeking prominence. Rafael Jódar, Joao Fonseca, Jakub Mensik, and Learner Tien have very different profiles, but they share youth, ambition, and the sense that their next big leap could happen at any moment.
The return to hard courts should benefit them. After weeks where the intricacies of grass demanded a very specific adjustment, they are back to conditions where they can play their tennis more naturally. Washington will already provide an initial gauge for several of them, and Canada gains even more interest due to key absences.
Jódar faces a particularly attractive moment. The Madrid native has already established himself in important settings and needs to continue accumulating experiences against the elite. His debut in Washington against Arthur Fils will be a magnificent test. Fonseca, on the other hand, continues to carry enormous expectations, and the tough North American court seems like an ideal territory to see how much he has matured.
Mensik has enough power to unsettle anyone, and Tien will also have the boost of competing at home. A particularly open Masters 1000 in Canada could be the perfect scenario for one of them to deliver a performance that definitively changes their competitive dimension.
4. Will Sabalenka avoid a blank year in Grand Slams? The women's Big 4 arrive with needs
The women's landscape still presents more questions. Aryna Sabalenka remains the undisputed world number one, but the disappointments in the first three Grand Slams create a surprising situation for a player who has dominated much of the season. After missing out on titles in Melbourne, Paris, and London, New York takes on enormous importance.
The Belarusian knows perfectly well what it means to triumph on hard courts and should find ideal conditions on this tour to regain her most dominant version. However, the challenge will be managing the pressure of knowing that she could end a great year in terms of ranking without having won a single Grand Slam.
Neither do the other top references arrive overflowing with certainties. Iga Swiatek needs answers after a concerning period; Elena Rybakina has lost some steam after brilliant moments throughout the season, and Coco Gauff continues to seek the necessary stability to turn all her potential into unquestionable consistency.
The particular Big 4 of the women's circuit arrives in North America with unfinished business. Sabalenka, Swiatek, Rybakina, and Gauff have enough arguments to dominate this stretch of the season, but none currently conveys a sense of invulnerability. This opens up a huge window for new contenders to emerge and makes the prelude to the US Open tour an especially crucial period.
5. What can we really expect from Serena Williams?
It is possibly the most unpredictable mystery of all. The return of Serena Williams at Wimbledon may have seemed nonsensical from a strictly sporting perspective. After so many years away from competition and at 44 years old, it was difficult to understand what one of the greatest tennis players of all time could find returning to such a level of exigency.
But seeing her back on the court was enough to understand another part of the equation. The anticipation was overwhelming, the audience immediately reconnected with her, and Serena delivered moments of tennis much better than expected. Her elimination left mixed feelings: there were reasons to be excited about the level shown, but also an injury and knee problems that necessitate extreme caution.
Now all eyes turn to the United States. If there is a place where her return can acquire even greater emotional significance, it is Flushing Meadows, the setting of some of the most important moments of her career. Before that, it will be necessary to verify which schedule she decides to take on and above all, how she evolves physically.
Questions are piling up. Will she compete in singles? Will she choose to conserve energy by playing doubles? Could she team up with Venus Williams for one last joint adventure? Is she really preparing a serious attempt to compete in the US Open or was Wimbledon just an isolated experience?
With Serena, any prediction is risky. Her comeback raised doubts about her sports and physical condition, but it also confirmed something that had never disappeared: few figures possess her ability to mesmerize the tennis world. If she decides to return to compete in New York, regardless of her actual chances of winning, a significant portion of the tournament's attention will inevitably revolve around her.
The North American tour kicks off loaded with questions and on a particularly open stage. Sinner and Alcaraz will have to cross paths again, Zverev and Djokovic will try to challenge their dominance, the young players will aim to make a statement, and Sabalenka will face crucial weeks to define her season. Everything will lead to the US Open, but what happens before in Washington, Canada, and Cincinnati could completely shake up the hierarchies that the tennis world brings to New York.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las 5 grandes incógnitas a resolver en la gira norteamericana previa al US Open 2026
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