This is the seeding order for the 2026 US Open

The US Open 2026 is just around the corner, and one of the factors that can most determine the tournament's development is the seedings order. The 32 best seeds from both singles tournaments are defined and already know what matchups they may face if they manage to progress. We pay special attention to Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Jódar.

The confirmed absence of Jannik Sinner in the men's draw and the considerable doubt about Elena Rybakina in the women's tournament could heavily influence what happens at the US Open 2026. For now, the Kazakh will try to compete, but her discomfort in one heel places her in a tricky situation.

Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev arrive as the top seeds, but Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Jódar, and Iga Swiatek have a lot to say and could face uncomfortable matchups in various rounds. To clearly determine what the draw for the US Open 2026 may bring, which will take place on Thursday, August 27, we analyze the seeding order in detail.

This is how the draw for the US Open 2026 will work

It is worth reminding all fans that before each Grand Slam, 32 seeded players are established in each draw corresponding to the best positions in the ATP and WTA rankings. During the first two rounds, all of them will face a player who is not seeded, with potential matchups between them beginning in the third round. But what are the main guidelines leading up to the draw, and how is this limited?

Potential matchups between seeds round by round

Third round

• Seeds 1-8 face off against seeds 25-32

• Seeds 9-16 face off against seeds 17-24
   

Round of 16

• Seeds 1-4 face off against seeds 13-16

• Seeds 5-8 face off against seeds 9-12
   

Quarterfinals

• Seeds 1-4 face off against seeds 5-8

   

Seed order of the men's draw at the US Open 2026

1. Alexander Zverev

2. Carlos Alcaraz

3. Félix Auger-Aliassime

4. Novak Djokovic

5. Flavio Cobolli

6. Álex de Miñaur

7. Daniil Medvedev

8. Ben Shelton

9. Taylor Fritz

10. Arthur Fils*

11. Frances Tiafoe* (if he wins the final in Cincinnati, he will surpass Fils)

12. Rafael Jódar

13. Lorenzo Musetti

14. Learner Tien

15. Alexander Bublik

16. Brandon Nakashima

17. Jakub Mensik

18. Jiri Lehecka

19. Casper Ruud

20. Tommy Paul

21. Luciano Darderi

22. Valentin Vacherot

23. Andrey Rublev

24. Fran Cerúndolo

25. Joao Fonseca

26. Alejandro Tabilo

27. Arthur Rinderknech

28. Ugo Humbert

29. Tomás Martín Etcheverry

30. Alexander Blockx

31. Zizou Bergs

32. Cameron Norrie

A strange and exciting scenario is unfolding in the men's tournament, with Carlos Alcaraz looking for the competitive rhythm and the confidence needed in the first two rounds to face more complex challenges later. By the third round, he may have to face Joao Fonseca, for example, who seems to be the most serious threat to the best players in a third round where Norrie, Blockx, or Tabilo could pose significant discomfort to any of the top eight seeds.

Looking ahead to the round of 16, the player from Murcia, along with Zverev, Djokovic, and a seemingly out-of-nowhere and soon-to-expire Auger-Aliassime, would have Musetti, Tien, Bublik, and the improved Nakashima as potential opponents. They are latent threats but manageable for all of them if they are performing at a good level.

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Perhaps the most important thing, already thinking about the quarter-finals, is how intriguing Ben Shelton would be for any of the four and how interested the aforementioned American, as well as Cobolli, De Miñaur, and Medvedev, are in landing in the same quadrant as Auger-Aliassime, thereby avoiding Carlos, Sascha, and Novak. It is worth remembering that Djokovic has managed to avoid Alcaraz and Zverev until hypothetical semi-finals.

A special mention deserves the possible path of Rafael Jódar, who could face a dangerous matchup in the third round against players like Mensik, Lehecka, Paul, or Rublev, while names like Vacherot or even Darderi and Ruud, who are far from their best level, seem more manageable. In the round of 16, Cobolli, De Miñaur, Medvedev, and Shelton are the candidates to advance in his section, needing to show heart there to prove that the player from Madrid is ready for something big in this US Open 2026.

Seedings for the women's singles draw at the US Open 2026

1. Aryna Sabalenka

2. Elena Rybakina

3. Jessica Pegula

4. Cori Gauff

5. Mirra Andreeva

6. Linda Noskova

7. Karolina Muchova

8. Iga Swiatek

9. Elina Svitolina

10. Amanda Anisimova

11. Marta Kostyuk

12. Belinda Bencic

13. Naomi Osaka

14. Iva Jovic

15. Diana Shnaider

16. Sorana Cirstea

17. Alexandra Eala

18. Ekaterina Alexandrova

19. Jasmine Paolini

20. Maja Chwalinska

21. Anna Kalinskaya

22. Madison Keys

23. Elise Mertens

24. Anastasia Potapova

25. Emma Navarro

26. Marie Bouzkova

27. Barbora Krejcikova

28. Sara Bejlek

29. Ann Li

30. Jelena Ostapenko

31. Leylah Fernández

32. Maria Sakkari

The fierce competitiveness in women's tennis means that the best in the world must face complex challenges from the early rounds. Evidence of this is that players as formidable as Ostapenko, Leylah, Sakkari, Krejcikova or the great revelation of the Cincinnati tournament, Bejlek, are potential rivals of the top eight in the world in the third round.

Some, like Sabalenka, arrive without confidence and could find themselves in trouble against any of them if they have an inspired day. It doesn't stop there, as in the round of 16 looms for the Belarusian, as well as Rybakina, Pegula, and Gauff, rivals of the caliber of Naomi Osaka, the young Jovic, or the ever-dangerous Shnaider and Cirstea.

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At that point, there can be many surprises, including for Grand Slam champions this year, like Andreeva or Noskova, as well as for Swiatek, who in the quarter-finals will have to cross the Rubicon against one of the best, but who will already see her stay in the tournament compromised in the round of 16 against Kostyuk, Svitolina, Anisimova, or Bencic.

In short, a scenario ripe for surprises, which serves as a tremendous test for the best in the world, who must demonstrate their ability to dominate the circuit despite the excellent level of all those behind them. This US Open 2026 could significantly influence the future of women's tennis.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Este es el orden de cabezas de serie para el US Open 2026