US Open predictions for both women's and men's singles champions

The US Open singles tournaments begin Sunday in Flushing, New York, a chance for players to reach new rankings milestones in the final Grand Slam of the calendar year.

While Serena Williams is only playing doubles at Flushing Meadows, top seed and two-time defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka leads a stacked women's singles field that also includes world No. 2 Elena Rybakina and the two top-ranked American women, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka is fighting to retain her No. 1 WTA ranking, but Rybakina, Pegula and Gauff each have a shot to take the top spot depending on US Open results.

On the men's side, top seed Alexander Zverev is seeking his second career major title after winning the French Open earlier this year, and Australian Open champion Carlos Alcaraz is returning from a four-month injury absence. Third overall seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is looking to reach his first career major final, while fourth seed Novak Djokovic is hunting for his 25th major title. With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner sitting out due to a knee injury, there's a path for other contenders to win the title and gain ground in the ATP rankings.

Here are USA TODAY reporters' predictions for the 2026 US Open:

US Open women's singles predictions

Semifinal picks

Scooby Axson: It will be home cooking in the semifinals as both Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, and there will be more on the line than just bragging rights if they both get through to the finals. Iga Swiatek will await Gauff, and as long as Gauff's serve is on point, she will beat the five-time Grand Slam champion. In the other semifinal, Pegula will take on Noskova, who won Wimbledon in July and is one of seven women from Czechia ranked in the top 50. Pegula will advance in straight sets to reach her second US Open final.

Cydney Henderson: The semifinals will feature two Americans in Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, who will meet in the 2026 women's singles US Open final, just as they did last week at the Cincinnati Open. Their opponents, however, are a little harder to predict. Gauff will face 2022 US Open champion Iga Swiatek in the semis after the Polish star takes out an injured Elena Rybakina, if she even makes it as far as the quarterfinals while dealing with Achilles soreness. Pegula's semifinal opponent will be Aryna Sabalenka, who has a lot riding on her performance. The pressure will get to Sabalenka and Pegula will take advantage.

Danielle Lerner: The top two Americans who recently played in the Cincinnati Open final, Gauff and Pegula, both continue their impeccable form and make the semis in New York. Gauff will face Iga Swiatek and Pegula will face Linda Noskova, who showed impressive resilience during her Wimbledon title run this year. After Rybakina retired from the Cincinnati Open due to an apparent Achilles injury, I don't see her making it past the quarterfinals. Same goes for Sabalenka, who's looked mentally shaky lately against lesser opponents.

Finals

Axson: Pegula vs. Gauff

Henderson: Pegula vs. Gauff

Lerner: Gauff vs. Noskova

Winner

Axson: It will be an All-American final, and Buffalo residents will be the ones rejoicing as Jessica Pegula wins her first US Open and vaults to the top of the rankings as well.

Henderson: Coco Gauff has a tough path to the finals, but it's hard to pick against the streaking American as she enters New York on a six-match win streak after a decisive win at Cincinnati.

Lerner: Coco Gauff's momentum right now is undeniable. She'll serve big on her way to capturing her third career Grand Slam title and second US Open championship.

US Open men's singles predictions

Semifinal picks

Scooby Axson: This tournament is really suited for Taylor Fritz to break through, but he will run into the top seed, Alexander Zverev, and come up short once again. Those who count out Novak Djokovic do so at their own peril, and just like last year, he will make a deep run into the tournament, until he plays someone significantly younger. This time it will be Arthur Fils from France, and it could be a long run into the top five for the 22-year-old.

Cydney Henderson: The American men are tired of hearing about the decades long US Open title drought and will benefit from the wide open field with Jannik Sinner out and Carlos Alcaraz returning from injury. Ben Shelton has been inconsistent during the hard court season, winning a title in Montreal before making an early exit in Cincinnati. But he will come alive in New York and meet Novak Djokovic in the semis. On the other side of the bracket, Alexander Zverev will faced off against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals.

Danielle Lerner: This feels like one of more unpredictable US Opens in recent memory. Even with Carlos Alcaraz's lack of prep and Novak Djokovic's recent string of early exits in hard court tournaments, I think they'll meet in the semifinal on one side of the bracket (the quarterfinal matchup between Alcaraz and Shelton might be one of the matches of the tournament). On the other side, I have American Taylor Fritz, the ninth seed, making a run to the semis where he'll face top seed Alexander Zverev.

Finals

Axson: Arthur Fils vs. Taylor Fritz

Henderson: Ben Shelton vs. Alexander Zverev

Lerner: Djokovic vs. Fritz

Winner

Axson: Fils' hot streak will continue in this tournament, after his impressive showing in Cincinnati. It's time to crown a new big three, and Fils will fit right in with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Henderson: Shelton will experience many firsts on home soil. He will make his first US Open finals appearance and claim his first Grand Slam title.

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