US Open

US Open Predictions 2026: Best Bets & Outright Winner Odds

1 hour ago

| BY Sam Cox

Carlos Alcaraz, who has been out of action since April, and Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time defending champion, are the tennis betting favourites for the 2026 U.S. Open.

Uncertainty over Alcaraz’s health and Jannik Sinner’s absence means the men’s draw is wide open. Brazilian starlet João Fonseca is also sidelined through injury.

Victoria Mboko is the only seeded player to have withdrawn from the women’s draw.

US Open Men Prediction

Alcaraz is closely followed by Alexander Zverev in the pre-tournament betting. Zverev, who won the French Open and finished as runner-up at Wimbledon, disappointed in Montreal and Cincinnati.

Arthur Fils won in Cincinnati, but six players have shorter odds than the Frenchman ahead of the U.S. Open. One of those names is ascendant Spaniard Rafael Jódar. Deep runs in Washington and Montreal were followed by a disappointing early exit in Cincinnati, but Jódar has a golden opportunity at the U.S. Open.

The question for Jódar is how he will fare against the top 10. He’s 1-3 against the world’s best in his career. There’s an opening for him to go all the way in New York, but he’ll likely have to see off multiple top seeds.

Novak Djokovic (7/1) was a finalist in Melbourne and reached the semis at Wimbledon. Still, that price is far too short for a player with his recent record. The Serbian hasn’t won a Slam in three years. He lost to Thiago Agustín Tirante in his first match in Cincinnati.

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz will be roared on by their home crowd. Both have been in good form with wins in Montreal and Washington, respectively. We prefer the value on Fritz (12/1) over Shelton (15/2). Fritz was a finalist at Flushing Meadows two years ago.

A healthy Alcaraz would be the overwhelming favourite, but we don’t really know what condition he’s in. Fils, Jódar, Fritz, Shelton, and Zverev look like the players most capable of benefiting from Sinner’s absence and potentially a subpar Alcaraz.

Best Bets

Arthur Fils (16/1)
Taylor Fritz (12/1)

US Open Women Prediction

Coco Gauff shone in Cincinnati, beating Jessica Pegula in the final. Gauff still trails Sabalenka and Iga Świątek in the pre-tournament betting.

Sabalenka went all the way in Miami and Indian Wells but has been far from her best since then. Clay and grass struggles weren’t all that surprising, though Sabalenka’s disappointments in Toronto and Cincinnati are cause for some concern as she tries to three-peat at the U.S. Open.

In contrast, Świątek won in Toronto and made the semis in Cincinnati. Wins over Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina, and Marta Kostyuk show the Pole is ready to contend for a second U.S. Open title after failing to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since her Wimbledon triumph in 2025.

Rybakina, pursuing top spot in the rankings, retired from her match against Świątek in Cincinnati. It appears that the Kazakh star will be ready for the first round of the U.S. Open. A run to the final in Toronto makes her an intriguing option, with the bookies giving her longer odds after the injury scare.

Despite never going beyond the fourth round of a Slam, Alexandra Eala is a player to keep an eye on here. Eala is at a career-high of 18th in the rankings after beating Świątek at Wimbledon, winning in a strong field in Washington, and pushing Amanda Anisimova deep in Cincinnati. The Filipino has seven wins against top 10 players in 2026.

Kostyuk was a semifinalist at the French Open and Wimbledon. She’s got eight wins against top 10 players this year. Recent hard-court form hasn’t been the best, but it’s worth remembering the Ukrainian was a finalist in Brisbane after beating Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, and Anisimova.