2026 US Open Women’s Draw: Preview and Prediction featuring Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek

It’s time for the last Grand Slam tournament of the season! Aryna Sabalenka will enter the US Open as the defending champion.

But due to her slump in form, the draw has opened up. She certainly is not the overwhelming favorite to win, given that she has played just one semifinal since winning the Miami Open.

Tournament Details

• Tournament: US Open
• Date: August 30 – September 13
• No. of Entrants: 128 (Singles)
• Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York City
• Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
• Total Prize Money Pool: $108 million
• Defending Champion: Aryna Sabalenka

Top Seeds at the 2026 US Open

• Aryna Sabalenka
• Elena Rybakina
• Jessica Pegula
• Coco Gauff
• Mirra Andreeva
• Linda Noskova
• Karolina Muchova
• Iga Swiatek
• Elina Svitolina
• Amanda Anisimova

First Quarter

Aryna Sabalenka will headline this quarter. The Belarusian ace could meet Diana Shnaider in the fourth round. It was the Russian ace who ended her run in the quarterfinals of the French Open.

Marta Kostyuk and Linda Noskova are projected to face each other in the fourth round. This quarter also featured Clara Tauson, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Maja Chwalinska, and Barbora Krejcikova.

Quarterfinal prediction: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Linda Noskova

Second Quarter

Jessica Pegula is the third seed and could face the legendary Venus Williams in the second round. But the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion has lost every singles match she has played so far this season.

Pegula could meet Elina Svitolina or Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals. Other seeded players in the draw are Jasmine Paolini, Leylah Fernandez, Sorana Cirstea, Anna Kalinskaya, and Emma Navarro.

Quarterfinal prediction: Jessica Pegula vs. Karolina Muchova

Third Quarter

This quarter features several players who have already played or won Grand Slam titles, including Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff. Andreeva is projected to square off against last year’s US Open runner-up Amanda Anisimova.

Gauff could meet Paula Badosa if they reach the second round. The Spaniard won their most recent clash in Berlin this year.

Quarterfinal prediction: Mirra Andreeva vs. Coco Gauff

Fourth Quarter

Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina are projected to face each other in the quarterfinals. And if they do, it will be their third meeting this season.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has been enjoying decent form, so she is one of the favorites to at least make a deep run. Madison Keys, Belinda Bencic, Maria Sakkari, Elise Mertens, and Marie Bouzkova are the other seeded players.

Quarterfinal prediction: Iga Swiatek vs. Elena Rybakina

Semifinals

Sabalenka was expected to end her title drought on the North American hardcourt swing. But she lost in the fourth round of both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open. And Pegula, who has played five finals already this season, will be hoping to end her Grand Slam title drought.

Both Swiatek and Gauff are one-time champions at Flushing Meadows. Swiatek won in 2022, while Gauff won in the following season by defeating Sabalenka. Swiatek will be the favorite if she faces Rybakina in the quarterfinals, given that the Kazakh ace has been dealing with a foot niggle.

Semifinals prediction:

• Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jessica Pegula
• Coco Gauff vs. Iga Swiatek

Final

Swiatek, even though she holds an 11-5 head-to-head record over Gauff, lost their last four matches. Sabalenka also holds a 9-4 head-to-head record over Pegula but lost their last meeting in the semifinals of the Berlin Open.

Gauff and Pegula are 5-5 in the head-to-head matchups, with the former winning their last two meetings, in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and the final of the Cincinnati Open. The 22-year-old ended her title drought in Cincinnati.

• Final prediction: Jessica Pegula vs. Coco Gauff
• Winner prediction: Coco Gauff

Also read: Aryna Sabalenka Embraces the Noise Over Her Bold US Open Wardrobe: “They Always Complain”