The last Major of 2026 begins on Sunday, with first round singles action spread across the first three days of the extended fortnight.

This is the most wide-open men’s singles draw at a Major in recent memory. For nearly two decades, “The Big 3” dominated men’s tennis. They were promptly replaced by “The New Big 2” of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. But Alcaraz hasn’t played a match since April due to a wrist injury, and Sinner withdrew from this tournament due to a knee injury. Djokovic is still here, but the 39-year-old hasn’t won a Major in three years. Alexander Zverev is the top seed,yet suffered a few early upsets this month on hard courts, as did former champion Daniil Medvedev. So the door is wide open for a new Major champion to be crowned. The three biggest hard court titles this summer have gone to Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Arthur Fils.

The women’s singles draw also feels rather open. Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed and two-time defending champion, but she hasn’t won a title, or even made a final, since March. Second-seeded Elena Rybakina retired in Cincinnati due to injury, and is just 8-6 lifetime in New York. The best three hard court players this summer have been Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Iga Swiatek. But with the last seven Majors won by seven different women, are we in for an eighth different champion?

Sunday’s schedule is rather light, but Arthur Ashe Stadium will feature 33 Major singles titles, and three US Open champions: Daniil Medvedev, Venus Williams, and Novak Djokovic.

Here’s a rundown of the most notable matches on Day 1 (in chronological order, all times local):

Jessica Pegula (3) vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse – 12:00pm on Arthur Ashe Stadium

Pegula leads the WTA with 45 match wins during 2026, with 10 of those victories coming this summer on hard courts, as she reached the finals of both Washington and Cincinnati. 28-year-old Ruse is just 8-17 lifetime at Majors, and lost in the first round at four of the last five.

Daniil Medvedev (7) vs. Hugo Gaston (Q) – Second on Arthur Ashe Stadium

Medvedev started off the season in great form, winning two hard court titles and advancing to the final of Indian Wells. But the 2021 champion’s form has declined severely in recent months, as he’s just 1-3 on hard courts in August. He’s 1-0 against Gaston, who is only 4-8 this year at tour level.

Mariano Navone vs. Novak Djokovic (4) – Not Before 7:00pm on Arthur Ashe Stadium

Djokovic is a modest 14-6 on the year, but he’s peaked at the Majors, with a run to the final in Melbourne, and a semifinal run at Wimbledon. He then lost his only hard court match this summer. Navone is a 25-year-old Argentine who owns 21 ATP wins this season, though only four of them have come on a hard court.

Venus Williams (WC) vs. Sofia Kenin (WC) – Last on Arthur Ashe Stadium

Venus arrives on a 14-match losing streak in singles, as she has not won a match since the very first one of her comeback last summer. Kenin’s record of 6-19 this season is not much stronger. This will be a first-time meeting between these two Major champions.

Sunday’s full Order of Play is here.