The 2026 US Open has reached its most action-packed stretch yet, with the second round at Flushing Meadows featuring nearly every seeded player still standing. Running from August 30 to September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, the year’s final Grand Slam has already produced its share of drama — and Thursday’s schedule promised even more.
The US Open 2026 second round places men’s No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev under the spotlight once again after he survived a five-set battle in his opener against Lorenzo Sonego, having trailed two sets to one before fighting back. Zverev’s next test comes against Frenchman Quentin Halys, a clash that will tell us plenty about whether the top seed has found his rhythm after that opening scare.
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Men’s Draw: Zverev Leads a Stacked Card
Thursday’s men’s schedule reads like a who’s-who of the ATP’s current contenders. Alongside Zverev’s match against Halys, the day features Felix Auger-Aliassime against Karen Khachanov, Flavio Cobolli against Tristian Schoolkate, and Alex de Minaur taking on Botic van de Zandschulp. American interest is strong too, with No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz facing Mattia Bellucci and rising star Learner Tien matched up against the ever-popular veteran Gael Monfils.
Further down the order, Lorenzo Musetti meets Dane Sweeny, Jakub Mensik faces Jurij Rodionov, and a cluster of unseeded and lower-seeded players — including Luciano Darderi, Francisco Cerundolo, Alejandro Tabilo and Zizou Bergs — round out a card that offers something for every kind of tennis fan, from big-serving power players to classic all-court stylists.
Women’s Draw: Sabalenka Cruising, Gauff Back in Action
On the women’s side, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has picked up right where she left off. The Belarusian dispatched Polina Iatcenko in just 54 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the third round, a performance that underlined why she remains the outright favourite to defend her title this fortnight.
Thursday’s women’s schedule also features No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina against Jessica Bouzas, No. 4 seed Coco Gauff against Paula Badosa, and No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva against Eva Lys. Further along the order, No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek takes on Nadia Podoroska, No. 10 seed Amanda Anisimova faces Lilli Tagger, and former champion Naomi Osaka meets Katerina Siniakova in what promises to be one of the day’s more intriguing contests given both players’ Grand Slam pedigree.
Record Prize Money on Offer
This year’s tournament also carries historic financial stakes for the players. The 2026 US Open features a record total prize pool of $101 million, a 19% increase on the $85 million pool from 2025. That jump continues a trend of rapidly rising prize money across the Grand Slams, reflecting both broadcast revenue growth and increased player advocacy for a larger share of tournament earnings.
Title Favourites and Recent History
Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka enter as the bookmakers’ favourites on the men’s and women’s sides respectively, according to analysts. Alcaraz will be aiming to defend the title he won last year when he beat Jannik Sinner in the 2025 final, while Sabalenka is chasing back-to-back US Open crowns after successfully defending her title in 2025.
The tournament continues to use the 15-day, Sunday-start main draw format introduced in 2025, a scheduling change that has generally been well received by players and broadcasters for spreading out the workload across the opening rounds.
What This Means Going Forward
With so many seeds still alive heading into the second round, the tournament is shaping up to deliver a genuinely open back half of the draw. Zverev’s shaky opening match is a reminder that even the top seed is not immune to early upsets on the unpredictable hard courts of Flushing Meadows, while Sabalenka’s ruthless efficiency so far suggests the women’s title picture may be more settled — for now.
Fans should keep an eye on the American contingent, with Fritz, Tien and Gauff all in action, as home crowds at Flushing Meadows tend to provide an extra lift for US players deep into the tournament.
Upcoming Fixtures
Winners from Thursday’s second-round matches will move into the third round over the weekend, setting up the tournament’s traditional “manic Monday”-style scheduling crunch as the draw narrows toward the second week. The men’s and women’s finals remain scheduled for the tournament’s closing weekend, with the full draw concluding on September 13.
FAQ Section
Q1: Where and when is the US Open 2026 being played?
The tournament is being held from August 30 to September 13, 2026, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
Q2: Who is the defending champion at the US Open?
Carlos Alcaraz is the defending men’s champion, having beaten Jannik Sinner in the 2025 final, while Aryna Sabalenka is the defending women’s champion.
Q3: How much prize money is on offer at the 2026 US Open?
The tournament has a record total prize pool of $101 million, up 19% from $85 million in 2025.
Q4: Did Alexander Zverev have a difficult start to his tournament?
Yes, the men’s No. 1 seed needed five sets to beat Lorenzo Sonego in the first round after trailing two sets to one.
Q5: How did Aryna Sabalenka perform in her second-round match?
Sabalenka beat Polina Iatcenko in straight sets in just 54 minutes to reach the third round.
