2026 US Open Day 2: Alcaraz Returns, Sabalenka Begins Three-Peat
Djokovic gone in Round 1, Alcaraz faces his first singles test since April — markets shift fast at Flushing Meadows
Day 2 Briefing: 2026 US Open Tennis — Monday, 31 August
The headline from Day 1 (30 August 2026) at Flushing Meadows: Argentine Mariano Navone eliminated four-time champion Novak Djokovic in five sets, and seventh seed Daniil Medvedev rolled through French qualifier Hugo Gaston without losing a set. On Day 2, the tournament's two most consequential first-round matches arrive simultaneously: defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz opens his title defense against Roman Safiullin — his first singles match since April — and women's world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka begins her pursuit of a historic US Open three-peat against Colombia's Camila Osorio. Coco Gauff and Iga Świątek are also in action.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament
before the main draw, reshuffling the market hierarchy significantly.
The 2026 US Open features a record-breaking total prize pool of $101 million
, the largest in tennis history. Track live title odds and place your positions at WeeBet's live hub: /events/us-open-tennis-2026.
Yesterday's Key Results: Day 1, 30 August 2026
The tournament's opening day produced the upset that immediately reconfigured men's title markets.
Mariano Navone stunned four-time winner Novak Djokovic in five sets
,
winning 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
. The result was not a bolt from the blue —
Djokovic had collapsed during the Cincinnati Open due to what he described as a health issue exacerbated by heat and humidity
, and concerns about his condition had trailed him into Flushing Meadows.
Former champion Daniil Medvedev and home hope Tommy Paul both won their opening matches: Medvedev defeated French qualifier Hugo Gaston in straight sets, while Paul needed four sets to overcome Coleman Wong.
Venus Williams, on a singles wild card at 46 in her 26th US Open, played Sofia Kenin in the Sunday night session
— a sentimental storyline that drew significant Arthur Ashe crowd energy.
What Djokovic's Exit Means for the Market
Djokovic's first-round loss is the most consequential market event so far. As a four-time champion and pre-tournament top-five contender, his departure compresses the realistic field of men's title contenders considerably. The bottom half of the draw —
which also contains Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka, and Marin Cilic
— is now less loaded, removing the player who carried the highest ceiling for deep runs.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew on 21 August with a right knee injury — the first major he has missed since his 2019 debut — handing Alexander Zverev the top seeding.
With both Sinner and Djokovic now absent from the men's draw, Zverev's path to the final from the top half looks considerably cleaner. Live odds on both men's and women's winners markets are updating in real time at WeeBet's US Open hub.
- Tournament DayDay 0Aug 31
- Prize Pool$0MRecord 2026
- Top Men's SeedA. ZverevSinner WD
- Top Women's SeedA. Sabalenka3-peat bid
- Biggest D1 UpsetNavone d. DjokovicR1
Today's Slate: Monday, 31 August 2026
Day 2 is the tournament's most star-dense opening day. Here are the key matches to track:
Men's Singles
Carlos Alcaraz [2] vs. Roman Safiullin — Arthur Ashe Stadium
Alcaraz headlines the action as the Spanish second seed returning as defending men's champion, having not played a tour-level singles match since April.
After missing the French Open and Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, Alcaraz made his tennis comeback at Flushing Meadows, reaching the mixed doubles quarter-finals alongside U.S. legend Serena Williams.
His first singles assignment is far from straightforward against dangerous Russian Roman Safiullin.
The match is the most watched of the day. Alcaraz's wrist health and movement patterns will be scrutinised from the first point. Any sign of discomfort will compress his odds significantly.
If the seeds hold, Alcaraz could eventually encounter Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals before a potential semifinal against Djokovic
— though that projected semifinal no longer exists following Djokovic's exit.
Alexander Zverev [1] vs. Lorenzo Sonego — Grandstand/Night Session
Zverev heads the bracket with an opportunity to turn his top seeding into another major title.
Sonego is a capable grass-and-hard court performer, but Zverev should have enough to advance in straight sets. His opening performance will give the market a first read on his form under the top-seed pressure he now carries by default.
Women's Singles
Aryna Sabalenka [1] vs. Camila Osorio — Arthur Ashe Stadium (Day Session)
Sabalenka begins her pursuit of a third consecutive US Open women's singles championship against Colombia's Camila Osorio. If she successfully defends her crown again, she would become the first woman since Serena Williams (2012–2014) to win three straight US Open singles titles.
Iga Świątek [3] vs. Wang Xiyu — Louis Armstrong Stadium
Świątek defeated Elena Rybakina to win the Canadian Open earlier in August 2026
, giving her prime hard-court form entering Flushing Meadows. Her quarter of the draw sets up a potential clash with Rybakina before reaching the last four.
Coco Gauff [4] vs. Zeynep Sonmez — Night Session
Gauff enters the tournament on a hot streak after defeating Pegula to win the Cincinnati Open.
She is the home crowd's primary standard-bearer with Sinner absent from the men's draw.
Naomi Osaka [13] vs. Anastasia Zakharova — Arthur Ashe Night Session
Two-time US Open winner Naomi Osaka faces Anastasia Zakharova in the evening session at Arthur Ashe.
The Alcaraz Question: Risk and Reward in the Markets
No single event contract carries more Day 2 uncertainty than the Alcaraz opener.
He played no singles warm-up event ahead of the tournament, so his first-round match against Roman Safiullin on Monday, 31 August, is his first singles match since April.
Five months of physical inactivity from competitive singles tennis is a material factor in any market assessment — Grand Slam tennis demands movement, footwork, and explosive directional changes that practice courts cannot fully replicate.
Projections are particularly dangerous when evaluating a player returning after nearly five months away. Before Alcaraz can think about defending his championship, he must prove his body and game are ready for Grand Slam tennis again.
Safiullin is not a comfortable opening draw — he is a powerful baseline hitter with hard-court credibility. If Alcaraz advances with authority, expect his title-odds position to firm up quickly on WeeBet's live market at /events/us-open-tennis-2026. A tight match or a physical concern could push him out significantly.
Women's Draw: Sabalenka vs. The Field
Women's Draw: Projected Semifinal Paths (as of 31 Aug 2026)
| Path Element | Sabalenka [1] | Gauff [4] |
|---|---|---|
| R1 Opponent | C. Osorio | Z. Sonmez |
| Projected QF | L. Noskova | M. Andreeva |
| Projected SF | J. Pegula | Sabalenka |
| Form (pre-tournament) | Cincinnati SF | Cincinnati W |
| US Open titles | 2 | 0 |
Sabalenka enters the women's singles field as the favorite to defend her two consecutive US Open victories. Getting out of her quarter could require overcoming Linda Nosková, who is looking to add another major singles title to her win at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships.
Elena Rybakina and Iga Świątek sit in the same quarter of the draw, and Coco Gauff waits beyond them. Sabalenka projects to face Linda Nosková in the quarterfinals, then Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.
Storylines Beyond the Scoreboard
Stan Wawrinka's farewell:
Beijing 2008 Olympic men's singles champion Stan Wawrinka, who will retire at the end of the season, is set for his
final US Open appearance — a moment that has drawn significant attention in New York beyond the usual title narrative.
Alex Eala:
Eala brings confidence from her first WTA title in Washington
and
landed in Gauff's quarter, where she could face No. 14 Iva Jovic in the third round.
Mixed doubles already settled:
The mixed doubles title was claimed by Czech pair Karolína Muchová and Jakub Menšík, who defeated Switzerland's Belinda Bencic and Italy's Flavio Cobolli.
Live Markets: Track and Bet at WeeBet
All title-winner, match winner, and set-handicap positions for the 2026 US Open are live and updating in real time at WeeBet's US Open hub: /events/us-open-tennis-2026. As Alcaraz, Sabalenka, Zverev, and Gauff take the court today, odds will shift in response to in-match data — breaks of serve, injury timeouts, and set scorelines all drive movement.
Position on Alcaraz vs. Safiullin, or any other match, can be placed directly from the hub's match-card layout.
Finals weekend falls on 12–13 September
, which means there are 13 days of live-odds movement remaining. Check back each morning for the updated daily briefing.
Please bet responsibly. Set deposit limits and use self-exclusion tools if needed. Gambling support: BeGambleAware.org | National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the top seeds at the 2026 US Open?
Alexander Zverev is the men's top seed, and Aryna Sabalenka is the women's top seed. Zverev is world No. 2 but tops the seeding because Sinner withdrew, so every man is seeded one place above his ranking.
Why is Jannik Sinner not playing the 2026 US Open?
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew on 21 August with a right knee injury — the first major he has missed since his 2019 debut.
What is at stake for Aryna Sabalenka?
If Sabalenka successfully defends her crown, she would become the first woman since Serena Williams from 2012–2014 to win three straight US Open singles titles.
When does Carlos Alcaraz play his first match at the 2026 US Open?
Alcaraz begins his singles campaign on Monday, 31 August against Russian opponent Roman Safiullin, returning to singles competition following a lengthy absence caused by a wrist injury.
It is his first competitive singles match since April 2026.
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