2026 US Open Day 4: Zverev Survives, R2 Opens
Djokovic eliminated, rain clears, and second-round action begins September 2 at Flushing Meadows
Day 4 at Flushing: Zverev Survives, Djokovic Gone, Second Round Opens September 2
The 2026 US Open entered its second round Wednesday, September 2, with the first-round slate finally closed after Tuesday's rain-ravaged Day 3. The defining story of the opening week is already written:
No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the first round by Argentina's Mariano Navone, 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 on August 30
—
his first opening-round Grand Slam loss since 2006, ending a run of 78 straight first-round wins.
Meanwhile,
top seed Alexander Zverev escaped a near five-hour battle in his opener against Lorenzo Sonego, while Taylor Fritz cruised on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
On the women's side,
American Coco Gauff began her journey for a second US Open title with a straight-set victory
over Zeynep Sonmez. Today, Wednesday September 2, marks the opening of second-round action across all courts, with
numerous seeded players who were unable to complete first-round matches due to rain still needing to finish their openers
before advancing. Live title odds, updated continuously by our trading desk, are at WeeBet's live hub — /events/us-open-tennis-2026.
- Men's title favouriteAlcarazpost-Djokovic exit
- Women's title favouriteSabalenka2× defending
- Biggest upset (R1)Djokovic outLost to Navone
- Prize fund$0MATP/WTA confirmed
- Men's final dateSept 0Arthur Ashe
- Women's final dateSept 0Arthur Ashe
Tuesday's Key Results: Zverev Grinds, Gauff Cruises, Rain Wreaks Havoc
A rain-soaked day in New York on September 1 prevented many matches from completing, with numerous seeded players forced to wait until Wednesday. But thanks to the retractable roofs on both Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums, some primetime action still took place.
Men's singles (selected first-round results, September 1):
Top seed Alexander Zverev defeated Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4. No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz dispatched Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. No. 5 Flavio Cobolli came from two sets down to beat Francisco Comesana 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
The retiring
Gaël Monfils also advanced in style.
Lorenzo Musetti, seeded 13th, beat Arthur Fery 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.
Women's singles (selected first-round results, September 1):
Second seed Elena Rybakina dismissed Thea Frodin 6-3, 6-2.
Fourth seed Coco Gauff beat Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-4.
Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva — Roland-Garros women's champion — was clinical in a 6-2, 6-2 win over Janice Tjen.
Filipino star Alexandra Eala, seeded 17th, rolled past Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2.
Australian Open champion Madison Keys, seeded 22nd, held off Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4.
The first round also claimed No. 10 seed Arthur Fils, along with Cameron Norrie and Matteo Arnaldi.
On the women's side,
No. 27 seed Barbora Krejcikova was knocked out by a qualifier.
How the Draw Now Looks: Alcaraz's Half Opens Up
Djokovic's exit on August 30 sent immediate shockwaves through the men's draw.
All top men's odds shortened following first-round losses by three seeds, including Djokovic, who lost to Navone on Sunday.
Carlos Alcaraz defends the men's title as the second seed, after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew on August 21 with a right knee injury, handing the top seeding to Alexander Zverev.
The reigning Roland-Garros men's champion and top seed Zverev is now defending at Flushing Meadows after his five-set escape on Tuesday.
His projected second-round opponent, per the draw, is Quentin Halys.
Gauff is scheduled to return to the court on Thursday, where she awaits the winner of Paula Badosa and Daria Kasatkina.
Men's Title Contenders — Market Snapshot (as of Sept 2, 2026)
| Player | Seed | Win prob. (Kalshi) | R1 Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | [2] | 35% | Through |
| Alexander Zverev | [1] | 20% | Through |
| Taylor Fritz | [9] | 7% | Through |
| Novak Djokovic | [4] | 0% | Eliminated |
| Arthur Fils | [10] | 0% | Eliminated |
Title Odds: Where the Markets Moved After Day 3
The men's outright market repriced sharply once Djokovic fell.
Alcaraz climbed to 35% win probability on Kalshi, while Zverev moved into second place.
Pre-tournament,
Alcaraz had been assigned 25% and Zverev 21%
— Navone's demolition of Djokovic effectively redistributed that 11-point Djokovic block across the remaining contenders.
On the women's side,
two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka holds the top seed for the eighth consecutive Grand Slam.
Sabalenka remains the US Open favourite, holding at 24% on Kalshi as of August's draw reveal.
The biggest mover near the top has been Coco Gauff, whose probability jumped from 11% to 16%, moving her past Iga Swiatek into second place.
Elena Rybakina fell in the market following an apparent Achilles injury in Cincinnati, leaving Gauff and Swiatek as the next two challengers behind Sabalenka.
Track live shifts to all of these positions — including set-by-set in-play movement — at the WeeBet US Open live hub. All outright event contracts update in real time throughout each match. Please gamble responsibly.
What to Watch Wednesday, September 2
September 2 officially opens second-round action, but the rain backlog means some players are still completing their first-round assignments. Here are the storylines driving attention:
Zverev's true test begins. The top seed needed five draining sets to beat Sonego on Tuesday. His next assignment against Halys arrives with fewer than 24 hours of recovery — a tightness in his shot-making (66% first-serve percentage vs. Sonego) bears watching.
Alcaraz's injury return on trial.
The question tracking the whole tournament is whether Alcaraz can defend a Grand Slam title after four months out with injury.
His second-round match will serve as the first meaningful indicator of his physical ceiling in best-of-five conditions.
Andreeva's form is real.
Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, the French Open women's champion, was clinical in her opener.
A repeat performance in round two would confirm she enters the second week as a genuine Sabalenka challenger.
Rain makeup matches.
Numerous seeded players still owed first-round matches from Tuesday, with roofed courts the only venues that saw night-session action complete.
The order of play on September 2 carries an unusually heavy first-round tail — scheduling volatility is elevated all day.
The Monfils send-off.
Retiring former world No. 6 Gaël Monfils
advanced Tuesday in front of an emotional Louis Armstrong crowd. His second-round match shapes up as a prime early-evening watch.
Context: The Tournament Structure
The 2026 US Open runs through September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
The second round is scheduled for September 2–3, with the third round following on September 4–5.
Total prize money stands at $108 million.
The singles field features six former US Open champions and 13 Grand Slam winners in total.
Sabalenka enters as a slight favourite in her quest to become the third woman in the Open Era to win the US Open three consecutive times.
On the men's side,
Alcaraz is looking to become the first man ever to repeat as Grand Slam champion on all three surfaces.
Markets to Watch at WeeBet Today
The WeeBet live hub at /events/us-open-tennis-2026 carries the following active event contract categories, all updating continuously:
- Men's outright winner — Alcaraz and Zverev the headliners post-Djokovic exit
- Women's outright winner — Sabalenka vs. the Gauff surge
- Individual match markets — available for every court-scheduled match within 30 minutes of the first ball
- Set betting and correct score — in-play liquidity deepens from second round onward
- Daily specials — same-day contracts on "first seeded exit," "match to go to five sets," and player milestones
All positions can be tracked and managed live. Remember to set deposit limits and take regular breaks — visit BeGambleAware.org for support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is favoured to win the 2026 US Open after the first round?
Carlos Alcaraz leads the men's market at approximately 35% win probability on Kalshi, with Alexander Zverev second.
Aryna Sabalenka holds the top position in the women's market at 24% on Kalshi.
Live figures update continuously at the WeeBet hub.
What happened to Novak Djokovic at the 2026 US Open?
Mariano Navone of Argentina beat Djokovic 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 on August 30 — Djokovic's first opening-round Grand Slam loss since 2006 and the end of a 78-match first-round winning streak.
Why were so many matches incomplete after Tuesday, September 1?
A rain-soaked day in New York on September 1 prevented many matches from completing. Numerous seeded players had to wait until Wednesday to begin their 2026 US Open campaigns, with only roofed courts on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums able to complete primetime action.
When are the 2026 US Open finals?
The women's singles final is Saturday, September 12, and the men's singles final is Sunday, September 13, both played at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
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