The US Open 2026 at Flushing Meadows, New York is set to be the most financially loaded Grand Slam in history, with a record $108 million prize pool, a Serbian legend chasing history, a Spanish champion returning from injury, and one of tennis' most iconic sister acts reuniting on court. The final Grand Slam of the season opens with no shortage of compelling storylines.

Record Prize Pool Raises the Stakes

The financial scale of this year's tournament is unprecedented. The $108 million total prize fund is the largest ever offered at a Grand Slam, eclipsing all previous editions. Singles champions in both the men's and women's draws will each take home $5.5 million, while first-round competitors are guaranteed $140,000 — a figure that underscores how the tournament has expanded its commitment to player earnings at every level of the draw.

Djokovic Hunts a Record 25th Major Title

Novak Djokovic arrives in New York with one of sport's most coveted records within reach. The 39-year-old Serbian is chasing his 25th Grand Slam singles title, which would take him past Margaret Court's all-time tally of 24 major singles titles and give him sole possession of the record. A four-time US Open champion, Djokovic last lifted the trophy in 2023 and has reached the Flushing Meadows final on 10 occasions. The physical demands of a two-week Grand Slam campaign at his age present a genuine challenge, but his capacity to perform on the sport's largest stages remains one of the defining qualities of his career.

Alcaraz Returns as Defending Champion After Injury Layoff

Carlos Alcaraz returns to Flushing Meadows as defending champion following a four-month absence from competition due to injury. The 23-year-old Spaniard, already a two-time US Open champion, faces questions about his match sharpness heading into the season's final major. His return is further complicated — and his title chances arguably enhanced — by the absence of Jannik Sinner, which has opened the men's draw considerably. How quickly Alcaraz rediscovers top form after his extended layoff will be one of the central narratives of the fortnight.

Serena and Venus Williams Reunite in Doubles

Serena Williams and Venus Williams have received a wild card to compete in the women's doubles draw, marking their first appearance together at the US Open since 2022. The sisters have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles as a partnership, including two at Flushing Meadows, and their return is expected to draw significant attention to the doubles competition. They will face a field that includes several established Grand Slam champions, making their run — however far it extends — one of the tournament's most-watched subplots.

Sabalenka Bids for Rare US Open Hat-Trick

Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1 and two-time defending champion, enters the tournament with a chance to achieve something not seen in women's tennis at the US Open in over a decade. A third consecutive title would make her the first woman since Serena Williams — who won three straight from 2012 to 2014 — to complete a US Open hat-trick. That feat would place Sabalenka alongside an exclusive group of multiple consecutive US Open champions including Chris Evert, Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl, and John McEnroe. Despite an early exit at Wimbledon, her record in New York makes her the clear favourite heading into the women's draw.

With records on the line, marquee names back on court, and the biggest prize pool in Grand Slam history, the US Open 2026 has the ingredients to produce the defining tennis moments of the year.