5 Women’s Players to Watch at the 2026 US Open
Senior writer Jon Wertheim breaks down the five women's players to watch at the 2026 US Open. From defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and title contenders Coco Gauff and Iga Świątek to rising star Alexandra Eala, get the key storylines ahead of the year's final Grand Slam.
Video Transcript
Jon Wertheim from Sports Illustrated here in New York.
The 2026 US Open is upon us.
Who are five players to watch on the women's side?
We'll tell you.
Keep an eye on the defending champion, the two-time defending champion, almost three-time defending champion.
She's also the number one seed.
It's Irina Sabalenka.
She comes in looking for her first major of the year, however, and has been.
Slumping of late, can she break her slump and salvage her season as she did in 2025 by winning the US Open, or will this be a disappointing year?
She's playing for a lot.
Keep an eye on Number 2, how about Jess Pegula, the 32-year-old American does everything right , and she has won everything save a major, has not won a major yet.
Got to the finals two years ago.
Is this the tournament when she breaks through and wins that first major?
of Poland won this event.
Hard to believe 4 years ago she can play on hard courts.
She won in Canada just a few weeks ago.
What is the state of her game going for her first major of the season, but a very nice push recently this summer.
Can she keep it up in New York?
How about Coco Goff?
She's our favorite.
She won here 3 years ago.
She just won in Cincinnati, Ohio a few days.
Ago she's playing better than anyone, comes in with confidence.
Look for her to win her second title in New York.
And then finally, keep an eye on Alexandra Ayala of the Philippines, a wildly popular player because of her nature and her nation of origin.
She's only 21 years old.
She's already in the top 20.
She won in Washington DC.
It would be a huge story if she won her first major in New York.
