Berrettini vs Wawrinka and Alcaraz vs Safiullin headline the Round 1 draw
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US Open 2026 has served up a sensational Round 1 draw, headlined by Matteo Berrettini vs Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Jodar vs Thanasi Kokkinakis and Carlos Alcaraz vs Roman Safiullin. The hard-hitting Russian is a less-than-ideal opponent for the No.2 seed and reigning champion, who's been out of action since April with a wrist injury.
The tie that looks set to steal the show, however, is Berrettini's clash with 2016 champion Wawrinka. They met for the very first time at Wimbledon two months ago – and produced the match of the tournament. With Wawrinka set to hang up his racket this year, it could end up being his final ever appearance at a major.
The women's draw, topped by No.1 seed and back-to-back reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka, will get off to a slightly more low-key start, with Paula Badosa vs Daria Kasatkina and Venus Williams vs Sofia Kenin shaping up as the most intriguing matchups on paper.
Former world No.2 Badosa and former No.8 Kasatkina are both unseeded, while 46-year-old Williams' first meeting with 27-year-old Kenin will likely have the feel of an all-American celebration, both grand slam champions having received wildcards in a bid to maximise viewing figures.
However, there's a fascinating subplot concerning world No.1 status. By the end of the 2026 US Open, Sabalenka will have spent 99 straight weeks at the top of the rankings, and that's where it could end. Elena Rybakina, who won her first hard-court major at the Australian Open in January, will leapfrog Sabalenka if she reaches the last four.
Here's how to watch US Open 2026 from anywhere in the world. We've also listed the the seeds, recent winners and prize money below.
Yes. Free US Open 2026 coverage is being provided by Channel 9 and 9Gem in Australia, with live streaming available via 9Now.
In the US, select matches are being shown on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, which are all carried by YouTube TV (10-day free trial), DirecTV Stream (5-day free trial) and Hulu+Live TV (3-day free trial).
Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch US Open for free as if you were right at home.
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US Open 2026 coverage is being provided by ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and ESPN Unlimited in the US.
ESPN Unlimited, which is live streaming every match on every court, costs $31.99/month or $319.99/year, but you can bundle it with Disney Plus and Hulu for $35.99/month.
