The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York plays host to the US Open (Photo: Al Bello/ Getty Images via AFP)
What an amazing summer it has been for New York sports fans! In June, their beloved basketball team, the Knicks, finally won the NBA championships after a 53-year title drought, sparking off wild celebrations across the city. In July, the Fifa World Cup final was played at MetLife Stadium, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra-time.
The sports bonanza continues, with the US Open taking centre stage between Aug 30 and Sept 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Deemed the noisiest and most raucous Grand Slam event, the tournament draws large crowds with its high energy emanating across the grounds of the tennis centre, particularly from the massive 23,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium, the world’s largest dedicated tennis stadium.
The US Open arrives in New York at a fascinating moment for the sport. The new champions appear to be vulnerable, the old champion refuses to go away and a new generation is waiting to take advantage. This year promises to be yet another exciting showcase of hard-court tennis played at the highest level, and possibly at the highest decibel levels as well.
An icon returns to New York
Team Federer fans unite! Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer is returning to the US Open on Aug 25 for a one-night exhibition at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. On this special evening, New York will get a nostalgic glimpse of past tennis greatness. Federer is the only player to have won five consecutive US Open singles titles, from 2004 to 2008. He will be playing a doubles exhibition match with fellow US Open champions Andy Roddick (2003), Andre Agassi (1994, 1999) and John McEnroe (1979 to 1981, 1984). This August will also be an extra special time for Federer because, a few days after the doubles exhibition, he will be formally inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Aug 29 in Newport, Rhode Island. It will be a fitting tribute to one of tennis’ most enduring champions.
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The big question: Who is healthy?
World No 2 and defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz has not played a competitive match for about four months because of a wrist injury. The latest videos of the 23-year-old going through intense practice sessions, ripping his forehands and backhands with great speed and intensity, raised eyebrows as well as hopes that he will return to New York. Several coaches on the tour have given their two cents, however, pointing out that practising is very different from returning to competition after a long absence. Our take? The major is played on hard courts, often with extreme heat and humidity, and each match (best-of-five sets) could go on for three to five hours. If I were in Alcaraz’s camp, I would be tempted to make the difficult decision to sit this one out.
Italian Jannik Sinner, World No 1, has not played competitively since winning this year’s Wimbledon title. The five-time Grand Slam champion pulled out of two hard-court warm-up events, the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, because of a right knee injury. Sinner is reported to be receiving specialised knee treatment therapy and is focused on making a full recovery to be ready for the US Open. Injury news among elite sporting professionals is nothing new, but the professional tennis calendar has been widely criticised for being too congested, leading to high incidences of premature physical injuries among professionals. Hopefully, more proactive conversations in this area will lead to a more sustainable tour calendar that better protects players’ health.
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Meanwhile, Djokovic the Wolf is still on the prowl. The 24-time Grand Slam champion and current GOAT-on-tour does not appear to be leaving professional tennis anytime soon. At 39, Novak Djokovic, ranked World No 5, is still playing elite-level tennis with much younger players on tour. At one time, he jokingly said of his competitors that he would try to “kick their butt for as long as I possibly can”. Consider this: The age gap between Djokovic and the youngest players in the top 10 is an astonishing 16 years (Alcaraz and American Ben Shelton are both 23). His peers and rivals Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray retired two to four years ago. On Aug 20, a documentary titled Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter premiered on Prime Video, chronicling his path from a child in war-torn Serbia to becoming the most successful men’s tennis player in history. According to the trailer, the documentary will show behind-the-scenes access to his physical and mental preparation, such as his yoga, qigong and meditation practices. For anyone interested in the science — and psychology — of longevity, the documentary may offer a few clues as to how Djokovic has managed to remain at the top while players half his age struggle to keep pace.
Other top contenders include World No 3 Alexander Zverev, who finally won his maiden Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open (aka Roland Garros). The German followed up with a strong performance at Wimbledon, making the finals for the first time but losing to Sinner in four sets after winning the first set. Despite an early exit at the Canadian Open, Zverev, with his powerful 130+mph first serve and aggressive forehand, should be one of the top contenders for the US Open title (he reached the US Open finals in 2020 but lost to Austrian Dominic Thiem). World No 4 Félix Auger Aliassime (aka FAA), recently lost a gruelling five-set, five-hour-15-minute quarter-final to Djokovic at this year’s Wimbledon championships. The Canadian is likely to learn more from this loss and be a better player because of it.
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Next-gen is nigh
World No 6 Ben Shelton recently won an ATP Masters 1000 tournament at the National Bank Open in Montreal, showcasing his high level of play and mental toughness. Fellow American Taylor Fritz (World No 9), Spain’s Rafael Jódar (World No 11), Czech Jakub Menšík (World No 16) and Brazilian João Fonseca (World No 26) round up the next generation of players ready to make an impact.
And while the men’s draw is dominated by questions over injuries and longevity, the women’s tournament has a different feel: a deep field of established champions, powerful young stars and one rapidly rising player from Asia who is beginning to attract a global following.
Headlining the top women contenders this year are World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, World No 2 Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan, American World No 4 Coco Gauff and Polish World No 5 Iga Świątek, who silenced critics with her recent win over in-form Rybakina in the final of the Canadian Open, for her first WTA title of the season.
For tennis fans, especially Asians around the world, one female player is currently making waves and generating a lot of buzz and excitement wherever she goes — World No 20 Alex Eala from the Philippines. The rising tennis star made history at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, DC, becoming the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour singles title by defeating World No 3 Jessica Pegula in the finals, setting off “Eala-Mania” among many adoring fans and Filipino supporters all over the world. Combining her sweet and humble demeanour with her strong work ethic and fearless hitting off both sides, Eala has garnered a passionate following among her growing global supporters and is certainly putting Filipino talent and culture on the international tennis stage. Eala is definitely one to watch, not just for her incredible tennis abilities, but for how she seems to bring people of different communities together to watch and support her tennis matches around the world.
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Whatever happens over the next fortnight, this year’s US Open promises to be more than another Grand Slam. With champions returning, young stars emerging, legends being celebrated and questions over the physical demands of modern tennis, New York is once again ready to provide the perfect stage. Expect the usual noise, drama and spectacle — but perhaps also the beginning of a new chapter in the sport.
This article first appeared on Aug 24, 2026 in The Edge Malaysia.
