NEW YORK — The stage is set for an exhilarating U.S. Open next month, featuring two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka alongside the dynamic Wimbledon victor Jannik Sinner.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Tennis Association revealed the direct entry lists for this culminating Grand Slam of the season. Based on the rankings as of July 20, the cutoffs were established at No. 102 for women and No. 101 for men.
Sabalenka stands at the pinnacle of the women’s rankings, aiming to carve her name in history as the first woman since Serena Williams (2012-14) to clinch three consecutive U.S. Open titles.
Sinner is on a mission to reclaim the title that slipped away to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final. The top-seeded Italian recently celebrated his fifth major championship, overcoming French Open champion Alexander Zverev in a thrilling Wimbledon finale.
Alcaraz, who has been sidelined from the past two majors due to a wrist injury, is determined to return during the North American hard-court swing and is currently ranked No. 3, making him a key contender in the upcoming event.
The United States leads the charge with 14 men and 14 women securing direct entry. The last entry for the women’s bracket went to No. 102 Anastasia Zakharova, while Filip Misolic made the men’s cut using a protected ranking at No. 101.
Misolic is among eight players, including five women and three men, who benefited from a special or protected ranking.
The final line-up of 128 players will be completed by wild cards awarded by the USTA — with the possibility of a spot for Williams if she recovers and chooses to compete following her knee injury sustained during her first-round exit at Wimbledon. Qualifying tournaments will precede the main draw, set to kick off on Sunday, August 30.
