Alex Eala arrives at the US Open with growing momentum and a strong endorsement behind her, even if the path to the quarter-finals may require a win over the in-form Coco Gauff in New York.

The Philippines star has already been one of the early talking points in the build-up, with her appearance in a warm-up match on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night producing another social media surge after her father joined her on court. That visibility suggests she could become one of the event’s standout figures.

Greg Rusedski, the 1997 finalist, believes Eala is capable of going deep in New York. His backing comes after a notable breakthrough run at Wimbledon last month, where she reached the last-16 and defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek to further establish her status. She followed that by claiming her first title in Washington, and that form has placed her among the dark horses for a run into the second week.

The draw offers little comfort. Eala could meet Gauff in the fourth round, but Rusedski thinks the matchup would suit her game. “If Eala gets into that Coco Gauff match, I like her chances,” declared Rusedski on his podcast. “That could be a blockbuster match in round four.

“Gauff is one of my favourites, but I still kinda feel Eala would have a chance in that match.

“How is she gonna handle that American crowd? And will she have the Filipinos come into New York to spend their money to cheer her on?

“As Jess Pagula said when she played her in Washington, she felt like she wasn’t playing in America. She felt like the crowd was totally for Eala.

“She’s going to be a big star at this year’s US Open and I’m sure she can handle the attention that will come her way. Her section of the draw tough, but I’ve been so impressed by her.”

Rusedski also pointed to her training base as a major advantage, saying her time at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca has helped shape her development. He argued that with improvement to her serve, her ceiling could be even higher, praising her mentality, return game and early contact on the ball. In his view, Eala has the tools and the personality to become a major force in the women’s game.

Carlos Alcaraz arrives at the US Open as one of the central stories of the tournament, with his fitness under scrutiny as he tries to chase an eighth major title.

The Spaniard has not played since April, when a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open forced him out of action. That setback ruled him out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, along with a number of Masters 1000 events on the ATP Tour calendar. Even so, his New York campaign has gained a little more room to breathe after the withdrawal of world No 1 Jannik Sinner.

There are still obvious doubts surrounding Alcaraz’s level after such a long absence, but Mats Wilander believes the second seed can still go far at Flushing Meadows if the early rounds fall kindly for him. Speaking to Eurosport, Wilander said: “I don’t know who Alcaraz will face in the first two rounds, but if you give him three matches, he’ll stay in the tournament and might play the best tennis of his career.”

As the second seed, Alcaraz will avoid another seeded player until at least the third round. That gives him a little more time to settle, though he will still be a major target for everyone in the draw and will be hoping for a manageable opening path.

His record at the US Open is a strong one. He has gone beyond the early rounds in four of his five appearances, reaching the quarter finals or better each time aside from one surprise exit. That lone early defeat came in 2024, when he lost in the second round to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.

Beyond that result, Alcaraz has been highly effective in New York. He is the current Open Era leader at the tournament, with an 89% winning ratio that places him ahead of Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Jimmy Connors.

The draw is due on Thursday, 27th August, with the main draw beginning on Sunday, 30th August.

Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback at this year’s US Open is already one of the defining storylines of the season. After months away from competition, the Spaniard arrives under a level of scrutiny that comes with both his reputation and the unusual shape of this Grand Slam draw.

Alcaraz has not played since April, when a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open forced him to miss Roland Garros and Wimbledon. It is the longest layoff of his career, yet he still remains among the leading names for the title, a reflection of the standard he can produce when fully fit.

With Jannik Sinner also absent from the tournament, the door has opened wider for the rest of the field. Speaking to ESPN, Patrick McEnroe said Alcaraz will need to navigate his opening matches before he can be viewed as the clear favorite. He also described the 2026 event as a “golden opportunity” for the chasing pack, including the likes of Ben Shelton.

McEnroe added: “Obviously if Alcaraz comes back and gets through a few matches, looks good, he’ll quickly become the favorite.

“I mean, he’s the favorite right now, but he’d quickly become a bigger favorite. There’s no doubt the fact he hasn’t played since the spring, with Sinner out, this is a monster opportunity.”

Alcaraz enters the event as the second seed, behind Alexander Zverev, and the pressure is immediate. He is defending the title he won in 2025, which means the full 2000 ranking points are on the line at Flushing Meadows. An early defeat would bring a sharp drop in the rankings and a difficult start to his return.

To help regain rhythm, Alcaraz has also entered the US Open Mixed Doubles with multi-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. They are scheduled to face Lloyd Glasspool and Erin Routliffe in the evening session on Tuesday, 25th August. Alcaraz has limited mixed doubles experience, though he did play the inaugural event with Emma Raducanu in 2025. That partnership ended in a first-round loss to Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, and he will be hoping for a longer run this time to gather more match practice before the main draw.