Roger Federer has offered a measured view of the men’s singles picture at the 2026 US Open, pointing to both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic when asked to identify the title favourites.

This year’s draw shapes as one of the most difficult Grand Slam tournaments to forecast in recent memory. World No 1 Jannik Sinner would have been a clear front-runner, but he has withdrawn because of a knee injury. In his absence, second-ranked Alexander Zverev is the top seed, arriving after winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open in June.

Alcaraz enters as the reigning champion, although he has not played a match in more than four months because of a right wrist injury. Djokovic, seeded No 4 at 39, is chasing another milestone as he looks to become the oldest player to win a major. His most recent Slam came at the 2023 US Open.

Asked in an interview with ESPN whether he could pick a winner, Federer acknowledged the uncertainty around the field.

“Tough one, it’s a really tricky one… I mean, obviously, I would pick Alcaraz and Novak if Sinner’s not here,” said the legendary Swiss.

“But then, Carlito, we don’t know. And Novak, we just don’t know, as well, right now.”

Federer also addressed the challenge facing Alcaraz after such a long layoff. He said the Spaniard’s preparation would be central to how quickly he finds rhythm in New York.

“I think it depends, and only he knows, how much he’s been practising,” said Federer.

“Has he been able to go all out in practice? For how long? Has it been a week? Has it been a month? And I think that’s the difference maker.

“If it’s only been a week, I think it’s going to be very tricky. And if it’s a month, I give him a good chance to find his groove early on.

“So, he just needs to make sure he get’s through the first, let’s say, three rounds, to get rolling.

“I don’t know, I don’t know the insights of how his practice schedule has looked like.”

Alex Eala is heading into the US Open with her profile rising well beyond the court. The evidence is clear in the numbers: her growing reach on social media has made her the most watched player in tennis, a sign of how quickly her status is expanding.

The 21-year-old has built a large and loyal following as her ranking climb has accelerated. Supporters of the Philippines’ most popular sports figure have turned up in strong numbers at tennis venues around the world over the past couple of years, reflecting the scale of the attention around her.

That momentum surged again after Eala moved into the WTA top 20 last month by winning her first tour-level title in Washington. At this year’s US Open, she is expected to be treated accordingly, with appearances on the main show courts and possibly even night matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Her appeal was visible in New York when a full crowd watched her exhibition against American Iva Jovic on the sport’s biggest stage. The occasion also produced a memorable social media moment when her father joined her on court.

The official US Open YouTube channel underlined her drawing power by confirming that Eala’s match was the most watched upload so far. While warm-up matches this year have generally drawn modest viewing figures, Eala’s one-set exhibition had already passed one million views in less than 24 hours and was climbing the list of the most viewed videos on the account.

Speaking about her support, Eala said: “Of course, I want to give back as much as they give to me, but the obligation first and foremost is to myself. It’s my journey,” said Eala, when she spoke about her fanbase.

“I am really super grateful that all of these supporters want to follow in that journey that I have, but I owe it to myself first and foremost and to my family and team to give it everything that I have. The rest will follow.”

Eala has also spoken about the pride she feels in representing the Philippines, and how moving it is to hear that young people at home are being inspired by her progress. “It just warms my heart that people in my country are looking at what I am doing and might try tennis,” she added.

Former British No 1 Annabel Croft believes Alex Eala is developing a presence on the WTA Tour that is hard to ignore, both in the dressing room and in the stands.

Since the left-hander’s run to the semi-finals at the 2025 Miami Open, interest in Eala has grown rapidly. The support behind the 21-year-old, driven by a large Filipino fan base, has helped turn her into one of the most talked-about players on tour. That attention has been matched by results, with Eala climbing to a career-high ranking of 18 after a strong summer that included her first WTA Tour title in Washington and a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon, where she defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek.

At the Canadian Open this month, Eala once again drew huge crowds in Toronto, creating an atmosphere that impressed Croft. The former world No 24 said she had never seen anything quite like it and was struck by how comfortably Eala handled the noise and expectation.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Croft said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. The stadium, you could not get a seat. The noise, the excitement levels, and she just takes it all in her stride. And you could see in Washington what she brings to the court and she plays with such grace.

“There’s a certain class about her. I love her attitude. I love the way she goes after the ball. She’s a very deceptive tennis player. Being a lefty, she’s quite awkward, but that forehand… it’s not a huge strike, but it does damage.”

Croft also pointed to Eala’s serve, saying her left-handed delivery can unsettle opponents through spin, placement and variation. She drew a comparison with Angelique Kerber and argued that repeated wins over top 10 players are building a reputation that matters on tour.

“I would imagine that she has built up some kind of locker-room respect right now where you build a certain aura and then that counts for quite a lot on the tour as well because players don’t want to face you because of the record that she’s building up.

“There’s something awkward about a lefty serve, a little bit like Kerber. I remember she didn’t have a big serve, but it was so well placed into the court. But also when you put a lot of spin on it and it sometimes has less pace on it, you’re forcing your opponents to generate pace and they start to get a bit jittery.

“She keeps notching up the big wins, but she’s also backing up the pressure wins. She plays under a lot of pressure with all of that excitement from the Filipino community. They turn out in their droves to watch her. That for some people would be a pressure, but she embraces it. She loves it.”

Asked about Eala’s prospects at the US Open, which begins on Sunday, Croft stopped short of calling her a contender. Even so, she felt few players would be eager to see her name in the draw in New York over the next two weeks.

“She’s obviously somebody who enjoys being on a big stage. There will be a lot of players that won’t want to face her because she’s very in form. And I think the hard courts really suit her game.”