The US Open could be drawn into the wider dispute between leading players and the Grand Slams, with tennis expert Jon Wertheim saying there have been “rumblings” that a boycott of the mixed doubles event may be possible.

The issue sits inside an ongoing battle over prize money and revenue sharing that has involved players such as Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka since March 2025. In a letter sent to the four events, the group called for a bigger share of tournament revenue, more investment in player welfare, and the formation of a Grand Slam player committee.

That push has already produced visible signs of protest. At the French Open this year, many players reduced their media duties to just 15 minutes in an effort to underline their position, even though the tournament’s prize fund reached €61.7 million, up 9.53% on 2025.

Their financial demand is specific: the players want the four Grand Slams to allocate 16% of revenue to prize money, rising to 22% by 2030. Sabalenka also made clear in May that she would consider a boycott if progress remained slow.

“I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah,” said the world No 1 at the time.

“I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.”

Wimbledon’s response offered a different tone. Its prize money climbed to £64.2 million, still short of the reported £71 million player demand, yet the players did not limit media access during the event because of what was described as the “positive nature” of discussions with officials.

With the season’s final Grand Slam approaching, Wertheim argued on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast that the US Open and the USTA are unlikely to move quickly toward a revenue-sharing model. He also suggested that any withdrawal from mixed doubles would not be enough to derail the event.

“The US Open, USTA, they are not going to agree readily with any sort of revenue sharing model,” analysed Wertheim.

“And yeah, the question is always, what these things is how much leverage do the players have? And there have been rumblings about mixed doubles.

“What I was told is that there are players who are happy to play, who are sort of on a wait list, who haven’t been tapped yet, but if, Jannik Sinner is a name that’s been thrown around, Aryna Sabalenka has been very vocal.

“If those players choose not to play in the mixed event as a form of protest, they’ll still be okay to fill the field. Obviously, you’d rather have the two current world number ones than not, but I don’t think it’s fatal to this mixed doubles event.”

Carlos Alcaraz is moving nearer to a comeback after nearly four months away from professional tennis because of a wrist injury, with reports linking him to a return at the Cincinnati Open.

The world No 3 last competed at the Barcelona Open, where he won his opening match before needing a medical timeout and later withdrawing from his next contest because of wrist discomfort. Since then, he has been following a careful recovery process and was recently observed striking balls lightly during an indoor practice session.

A new report from Spanish newspaper El Pais says the seven-time Grand Slam champion is set to switch to outdoor training in the coming days. That development matters, as the change in conditions adds another layer to his return to full preparation.

The same report added that Alcaraz has already received the official tennis balls for the Cincinnati Open, scheduled for August 13-23. He is the defending champion at the Ohio event and is protecting 1000 ranking points after lifting the trophy for the first time 12 months ago.

His absence has had a significant effect on the rankings. Alcaraz has already lost more than 5000 points and has been passed by Alexander Zverev for the first time since May 2025. Jannik Sinner now leads him by 5290 points after a run that included all three clay-court Masters 1000 titles and a successful Wimbledon title defence.

The latest update will be welcome news for Alcaraz supporters and strengthens the sense that his return may be approaching. A few days earlier, Javier Varela, writing for La Verdad, reported that the Spaniard is expecting to come back at the Cincinnati Open.

That report also said Alcaraz would view the tournament as a warm-up for the US Open, which takes place from August 30 to September 13. He is the defending champion in New York.

“The progress, however, is positive. Alcaraz is already hitting the ball, albeit still at a moderate intensity, and the goal is to gradually increase his training pace in the coming weeks,” the report said.

“The expectation is that he will be able to travel to the Cincinnati Masters 1000 with the intention of competing, although his participation is not guaranteed and, if he does play, he will not necessarily be at peak physical condition.”

Jannik Sinner has put together a remarkable opening stretch to the 2026 season, collecting five Masters titles and defending Wimbledon to secure his second straight crown there.

The world No. 1 has stayed well clear of the rest of the field and has kept his momentum during the absence of Carlos Alcaraz. Across the first seven months of the year, Sinner has been beaten only three times, with Novak Djokovic, Jakub Mensik, and Juan Manuel Cerundolo responsible for those losses.

Wimbledon delivered the fifth Grand Slam title of his career, and he now heads toward the US Open in September as the clear favourite to win a sixth major.

Even with the silverware already in his collection, Sinner says his biggest wish is to be remembered for more than results. Speaking to Secolo XIX, the World No 1 said: “We are obviously very happy to have successfully defended our title at Wimbledon. With my team, we are already preparing for the second part of the season, which promises to be very demanding.

“In ten years, I would like people to remember me not only for my results, but also for the person I have been and for the values that my parents instilled in me.

“And perhaps some will also remember me because they enjoyed watching my matches. When I play in Italy, I always feel immense support from the crowd. In return, I hope to be able to convey joy and positive energy.”

Sinner will not compete at the Canadian Open in early August, ending his chance to make more history in 2026. He had been on course to sweep all Masters events in the season, a feat no player has ever completed. So far, he has won Indian Wells, the Miami Open, the Monte Carlo Masters, the Madrid Open, and the Italian Open.

His withdrawal also means no ranking-point loss, since he did not play the event last year. He will keep all of his 13,450 ATP Tour points. Three Masters events remain on the calendar, with Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris still available before the season reaches its climax.