The 2026 US Open enters its second week with a fragmented men's draw following Jannik Sinner's absence and Novak Djokovic's first-round exit, leaving defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, top seed Alexander Zverev, and in-form players like Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas as primary contenders for the final on September 13. American depth from Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe adds momentum on hard courts, while recent third-round upsets including Taylor Fritz's loss have reshaped paths. On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek maintain strong positioning after advancing through early rounds, with Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva also in contention for the September 12 final. Late-round form, surface adaptation, and potential quarterfinal or semifinal clashes will determine which players reach Arthur Ashe for the championship matches.