First Ball Forehand

2026 US Open Women’s Preview: The Americans Are Loaded

If the American men enter this US Open with hope, the American women enter it with something more.

Expectations.

Let’s talk tennis.

Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Iva Jovic and Madison Keys are all seeded. Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend and others add even more depth. This isn’t one American star carrying the flag. It’s a group with legitimate chances to be playing deep into the second week.

Start with Gauff. She’s my American favorite, and her Cincinnati title only strengthened that opinion. She enters New York playing confident tennis, she’s already won this tournament, and at 22 she somehow still feels like she’s developing even though she’s been on the biggest stages for years.

When Gauff is defending well, transitioning to offense and controlling the match without forcing things, there aren’t many players I’d rather have in a long, physical New York battle.

Pegula, Anisimova and Keys Can Absolutely Make Noise

Jessica Pegula might be the most dependable player in the field. She reached the finals in both Washington and Cincinnati during a terrific hard-court stretch, and her consistency makes her incredibly difficult to knock out of tournaments.

The question remains whether she can finally turn all that consistency into a major title. Pegula doesn’t have the physical advantages of some of the bigger hitters, and her second serve can be attacked. But I continue to believe that once she gets over that final mental hurdle, we may see a different player in the biggest matches.

Amanda Anisimova is another legitimate threat. I don’t think she’s consistently shown her absolute best this season, but she’s still a Top 10 player with the kind of clean, aggressive ball striking that can become very dangerous on these courts.

And don’t forget Madison Keys. She’s seeded lower this year, but hard courts, a big New York stage and that enormous first-strike game are always an interesting combination. Keys doesn’t need to be the favorite to wreck somebody else’s tournament.

Iva Jovic Might Be Ready for the Next Jump

Then we get to the really fun part.

Iva Jovic is 18 years old and already ranked No. 14 in the world. That’s not prospect territory anymore. That’s arrival territory.

I love the fire. I love the weapons. Most importantly, I love how quickly her game seems to be developing.

The question isn’t whether Jovic belongs. She does.

The question is whether this US Open becomes another gradual step, perhaps reaching the second week, or whether she makes the kind of leap young stars sometimes make and suddenly finds herself in a quarterfinal or beyond.

And Then There’s Everybody Else

This is where the women’s draw gets fascinating.

Aryna Sabalenka is the No. 1 seed and two-time defending champion. Elena Rybakina is No. 2. Iga Swiatek remains dangerous. Mirra Andreeva, Linda Noskova, Karolina Muchova and Naomi Osaka give this draw enormous depth.

And everybody will be watching Alexandra Eala.

Eala isn’t American, but after winning Washington and putting together an outstanding North American hard-court summer, she’s become one of the most compelling young players in tennis. She’s now seeded No. 17, and if that serve continues developing, the rest of her game is already good enough to make life miserable for almost anyone.

That’s what makes this tournament so much fun.

There isn’t one inevitable path through this draw. There are established champions, Americans knocking on the door, teenagers coming fast and dangerous players everywhere you look.

First Ball Forehand Match Point

American women’s tennis isn’t waiting for the next generation. The present is already pretty exciting.

Gauff may lead the way, but Pegula, Anisimova, Keys and Jovic give us plenty of reasons to believe an American could be holding the trophy when this wild New York fortnight is over.

Source: Publicly available ATP/WTA reporting and season coverage.