Aryna Sabalenka will begin her quest for a third straight US Open title with a first-round clash against Colombia’s Camila Osorio, as per the draw revealed by the organisers on Thursday.

This year’s US Open will be held from August 30 to September 13.

World No. 1 Sabalenka won her maiden title at Flushing Meadows in 2024 with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over USA’s Jessica Pegula in the final. The Belarusian retained her crown by taking down Amanda Anisimova, another American, 6-3, 7-6(3) in last year’s summit clash.

Third-seeded Pegula is in the top half of the draw along with Sabalenka and the two are projected to meet in the semifinals.

Sabalenka has not won a title since achieving the ‘Sunshine Double’ earlier this year. The road to the final is not easy for the 28-year-old Belarusian as she has a potential fourth-round match against Russia’s Diana Shnaider, the opponent she lost to in the French Open quarterfinals and a possible last-eight fixture against Linda Noskova, the reigning Wimbledon champion.

The 32-year-old Pegula will take on Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the opening round.

In the bottom half, second-seeded Kazakh Elena Rybakina is projected to take on fourth-seeded American and 2023 champion Coco Gauff for a place in the final.

Rybakina will be up against 17-year-old American wild card Thea Frodin while Gauff will meet Turkiye’s Zeynep Sonmez in the opening round.

Iga Swiatek, the eighth-seeded Pole and 2022 champion, is set to play against China’s Wang Xiyu. Swiatek is a potential quarterfinal opponent for Rybakina.

Mirra Andreeva, fifth seed, and Anisimova, last year’s runner-up and 10th seed, are both in Gauff’s quarter and could face her for a semifinal spot. However, Russian teenager Andreeva, who clinched her maiden Major at Roland Garros this year, has a tricky first round against Indonesia’s Janice Tjen.

Rybakina, Gauff and Pegula all three have a chance of replacing Sabalenka at the top of the WTA Rankings.

No wild card for Serena

Contrary to the speculations, 44-year-old Serena Williams, a six-time US Open champion, has not received a main draw wild card. However, her elder sister Venus has been awarded one for the fourth time in the last five editions.

The 46-year-old Venus, a seven-time Major winner, will face compatriot Sofia Kenin, who received the final main draw wild card, in the first round. The winner of this match is expected to play against Pegula in the round of 64.

The Williams sisters have been awarded a wild card for women’s doubles, paving the way for their first match together at a Major since the US Open in 2022.

Published on Aug 27, 2026