US Open 2026 Women’s Singles Entry List Revealed: Stars Align in New York

The summer season in New York City is heating up, and tennis fans around the world have something big to look forward to. Tournament organizers officially released the entry lists for the 2026 US Open tennis tournament, revealing the full lineup of stars preparing to play at Flushing Meadows.

The final Grand Slam tournament of the year will take place from Sunday, August 23 to Sunday, September 13. The excitement will build during Fan Week, and the main draw singles matches will start on Sunday, August 30. With world-class players, rising talent, and past champions in the mix, this year’s tournament promises plenty of drama and high-level tennis.

World Superstars Heading the Field

At the top of the women’s entry list is world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka comes to New York as the defending champion and is aiming to become the first woman to win three consecutive US Open singles titles since Serena Williams achieved the feat from 2012 to 2014. Following right behind her as the No. 2 seed on the entry list is Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion.

Jessica Pegula comes into the entry list as world No. 3, making her the highest-ranked American player across either draw. Rounding out the top five entries are American superstar Coco Gauff at No. 4 and young phenom Mirra Andreeva at No. 5.

The field also features major champions like Poland’s Iga Swiatek at No. 8 and former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka of Japan at No. 13. Overall, the initial field across both men’s and women’s events features 17 former Grand Slam singles champions and 10 former US Open singles champions.

Strong American Presence in the Main Draw

Tennis fans in the United States have plenty of reasons to celebrate. A total of 28 American players—14 men and 14 women—earned direct entry into the main draws based on their world rankings. That makes the United States the most represented nation in the entry lists.

The American women are led by top contender Jessica Pegula (No. 3), 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff (No. 4), and 2025 finalist Amanda Anisimova (No. 9). All three have proven they can go deep into the New York draw in recent years.

The host nation also boasts depth across the rankings, featuring rising talent and proven contenders like Iva Jovic (No. 16), Madison Keys (No. 23), Emma Navarro (No. 27), and Ann Li (No. 32). Further down the direct entry list, players like McCartney Kessler (No. 46), Caty McNally (No. 53), Peyton Stearns (No. 58), Ashlyn Krueger (No. 66), Alycia Parks (No. 67), Taylor Townsend (No. 83), and Katie Volynets (No. 95) ensure local fans will have plenty of homegrown talent to support.

Special Rankings and How Entry Works

The entry lists for the 2026 US Open were determined by the official ATP and WTA world rankings published on Monday, July 20. The cutoff rank for direct entry into the women’s main draw was set at No. 102.

In total, eight players across both single draws were granted direct entry using special or protected rankings due to long injury layoffs or medical leave. On the women’s side, five players entered via special ranking:

• Lois Boisson of France (using Special Rank No. 38)
• Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania (using Special Rank No. 82)
• Aoi Ito of Japan (using Special Rank No. 87)
• Jil Teichmann of Switzerland (using Special Rank No. 89)
• Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand (using Special Rank No. 100)

These special entries allow talented players returning from injuries to jump directly into the main draw without having to battle through qualifying matches.

Young Stars and Next-Generation Talent

The 2026 entry list highlights a changing of the guard in women’s tennis, as a wave of young talent enters the top tiers. Names like Mirra Andreeva (No. 5), Linda Noskova (No. 7), Iva Jovic (No. 16), and Diana Shnaider (No. 18) have built impressive momentum over the last year and earned seeded territory for Flushing Meadows.

Furthermore, young dynamic players such as Alexandra Eala of the Philippines (No. 29), Sara Bejlek (No. 40), Nikola Bartunkova (No. 44), Petra Marcinko (No. 49), and Antonia Ruzic (No. 50) show that the next generation of tennis stars is ready to make an impact on the sport’s biggest stages.

The Alternate List and What Comes Next

While the top players have claimed direct entry, the list of alternates is packed with quality players waiting for an opportunity to step in if someone withdraws.

Germany’s Ella Seidel sits at No. 103 as the very first alternate on the list, followed closely by Elsa Jacquemot (No. 104) and Anna Blinkova (No. 105). Experienced veterans like 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin (No. 108), former Grand Slam finalist Marketa Vondrousova (No. 137), and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu (No. 170) find themselves on the alternate charts, watching for potential spot openings before play starts.

With three full weeks of world-class tennis, vibrant fan events, and high-stakes matches ahead, the 2026 US Open is set to deliver an incredible end to the Grand Slam calendar.

Top 32 Women’s Singles Entry List

Below is the official top 32 entry list for the 2026 US Open Women’s Singles draw, based on the ranking report from July 21, 2026:

=> View the full entry list