The men’s singles final at the 2026 US Open is set for Sunday, September 13 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, closing out a fortnight shaped as much by absences as by the players still standing.
## How We Got Here
Top seed Alexander Zverev, playing his first US Open as world No. 1 seed after Jannik Sinner withdrew with a knee injury, opened his campaign against Lorenzo Sonego. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, seeded second, returned from a four-month wrist injury layoff to begin his title defense against Roman Safiullin. The draw kept the two on opposite halves, meaning they could only meet in the final itself.
## Storylines to Follow
– Zverev is chasing his second career Grand Slam title after breaking through at Roland-Garros in June
– Alcaraz is attempting to become a back-to-back US Open champion despite limited match play heading into New York
– Novak Djokovic’s shock first-round exit to Mariano Navone removed one of the tournament’s most experienced contenders early
– Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, opened with a straight-sets win over Hugo Gaston
## Why This Final Matters
A Zverev-Alcaraz final would pit the tournament’s new top seed against its most recent champion, a matchup that would headline any Grand Slam weekend. For the bigger picture on how the seeding shook out, read our full US Open 2026 schedule and draw guide, and for context on the ranking gap between the contenders, see our latest ATP rankings breakdown.
## How to Watch
The men’s final airs on ESPN in the United States, with the match traditionally starting in the early afternoon window on the tournament’s final Sunday. Streaming is available through the ESPN App for subscribers, and international viewers should check regional broadcast partners for exact coverage details closer to the date.