**Carlos Alcaraz’s return after a four-month wrist injury absence, combined with Jannik Sinner’s right-knee withdrawal, has reshaped the men’s draw for the US Open 2026 at Flushing Meadows.** Alexander Zverev enters as top seed and French Open champion with strong recent major form, while Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton, and Taylor Fritz benefit from hard-court momentum and favorable seeding projections. Alcaraz’s limited match play raises questions about endurance through best-of-five sets on outdoor hard courts, yet his surface record and title defense keep him central to quarterfinal projections. Recent summer results from Shelton and Fritz, plus potential draw positioning once released, will influence early-round paths, with injuries and rest factors remaining key variables ahead of the August 30 main draw start.