Geneva, 26 August 2026 – One of the most formidable challenges in tennis, the US Open marks the final date in this year’s Grand Slam® calendar and promises to once again light up New York. From Sunday 30 August to Sunday 13 September, the world’s leading players and aspiring talents will aim to channel the contagious energy that pulses through the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, as the Rolex clocks keep time courtside. After winning his second US Open title last year and completing the career Grand Slam® in January, Rolex Testimonee Carlos Alcaraz returns from injury to defend his crown.

Alcaraz, who dropped just one set on his path to the trophy last year, reflects on what set that victory apart:

An electric atmosphere has defined the US Open ever since the event transitioned to its current home in 1978. This bold move from the green clay at West Side Tennis Club established it as the first hard-court Grand Slam® tournament, coinciding with the year Rolex’s tennis journey began. Chris Evert, who had won the three previous editions, prevailed again by seamlessly adapting her game to the new faster surface. Over the decades, the American has witnessed first-hand the tournament’s evolution and Rolex’s flourishing relationship with tennis, which includes its role as Official Timekeeper of the US Open. Evert, a Rolex Testimonee and 18-time Grand Slam® champion, says: 

Following a strong North American hard-court swing, the Rolex Testimonees will travel to New York determined to create their own history across 15 days of action. From Taylor Fritz winning in Washington, to Ben Shelton claiming back-to-back titles in Canada and Coco Gauff lifting the Cincinnati trophy for the second time last week, the home favourites will be looking to continue their momentum on US soil. Gauff joins fellow Grand Slam® champions Iga Świątek, Mirra Andreeva and Sloane Stephens in the women’s draw, while Belinda Bencic, Maria Sakkari and Qinwen Zheng seek their breakthrough at the sport’s highest level. On the men’s side, Fritz and Shelton are bidding to become the first American to win the singles trophy since 2003. Their path to glory will not be straightforward with Alcaraz eyeing the top prize again, and Stéfanos Tsitsipás among those bidding for a maiden Grand Slam® victory. 

The US Open has been the stage for epic rivalries and groundbreaking innovations since its inauguration in 1881. It was the first Grand Slam® tournament to introduce equal prize money for men and women, night sessions, tiebreaks and electronic line-calling, all of which have revolutionized the sport. Throughout its 145-year history, the US Open has been at the vanguard of transformative change in the sport, a legacy that resonates with Rolex’s own pioneering role and reputation for excellence in the world of watchmaking.