Coco Gauff has emerged as the top favorite for the 2026 U.S. Open, according to tennis experts and analysts. After struggling with her serve and coaching changes in 2025, including parting ways with Matt Daly and working with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan alongside coach JC Faurel, Gauff has significantly improved her game. This progress was evident in her Cincinnati Open victory and her current strong form, marking her as the hottest player on the women's tour heading into the tournament set for September 12 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Gauff, now 22 years old, won her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open and despite a fourth-round exit in 2025 against Naomi Osaka, she has since refined her serve and overall play. Tennis legends and commentators such as Lindsay Davenport and Mary Joe Fernandez have praised Gauff’s performance, with Fernandez predicting Gauff to win the title this year and anticipating a potential rematch against Aryna Sabalenka, the 2023 finalist and a strong contender herself.

The tournament draw presents a challenging but navigable path for Gauff. Early rounds could see her facing players like Sonmez, Kasatkina or Badosa, with a potential third-round rematch against Sara Bejlek, whom Gauff defeated convincingly in the recent Canadian Open semi. If she advances, the competition intensifies with prospects of facing young talents like Alex Eala or Iva Jovic in the fourth round, followed by high-ranked opponents such as Mirra Andreeva or Amanda Anisimova, last year’s finalist, in the quarterfinals.

Betting odds from Kalshi show Sabalenka holding a 23% chance to win, with Gauff close behind at 16%, and Iga Swiatek at 15%. Experts remain split, with Patrick McEnroe favoring Swiatek and Fernandez strongly backing Gauff based on her recent performances. As the U.S. Open nears, all eyes will be on Gauff as she seeks to capture her second US Open title and further cement her status at the top of women’s tennis.