Jannik Sinner enters as the clear frontrunner to reach the men's US Open final, backed by his world No. 1 ranking, five major titles, and proven hard-court consistency, though a recent right-knee issue prompted his Cincinnati withdrawal. Carlos Alcaraz faces fitness questions from a lingering right-wrist injury that has limited match play since April, while Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic draw support from steady results and experience. On the women's side, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka leads the field with strong recent form, including her National Bank Open title, ahead of challengers like Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina. The hard-court swing and draw positioning will shape semifinal paths, with any late injury updates or upsets in the later rounds capable of shifting the finalist field.