# US Open tournament preparations and player concerns

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-open-tournament-preparations-and-player-concerns
> Updated: 2026-08-28T16:15:41.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

Preparations for the US Open in New York have progressed toward the start of the main singles competition. Initial reports highlighted the tournament field, including top seed Alexander Zverev, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. The tournament had previously transitioned to using Extra Duty balls for both men and women to address player concerns regarding control.

As the tournament approached, Alexander Zverev, who became the top seed following the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner due to knee issues, criticized the quality of professional tennis balls. Zverev described the balls as ‘dead,’ arguing that players must ‘hack’ at them more forcefully to achieve results, a factor he believes contributes to increased wrist, elbow, and arm injuries among young players.

The tournament landscape has been further impacted by several player availability changes, including the absence of Jack Draper due to a bone bruise and the return of Carlos Alcaraz from a four-month wrist injury. Despite a challenging start to the North American hard-court season, Zverev has reported feeling physically fit and improving in training.

## Claims

- Alexander Zverev claims that tennis balls have become 'dead', requiring players to hit them harder. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Zverev links the use of these balls to increased wrist, elbow, and arm injuries among young players. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Carlos Alcaraz is returning to competition after a four-month hiatus due to a wrist injury. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Jack Draper is unable to compete in New York due to a bone bruise in his left arm. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Jannik Sinner will miss the US Open due to knee problems. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Alexander Zverev is the top seed for the US Open following Sinner's withdrawal. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-28: Alexander Zverev criticizes tennis ball quality ahead of US Open

Alexander Zverev criticizes professional tennis balls for being ‘dead,’ linking them to rising player injuries ahead of the US Open, where he enters as the top seed following Jannik Sinner's withdrawal.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/alexander-zverev-criticizes-tennis-ball-quality-ahead-of-us-open

### 2026-08-24: US Open prepares for main draw as top seeds prepare for New York

The US Open prepares for its main draw starting August 30, featuring top seeds like Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, following recent rule changes regarding ball usage for players.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-open-prepares-for-main-draw-as-top-seeds-prepare-for-new-york

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Cite as: US Open tournament preparations and player concerns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-open-tournament-preparations-and-player-concerns