Paul Annacone’s 2026 US Open Preview: American Stars to Watch

With American tennis experiencing a tremendous surge in talent, legendary coach Paul Annacone previews the action ahead. Having guided multiple champions through the unique, high-pressure New York atmosphere, Annacone breaks down his ultimate tournament watch list and shares the mental blueprint players need to block out the noise and find solutions under the brightest lights in sports.

First and foremost, after spending so much terrific time helping Taylor Fritz, I’m thrilled to watch him. He’s done such a great job finishing in the top 10 the last three years and continues to have the tremendous desire you need to reach your potential. That being said, his peer group of Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe and Reilly Opelka all have a great chance to have an incredible tournament. 

 

You put the younger guys in there, like Ben Shelton, who could make a final weekend run, along with Learner Tien, Alex Michelsen, Ethan Quinn, Zach Svajda and the collegiate star Michael Zheng, and you have a full plate of top potential players to watch. I didn’t even name Seb Korda, who’s had such a rough time with injury, or Brandon Nakashima. So the US is in a terrific place, and I look forward to watching all these guys compete. 

 

For the women, the depth is amazing. It’s been so fun for me to watch Iva Jovic’s meteoric rise. I’ve been able to watch her since I first saw her at Carson when she was about 12 or 13 years old. She’s an amazing talent and continues to impress. Iva has handled the new landscape of stardom incredibly well. 

 

I’ve always been a fan of Jessica Pegula. Her process and approach has been so professional and methodical, and she continues to prove she is among the elite few. Emma Navarro had health issues this year, but she got back on track this spring, so she can be incredibly dangerous and is a relentless competitor. Coco Gauff has dealt with such high expectations for so long and has done it with class. She amazes me because she is one of the best problem solvers you will ever find on a tennis court and can win any tournament at any time. 

 

Of course I’m a fan of Taylor Townsend’s talent, and she is so dangerous because of her versatility. Finally, I think Madison Keys remains a threat to anyone. No one has a bigger game, and when she hits her stride, it’s a thing of beauty to watch. She can hurt you off both sides and as a major champion – she knows how to manage the moment. 

 

These are just a few, but there are so many more and so many great stories. New York brings out so much in everyone, and the atmosphere at The Open is second to none.

Preparation, Routine and Habit. These three themes can be the formula to a player’s success or their demise. Emotions run high, and the drama is incredible at the majors, but in New York, it’s different. The external noise is greater, so you have to learn how to manage the internal noise. 

 

How do I stay in my routine, in practice, in pre-match, in match and in my post-match routine? These are accomplished by conversations with your team, and accepting the fact that things happen in the moment that are totally unexpected and out of your control. How well can you hit the reset button and get back to the next point? The answer to that will tell you how successful you will be.

 

For each player, have a clear picture in your mind about your gameplan and strategy, and for each coach, remind your player to keep circling back to that as you compete. Stay on that track, and reset when necessary. Those who are true to that will have the most success.

I’ve been going to the US Open since I was a little boy, and my favorite part has evolved. Before, I was swept up solely in the electricity of the event like every fan can be. Now as a former player and coach, my favorite part of the Open is watching these great athletes compete and search to find solutions to problems under pressure. That simple theme gives fans the drama they want and makes the event full of the electricity that is the US Open. There’s nowhere to hide, and it truly is the best theater there is.