Patrick McEnroe offered his expectations for the upcoming 2026 US Open tournament. He highlighted Ben Shelton as a key player. He expects Shelton will break a 23-year U.S. men's Grand Slam drought at the US Open. McEnroe spoke about Carlos Alcaraz in addition. He noted the returning player holds a strong chance at the 2026 competition.
These predictions for Shelton and Alcaraz demonstrate the opportunity to overcome the drought in American tennis. Outlets including Tennis World USA and SSBCrack covered McEnroe's statements regarding the competitors and the action.