US Open 2026: Rain Delays Qualifying Dreams as Wong, Montgomery, and Dimitrov Break Through

The US Open moved one step closer to its main event on August 27, but New York refused to let Fan Week end neatly.

Rain disrupted what was supposed to be the final day of singles qualifying at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, leaving much of the field waiting until Friday to learn whether their US Open would continue.

Nine players did escape the uncertainty.

Coleman Wong, Robin Montgomery and Grigor Dimitrov were among the biggest names to secure main-draw places, while Toby Samuel, Tomas Barrios Vera, Andrea Guerrieri, Lucrezia Stefanini, Polina Iatcenko and Gabriela Knutson also completed the three-match qualifying journey.

For others, including Kei Nishikori, Qinwen Zheng and Bianca Andreescu, the final step remained unfinished when weather pushed the conclusion of qualifying into August 28.

Thursday was also draw day.

Alexander Zverev became the top seed in the men’s tournament following Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz learned the first obstacle awaiting him after a long injury layoff, and Novak Djokovic discovered the route standing between him and a record 25th Grand Slam title.

On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka’s attempt to win a third consecutive US Open gained its first structure, while Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Mirra Andreeva and Venus Williams all learned where their New York campaigns will begin.

For readers following the tournament from Fan Week through championship weekend, The Sports Encounter Tennis Hub brings together our US Open reporting, Grand Slam analysis and player coverage.

US Open August 27, 2026: What Happened?

Storyline	August 27 Outcome
Men’s qualifying	Five players secured main-draw places before rain interrupted the schedule
Women’s qualifying	Four players qualified before remaining matches were moved to Friday
Coleman Wong	Defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-3
Robin Montgomery	Defeated Carson Branstine 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Grigor Dimitrov	Advanced after Otto Virtanen withdrew
Men’s singles draw	Alexander Zverev leads the top half; Carlos Alcaraz anchors the bottom half
Women’s singles draw	Aryna Sabalenka begins title defense against Camila Osorio
Main-draw singles start	Sunday, August 30

Rain Changes the Final Day of US Open Qualifying

Thursday had been designed as a day of closure.

Three victories in qualifying would deliver a place in the 128-player singles main draws. One defeat would end a player’s tournament before the first official round began.

Instead, weather turned the final qualifying round into a two-day test.

The ATP confirmed that rain pushed most men’s final-round qualifying matches to Friday, while the WTA confirmed the same disruption on the women’s side.

That left two very different groups of players walking away from Flushing Meadows on Thursday night.

Nine knew they would return for the main tournament.

Everyone else had to wait.

The uncertainty added another chapter to a Fan Week that had already produced far more competitive significance than a conventional pre-tournament build-up. Wednesday had delivered a Grand Slam title for Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, along with another round of qualifying pressure covered in The Sports Encounter’s August 26 US Open wrap.

Thursday replaced the trophy ceremony with something more uncomfortable.

Survival.

Coleman Wong Turns Another Qualifying Run Into a Main-Draw Place

Wong produced one of Thursday’s cleanest qualifying performances.

The Hong Kong player defeated experienced Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-3 to earn a place in the US Open main draw for the second consecutive year.

His progress matters because 2025 established that qualifying was not his ceiling.

Wong reached the third round in New York last year after coming through qualifying, eventually losing a five-set match to Andrey Rublev.

That run made him the first Hong Kong man of the Open Era to compete in a Grand Slam main draw.

He returns in 2026 with considerably more evidence that he belongs there.

The 22-year-old had already reached his first ATP semifinal earlier this summer and broken into the Top 100 before arriving in New York.

His qualifying campaign also developed in the right direction. After dropping his opening set of the tournament, Wong won six consecutive sets to reach the main draw.

Against Lajovic, he did not need a comeback, a deciding set or a weather restart.

He simply finished the job before the rain could become part of his story.

Robin Montgomery Recovers From a Set Down to Return to the US Open

Montgomery’s route was very different.

Carson Branstine took the opening set 6-2, leaving the American one set from elimination.

Montgomery answered with consecutive 6-2 sets of her own.

The 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory sends her into the US Open main draw for the third time and continues a season that has already represented a significant comeback.

Montgomery won the US Open girls’ singles and doubles titles in 2021, but injuries complicated the transition into the senior game. A wrist problem later kept her out for nine months.

Her 2026 recovery has changed the trajectory again.

She won her first WTA title on grass at the Libéma Open earlier this season and also qualified for Wimbledon.

Now she has earned her New York place through three rounds rather than receiving it through reputation or a wildcard.

That distinction makes Thursday’s comeback particularly meaningful.

Dimitrov Returns Without Having to Play the Final Match

Grigor Dimitrov’s final qualifying round ended before it began.

Otto Virtanen withdrew, giving the Bulgarian a walkover into the main draw.

The circumstances were unusual, but the destination matters more.

Dimitrov had already defeated Lorenzo Giustino and Timofey Skatov in straight sets during the first two rounds of qualifying.

His reward is a return to a tournament that once produced one of the best Grand Slam runs of his career.

Dimitrov reached the US Open semifinals in 2019 and the quarterfinals in 2024. He then missed last year’s tournament after suffering a pectoral injury at Wimbledon.

His presence in qualifying at all illustrated how dramatically injuries and ranking movement can alter the position of even an established former world No. 3.

Thursday restored something more familiar.

Dimitrov will be part of the US Open main draw again.

Samuel, Barrios Vera and Guerrieri Complete the Men’s Qualifying Group

Three other men secured their places before the rain took control of the schedule.

Toby Samuel advanced after Cristian Garin retired during their deciding set. Garin had taken the opener 6-4, Samuel responded by winning the second set 6-4 and had moved 5-0 ahead in the third when the match ended.

Tomas Barrios Vera produced a more straightforward result, beating Daniel Rincon 6-4, 6-3.

Andrea Guerrieri also qualified in straight sets, defeating Aziz Dougaz 6-2, 6-4.

Men Who Qualified for the US Open on August 27

Qualifier	Opponent	Result
Coleman Wong	Dusan Lajovic	6-4, 6-3
Toby Samuel	Cristian Garin	4-6, 6-4, 5-0 ret.
Tomas Barrios Vera	Daniel Rincon	6-4, 6-3
Andrea Guerrieri	Aziz Dougaz	6-2, 6-4
Grigor Dimitrov	Otto Virtanen	Walkover

Stefanini, Iatcenko and Knutson Earn Grand Slam Breakthroughs

Montgomery carried the most recognizable American storyline among the women’s qualifiers, but Thursday also created three important career milestones.

Lucrezia Stefanini defeated American teenager Julieta Pareja 6-4, 6-3 to reach the US Open main draw for the first time.

Stefanini had already competed in the other three Grand Slam main draws. New York was the missing piece.

Polina Iatcenko went one step further in personal significance.

The 22-year-old defeated Andrea Lazaro Garcia 7-5, 6-1 to qualify for the first Grand Slam main draw of her career.

Gabriela Knutson achieved the same breakthrough at age 29.

She beat Ekaterine Gorgodze 6-4, 6-4 to earn her first Grand Slam main-draw appearance.

Qualifying tournaments are often described primarily through the established names trying to return to the main event.

Iatcenko and Knutson offered the opposite perspective.

For them, Thursday was not about returning.

It was about arriving.

Women Who Qualified for the US Open on August 27

Qualifier	Opponent	Result
Robin Montgomery	Carson Branstine	2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Lucrezia Stefanini	Julieta Pareja	6-4, 6-3
Polina Iatcenko	Andrea Lazaro Garcia	7-5, 6-1
Gabriela Knutson	Ekaterine Gorgodze	6-4, 6-4

Nishikori, Zheng and Andreescu Must Wait Until Friday

The rain left several of Fan Week’s biggest qualifying stories unresolved.

Kei Nishikori still needs to complete his attempt to reach another US Open main draw, with fellow Japanese player Rei Sakamoto standing between him and the tournament.

Qinwen Zheng also remains in the qualifying fight.

The former world No. 4 and two-time US Open quarterfinalist entered qualifying after injury disrupted her recent Grand Slam appearances. Her presence in the preliminary draw had already made this year’s women’s qualifying unusually strong.

Bianca Andreescu is another former major champion forced to return on Friday.

The 2019 US Open champion has been trying to reach her first Grand Slam main draw since the 2024 US Open.

That means the final qualifying day will still contain names normally associated with the main tournament rather than the week before it.

The Singles Draw Turns August 27 Into More Than a Qualifying Day

The qualifying courts were only half the story.

Thursday also produced the men’s and women’s singles draws, finally converting weeks of speculation into actual tournament paths.

The Sports Encounter has already broken down the biggest implications in our detailed report on the US Open 2026 singles draws.

The official US Open draw analysis confirms the unusual balance created by injuries, comeback stories and the distribution of former champions.

Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal elevated Alexander Zverev to the top seed.

Zverev begins against Lorenzo Sonego.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz leads the bottom half and opens against Roman Safiullin after spending roughly five months away from singles competition because of a wrist injury.

That comeback has been one of the central themes of the tournament since Alcaraz returned to competition in mixed doubles with Serena Williams earlier this week. Their run ended in the quarterfinals, but TSE’s report on Serena and Alcaraz’s US Open return showed why even two abbreviated doubles matches mattered to his preparation.

Djokovic’s Route to No. 25 Begins With Mariano Navone

Novak Djokovic will begin his attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles title against Mariano Navone.

He sits in Alcaraz’s half of the draw, creating the possibility of a major semifinal between the defending champion and the most successful men’s Grand Slam player of the era.

The broader men’s picture had already changed before draw day.

Sinner’s absence, Alcaraz’s uncertain match rhythm and Zverev’s breakthrough Grand Slam season created an opening examined in our analysis of Zverev, Djokovic and Ben Shelton’s US Open chances.

Shelton now begins against Tallon Griekspoor.

Arthur Fils faces Stefanos Tsitsipas in one of the strongest opening-round matches on paper.

Former champions also collide with established threats immediately.

Stan Wawrinka faces Matteo Berrettini in what could become the final US Open singles match of Wawrinka’s career if he loses.

The Swiss veteran’s presence in the field itself required a late change after he initially appeared set to miss New York. TSE followed that unusual sequence in our report on Wawrinka’s late US Open wildcard.

Key Men’s First-Round Matches Revealed August 27

Player	First-Round Opponent	Why It Matters
Alexander Zverev	Lorenzo Sonego	Top seed begins pursuit of another major title
Carlos Alcaraz	Roman Safiullin	Defending champion returns after long injury layoff
Novak Djokovic	Mariano Navone	Djokovic begins chase for Grand Slam No. 25
Ben Shelton	Tallon Griekspoor	Leading American contender receives dangerous opener
Stefanos Tsitsipas	Arthur Fils	One of Round 1’s strongest unseeded-versus-seeded style matchups
Stan Wawrinka	Matteo Berrettini	Potential final US Open match for the 2016 champion

Sabalenka’s Three-Peat Attempt Begins Against Camila Osorio

The women’s draw produced just as many questions.

Aryna Sabalenka will begin her attempt to win a third consecutive US Open title against Camila Osorio.

Sabalenka won New York in both 2024 and 2025, but her 2026 season has not given her the same Grand Slam control.

Jessica Pegula and reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova are positioned in the same top half.

The bottom half carries its own concentration of champions and contenders.

Coco Gauff opens against Zeynep Sonmez.

Iga Swiatek begins against Xiyu Wang.

Elena Rybakina faces American wildcard Thea Frodin, while Mirra Andreeva opens against Janice Tjen.

Naomi Osaka begins against Anastasia Zakharova.

No opening match, however, carries quite the same generational intrigue as Venus Williams against Sofia Kenin.

Venus Williams Gets an All-American Opening Against Sofia Kenin

Venus Williams will play another US Open singles match at age 46.

Her opponent is fellow American and former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

The two have never met at tour level.

Both entered the tournament through wildcards, but their career contexts could hardly be more different.

Venus is returning to a tournament she first played almost three decades ago and won twice.

Kenin is trying to rebuild after slipping outside the Top 100.

The winner could face Jessica Pegula in the second round.

Venus’ singles appearance is not the only Williams storyline still developing in New York. She and Serena have also received a women’s doubles wildcard, bringing one of tennis’ greatest partnerships back to a Grand Slam. TSE examined that history in our report on Serena and Venus Williams’ US Open doubles reunion.

Key Women’s First-Round Matches Revealed August 27

Player	First-Round Opponent	Main Storyline
Aryna Sabalenka	Camila Osorio	Attempting third consecutive US Open title
Coco Gauff	Zeynep Sonmez	Former champion returns with strong summer form
Iga Swiatek	Xiyu Wang	2022 champion begins another New York title pursuit
Elena Rybakina	Thea Frodin	Grand Slam champion faces American wildcard
Naomi Osaka	Anastasia Zakharova	Two-time champion continues comeback
Venus Williams	Sofia Kenin	Two former major champions meet in all-American opener

Fan Week Has Already Changed the Meaning of “Before the US Open”

The main singles tournament has not begun, yet the 2026 US Open has already produced a surprising amount of consequential tennis.

Serena Williams returned to competition at Arthur Ashe Stadium alongside Alcaraz.

Novak Djokovic and Sabalenka were eliminated by doubles specialists Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, a result TSE examined in our analysis of why the redesigned mixed-doubles event rewarded specialists.

Muchova and Mensik won the mixed doubles title.

Wawrinka regained a place in what will be his final US Open.

Serena and Venus received another doubles opportunity.

Gael Monfils has also arrived for what is expected to be his last US Open, following an emotional Fan Week mixed-doubles run with wife Elina Svitolina. Their story is explored in The Sports Encounter’s feature on Monfils and Svitolina in New York.

That accumulation of stories has changed the role of the week before the singles tournament.

It is no longer merely practice, ticket promotions and preparation.

Players are already winning trophies, losing tournament opportunities, fighting through qualifying and learning exactly who stands between them and a Grand Slam title.

What Comes Next at the US Open?

The unfinished final qualifying matches will resume Friday, August 28.

That means Nishikori, Zheng, Andreescu and several other players still need to complete the final step into the main draw.

Once those places are settled, attention will shift fully toward Sunday.

The US Open men’s and women’s singles main draws begin on August 30 and continue through September 13.

The complete tournament framework, dates, Fan Week structure, player field and major pre-tournament narratives are available in The Sports Encounter’s complete US Open 2026 curtain-raiser.

The Sports Encounter Verdict

August 27 should have been the day qualifying ended.

Instead, it became a day split between certainty and waiting.

Wong walked away knowing his second consecutive US Open main draw was secure.

Montgomery completed another important step in a comeback season.

Dimitrov returned to familiar Grand Slam territory.

Stefanini finally added New York to her Grand Slam résumé, while Iatcenko and Knutson earned their first appearances on a major main-draw stage.

Nishikori, Zheng and Andreescu received no such closure.

The rain made them wait another day.

At the same time, the singles draw changed the tournament from a collection of contenders into a map of actual confrontations.

Alcaraz knows who will test his match readiness first.

Djokovic can see the route toward No. 25.

Sabalenka can see the path toward three straight New York titles.

Venus Williams knows which former major champion will stand across the net when another remarkable US Open chapter begins.

That was the real significance of Thursday.

Some players reached the tournament.

Everyone else finally learned what the tournament might demand from them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened at the US Open on August 27, 2026?

The final round of men’s and women’s singles qualifying began, but rain forced many matches to be postponed until August 28. Five men and four women secured main-draw places before play was disrupted. The men’s and women’s singles draws were also released.

Who qualified for the US Open men’s main draw on August 27?

Coleman Wong, Grigor Dimitrov, Toby Samuel, Tomas Barrios Vera and Andrea Guerrieri secured men’s singles main-draw places on August 27.

Who qualified for the US Open women’s main draw on August 27?

Robin Montgomery, Lucrezia Stefanini, Polina Iatcenko and Gabriela Knutson secured women’s singles main-draw places before rain interrupted the qualifying finale.

Did Grigor Dimitrov qualify for the 2026 US Open?

Yes. Dimitrov reached the main draw after Otto Virtanen withdrew before their final-round qualifying match. Dimitrov had won his first two qualifying matches in straight sets.

Did Coleman Wong qualify for the 2026 US Open?

Yes. Wong defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-3 to qualify for the US Open main draw for the second consecutive year.

Did Robin Montgomery qualify for the US Open?

Yes. Montgomery recovered from losing the first set to beat Carson Branstine 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 and earn her third US Open main-draw appearance.

Why was US Open qualifying postponed?

Rain disrupted the final qualifying round on August 27 and forced most remaining matches to be completed on Friday, August 28.

Who does Carlos Alcaraz play in the first round of the 2026 US Open?

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will face Roman Safiullin in the first round.

Who does Novak Djokovic play first at the 2026 US Open?

Djokovic begins his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam singles title against Mariano Navone.

Who does Aryna Sabalenka play in the first round?

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka opens against Camila Osorio as she attempts to win a third consecutive US Open women’s singles title.