The 2026 U.S. Open main draw is set to kick off on August 30 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, and all eyes are on Aryna Sabalenka, the hard-court specialist who’s rolling in as this year’s favorite. She’s the two-time defending U.S. Open champ, so it makes sense she’s the one to beat, but a proven tennis expert is eyeing a different kind of value play in the mix, and it’s a big one.
The Big Names Are All Here, But Who’s the Real Threat?
Sabalenka might be the favorite with +340 odds, but the competition is absolutely stacked this year. You’ve got Iga Swiatek right there at +480, a true Grand Slam queen with six singles titles to her name, including four French Opens, a Wimbledon, and a U.S. Open back in 2022. Then there’s American Coco Gauff, a former U.S. Open champ herself from 2023, who also snagged the French Open in 2025. Her odds sit at +500 right now. It’s a loaded field, no doubt about it.
Beyond those top three, the contenders list is deep. We’re talking Naomi Osaka at +1000, and then Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Mirra Andreeva all hanging out at +1400. Any one of these women could go on a run, but when you look at the top tier, it feels like it’s Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff who are going to be duking it out for the trophy.
This Expert Called It Before, And He’s Doing It Again
So, who actually knows what they’re talking about when it comes to predicting these massive tournaments? Meet Jose Onorato. This guy grew up playing competitive tennis in Caracas, Venezuela, then came to the U.S. and trained with legends like Nick Bollettieri at IMG Academy, even facing off against players like Robert Farah, who’s now one of the top-ranked doubles players in the world. Onorato isn’t just guessing; he’s got the track record to back it up. Since 2022, his best bets have gone 168-106-8, netting a wild +107.12 units. He called Jannik Sinner for the 2025 Australian Open at +160 and then again for 2025 Wimbledon at +180. He nailed Carlos Alcaraz at +130 for the 2025 French Open. And get this: he even picked Coco Gauff at +700 for the 2025 French Open and Iga Swiatek at +1200 for 2025 Wimbledon. Just this year, he hit Alexander Zverev at +700 for the 2026 French Open.
The Surprising Bet That Could Pay Off Big
With that kind of resume, when Onorato makes a surprising pick, you gotta listen up. He’s backing Coco Gauff, not at her current +500, but as a value play at +600! Why Gauff? Well, she’s American, which means she’ll have the full force of the home crowd behind her. The 22-year-old is a former U.S. Open champion, so she knows exactly what it takes to win a Grand Slam on this stage. Plus, she’s coming off a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon just last month, showing her form is right where it needs to be. As Onorato himself said, “Gauff is the home favorite and the value play in the middle of the board. She won this title in 2023 and has the crowd, the movement, and the def” (defense).
The main draw kicks off on August 30. All eyes will be on the favorites, but if Onorato is right, Gauff could be the one pulling off the big win. Get ready, because the U.S. Open is about to get wild, and this could be the story everyone talks about when it’s all over.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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