Patrick McEnroe offered early predictions for the upcoming 2026 US Open tournament. He singled out Ben Shelton as a key player. He thinks Shelton will end a 23-year U.S. men's Grand Slam drought at the US Open. McEnroe discussed Carlos Alcaraz too. He said the returning player holds a huge chance at the 2026 event.
These predictions for Shelton and Alcaraz demonstrate the possibility to end the drought in American tennis. Outlets including Tennis World USA and SSBCrack covered McEnroe's statements regarding the competitors and the tournament.