Patrick McEnroe released early predictions for the upcoming 2026 US Open tournament. He pointed to 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 too. He noted the returning player holds a strong chance at the 2026 competition.
These predictions for Shelton and Alcaraz show the opportunity to break the drought in American tennis. Outlets including Tennis World USA and SSBCrack covered McEnroe's statements on the players and the action.