US Open 2026: the rackets on the road to the quarter-finals
Alcaraz is already in the fourth round with his Pure Aero 98, top seed Zverev leads the draw with the Speed MP, and Sabalenka, Pegula and Gauff rule the women's side with Blade, EZONE and Boom. The catalog models being played in New York.
Redacción PalaComparer · · 4 min read
The US Open 2026 is entering its second week in New York: the round of 16 takes place on Sunday 6 and Monday 7 September, with the quarter-finals on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. With Jannik Sinner absent, Alexander Zverev is the No.1 seed in the men's draw and Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, is No.2. On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka is chasing her third consecutive title in Flushing Meadows. Here's a look at the rackets the favourites are carrying into the decisive phase — and which models you can find in our catalog.
Alcaraz, into the fourth round with his Pure Aero 98
The Spaniard is already into week two: he beat Yibing Wu 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 and has now won ten straight matches at the tournament, where he defends his 2025 title. His racket remains the Babolat Pure Aero 98: 98 sq in, a 16x20 pattern and around 323 grams strung — the evolution of the Aero family (trimmed to 98 for extra control) that Babolat uses to build his heavy spin game. It's the catalog model also played by Holger Rune, and with it Alcaraz is trying to make Flushing Meadows his Grand Slam.
According to the draw, his natural quarter-final path would cross Ben Shelton, who faces Denis Shapovalov this Saturday for a spot in the fourth round.
Zverev, the No.1 seed with the Head Speed MP
With Sinner out, the German arrives as top seed and is still alive after a marathon: he beat Quentin Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 on Thursday. He plays with the Head Speed MP — 100 sq in, 16x19 and 315 grams — the all-rounder of the Speed family, the same line Novak Djokovic builds his baseline game on at age 39. The Speed MP is the catalog pick for anyone after the versatility of the model leading the tour.
The draw reserves a possible Djokovic-Tiafoe quarter-final in this section if both keep advancing.
Women's draw: Blade, EZONE, Boom and VCORE lead in New York
- Aryna Sabalenka (seed 1) is already through to week two after beating Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4. The Belarusian plays the Wilson Blade 98 in its 18x20 version, a pure control frame with which she seeks her third straight US Open; in the catalog you'll find the Blade 98 v10 16x19, the same family played by Stefanos Tsitsipas.
- Jessica Pegula (seed 3) came from behind to beat Leylah Fernandez (1-6, 6-4, 6-3) with her Yonex EZONE 98: 98 sq in, 16x19 and 320 grams — the comfortable, easy-power racket she shares with Ben Shelton, who carries it as his official factory kit.
- Coco Gauff (seed 4), fresh off winning Cincinnati, keeps playing with her Head Boom MP — 100 sq in, 16x19 and 312 grams — Head's line for players who want power with a margin for error.
- Elena Rybakina (seed 2) is playing the tournament with the Yonex VCORE, available in the catalog in both VCORE 98 and VCORE 100 versions — 321 and 300 grams strung respectively. The draw lines up a possible quarter-final against Iga Swiatek.
The surprise of the week
The first week had its share of big-name exits: Karen Khachanov knocked out No.3 seed Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Botic van de Zandschulp did the same to Alex de Miñaur. The draw has opened up in a section nobody expected — and in tennis, the racket is only half the story.
Tennis is in charge again this week in New York. The rackets are already on court: only the trophy lift on Sunday 13 remains to be decided.
