Long Island native Jack Kennedy, 18, participated in the men's singles main draw at the U.S. Open on August 30, 2026, becoming the first Long Islander to do so since Noah Rubin in 2014. Kennedy lost in the first round to Lloyd Harris with a score of 4-6, 2-6, 2-6. After the match, Kennedy expressed his admiration for Rubin, stating, "I know Noah very well. We keep in touch quite a bit. He was with us at the Robbie Wagner academy, and he was great, really helpful. I picked his brain a ton. What his transition was like from juniors to pros, and we’re pretty similar — not the tallest guys out there."
Despite the loss, Kennedy described the experience as a "dream come true," receiving a warm welcome from the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He noted, "I definitely caught some familiar faces when I looked around. I saw a lot of people that I haven’t seen in years, and it’s really cool for them to all come together and be here at this match."
Kennedy will continue his participation in the U.S. Open by competing in the junior singles and doubles tournaments next week, where he will defend his title as the reigning doubles champion alongside partner Keaton Hance. He is set to begin his collegiate tennis career at the University of Virginia in the spring. Earlier this year, Kennedy reached the final of an ATP Challenger event and won his first professional title at the M15 in Boca Raton, Florida.
Lloyd Harris, who defeated Kennedy, commented on the young player's potential, saying, "I think he plays a very positive game. He goes after the ball. He’s very aggressive. He’s very good from the baseline. He moves well. … He’s got a lot of potential, a lot of upside in the future if he gets developed correctly. He’s got the game."