US Open 2025: Sinner, Sabalenka, and the Stars Chasing Glory in New York

The final Grand Slam of 2025 begins at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre on Sunday, August 24th, as Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka look to defend the titles they won at the US Open last year. Sinner, who had looked imperious since winning his first Wimbledon title in July, threw a potential spanner in the works for his defence after retiring during his Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz.

Sinner was down 0–5 when he called it a day against his great rival, leaving many worried that we may miss out on another potential Sinner–Alcaraz clash in New York.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, has not looked at her best this year, with no Grand Slam title to her name in 2025. The world No. 1 lost in the finals of both the Australian Open and Roland Garros, before suffering a surprise semi-final defeat to Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon in July.

Can she finally get her hands on a Slam this year in New York, or will Iga Świątek continue her momentum from London and claim her second consecutive Slam of the year?

2025 US Open Men’s Tournament: The Favourites

If Jannik Sinner’s retirement in Cincinnati has no lingering effects heading into New York, there is no doubt that once again the standout contenders for this year’s men’s title are Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. These two men have firmly established themselves as the top two players in the world, and unless either falters unexpectedly during the fortnight, it would be no surprise to see them face off in their third Slam final of 2025.

The only factor that could derail Sinner’s title defence is the illness that forced him to withdraw in Cincinnati. If it proves more serious than fans hope, it could scupper his chances and deny tennis fans another meeting between the sport’s new “Big Two.” If not, Sinner will be very hard to beat given his outstanding recent record on hard courts.

Any Other Challengers?

Novak Djokovic arrives in New York without a singles warm-up event, having played just one match in the new mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows. His Wimbledon loss to Sinner prompted Djokovic to admit that the wear and tear on his body means he may struggle to consistently beat Sinner and Alcaraz moving forward. Still, with 24 Grand Slam titles and a bid for his 25th, the Serbian legend can never be completely ruled out.

Taylor Fritz, last year’s finalist, should enter this year’s tournament as one of the top four seeds, ensuring he avoids Sinner and Alcaraz until at least the semi-finals if all advance that far.

Another American to watch is Ben Shelton. The powerful left-hander reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals and went on to win the Canadian Open—his first Masters 1000 title. He then made the quarterfinals in Cincinnati, underlining his strong form heading into the final Slam of the year.

2025 US Open Women’s Tournament: The Favourites

Iga Świątek’s resurgence this summer means she heads to New York as the favourite to lift her seventh Slam title. Before Wimbledon, the Polish star had not won a tournament since Roland Garros 2024. But she backed up her Wimbledon crown by winning the Cincinnati Open for the first time.

Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion in New York, remains her closest rival. Despite an up-and-down 2025, with finals in Australia and Paris and a semi-final run at Wimbledon, she has been unable to close out the biggest matches. This has raised questions about her ability to handle pressure. Still, she remains one of the hardest players to beat on tour and, if composed, could retain her title.

The Challengers

Given the depth in the women’s field, there is no shortage of potential challengers. Elena Rybakina has been steadily climbing back to form, making semi-finals in both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati, where she lost to eventual champions Victoria Mboko and Iga Świątek. With her power and precision, she is a major threat if she can sustain her level across two weeks.

Canadian Open champion and rising star Victoria Mboko is another name to watch. Her triumph at home truly announced her arrival, and after skipping Cincinnati, she will arrive in New York fresh and dangerous.

Naomi Osaka is also back in contention. She reached the Canadian Open final—her best WTA 1000 result since 2022—and won her first title since 2021 earlier this year. As a two-time US Open champion, her experience and renewed form make her a serious dark horse.

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