US Open 2025: All eyes on Sincaraz rivalry, Djokovic’s historic hunt, and women’s new ‘Big 3’
The 145th US Open has kicked off at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, setting the stage for two weeks of high drama.
With titles, records, and career-defining breakthroughs on the line, both the men’s and women’s singles draws promise fierce battles as the world’s best chase Grand Slam glory.
Apart from the glory of the titles and a large amount of points up for grabs, the total overall prize money for the 2025 US Open totals $90 million, 20% more than the 2024 edition.
The 2025 singles champions will each receive $5 million, a 38.89% increase over the previous year’s payout, while runners-up will take home $2,500,000, also up by 38.89%.
First-round losers in the main draw will earn $110,000 (up 10% from 2024). Overall, prize money across all rounds and events saw double-digit percentage increases, with total compensation rising 113% since 2015.
Much of the spotlight falls on the rivalry between world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.
Dubbed Sincaraz, their head-to-head has quickly become one of the sport’s most thrilling matchups, drawing comparisons to Federer–Nadal.
The two young stars have dominated the majors in recent years, collectively winning nine of the last twelve Grand Slam titles.
Sinner, the defending US Open champion, is looking for his second Flushing Meadows title and fifth major overall at just 24.
He arrives in New York on the back of a Wimbledon triumph over Alcaraz, boasting a 21-match winning streak at hard-court Slams.
Alcaraz, 22, is equally determined to exact revenge and capture his sixth career Grand Slam.
“If you want to win a big title these days, that’s who you’ve got to go through,” said American sixth seed Ben Shelton.
Alcaraz trails Sinner by 1,890 points on the new ATP rankings (11,480–9,590), but when last year’s US Open points are dropped, he leads by 60 points (9,540–9,480), making him the frontrunner for the world No. 1 spot after New York.
Sinner must advance one round further than Alcaraz, or reach at least the third round, to retain No. 1. If they meet in the final, the winner will claim the top ranking.
Veteran Novak Djokovic cannot be overlooked. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, tied with Margaret Court for the all-time lead, is seeking a record-breaking 25th major.
He opened his 19th US Open campaign with a straight-sets win over 19-year-old Learner Tien. If it is smooth sailing for the Serb, he could meet Alcaraz in the semis.
Other top contenders include Alexander Zverev, a consistent quarterfinal and semifinal performer, and American stars Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.
Jack Draper, a 2024 semifinalist returning from injury, is a potential dark horse, while 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev already suffered an early upset to Benjamin Bonzi.
South Africa’s Lloyd Harris, returning through qualifying, faces Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in the first round after recovering from a serious back injury.
Men’s rankings odds (ESPN)
| Player | Win Odds | Finals Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner | +105 | -220 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | +180 | -150 |
| Novak Djokovic | 12-1 | +650 |
| Alexander Zverev | 20-1 | +900 |
| Ben Shelton | 20-1 | 10-1 |
| Jack Draper | 20-1 | 10-1 |
| Taylor Fritz | 28-1 | 14-1 |
| Daniil Medvedev (already lost) | 40-1 | 20-1 |
| Alex De Minaur | 66-1 | 22-1 |
| Holger Rune | 66-1 | 66-1 |
Women’s singles
On the women’s side, the headline story is a predicted three-way title chase: defending champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, surging Wimbledon winner Iga Świątek, and Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka will retain the top ranking if she reaches the quarterfinals. Świątek and Gauff can otherwise only claim the top spot by winning the title.
Belarus’ Sabalenka has already opened her title defense with a straight-sets win to reach Round 2, with the hard-hitting three-time Grand Slam champion eager to go back-to-back in New York.
Poland’s Świątek, already a six-time major champion at 24, is looking to carry the momentum from her emphatic Wimbledon win a few weeks prior. She already has a US Open title to her name from 2022.
The 2025 majors have been fiercely contested, and the US Open is expected to be no different.
US’ Madison Keys stunned Sabalenka to claim the Australian Open, while world number three and fellow-American Gauff rallied past Sabalenka to win her first French Open crown and second Grand Slam.
The draw is also loaded with threats: Jessica Pegula, last year’s US Open runner-up, anchors the top tier of seeds alongside Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, Emma Navarro and Mirra Andreeva, any of whom has the weapons to rip through a quarter.
Four-time major champion Naomi Osaka returns as a seeded player for the first time since her break, fresh off a runner-up run in Montréal.
One to watch is 18-year-old Victoria Mboko, who arrives as the No. 22 seed after a breakout Montréal title that included wins over Grand Slam Champions Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Osaka.
Seven-time singles champion Venus Williams is the oldest woman to compete in the US Open singles main draw since Renée Richards in 1981, after receiving a wildcard.
The 45-year-old will play 11th-seed Karolína Muchová in the first round.
Women’s rankings odds (ESPN)
According to ESPN’s US Open betting odds, the top 10 women are:
| Player | Win Odds | Finals Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Iga Świątek | +250 | +115 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | +280 | +150 |
| Coco Gauff | +800 | +450 |
| Elena Rybakina | 10-1 | +600 |
| Mirra Andreeva | 10-1 | +550 |
| Naomi Osaka | 14-1 | +650 |
| Madison Keys | 18-1 | 10-1 |
| Amanda Anisimova | 22-1 | 10-1 |
| Jessica Pegula | 28-1 | 10-1 |
| Jasmine Paolini | 33-1 | 20-1 |
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Alcaraz looks unbelievable with his new haircut. He seems to be a ‘cut above’ the rest, some say. Sensational.