Big-serving Ben Shelton has a big chance for a big run at the US Open, which begins on August 24.
Shelton is the No. 6 seed for the final Grand Slam of 2025 on the strength of his recent ATP Masters 1000 title in Canada. He has the most favorable draw in the 128-player field, based on the average world ranking of likely opponents.
Shelton won’t play anyone ranked in the top 100 in the first two rounds. The toughest foe in his section of the draw is No. 12 seed Casper Ruud, who went 2-2 in hard-court events leading up to the US Open. He wouldn’t face a top 10 opponent until a possible showdown against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Who got the toughest and easiest draws for the US Open?
Toughest draw for a top seed
Jannik Sinner retired due to illness in the final match of the recent ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, and his draw for the US Open won’t make him feel any better.
Sinner, the top seed and reigning champion, has the toughest draw among the top players, based on the average world ranking of likely opponents. If the draw holds to form, Sinner will face nothing but top-40 opponents after the first round. He also has No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev, who has a 19-4 record at his last four US Open appearances, in his half of the draw.
Toughest draw overall
World No. 104 Borna Coric faces a brutal draw in New York. His path includes six possible matches against top-20 seeds, starting with his first match against No. 20 seed Jiri Lehecka
Best opportunity for an unseeded player
For the second major in a row, 21-year-old American Ethan Quinn has one of the best draws for an unseeded player. Quinn, currently ranked No. 81, will face a qualifier or lucky loser in the first round. His second-round match is against Brandon Nakashima, who at No. 30 is one of the last of the seeded players.