The US Open begins on August 24 and will run for two grueling weeks before the fittest player wins the final Grand Slam of the year. That isn't completely true, of course, but it is somewhat true. A player in great form will win, but that form will partly be dictated by how much tennis a player has had to play in two weeks.
A safe guess might be that Iga Swiatek sneaks through on the WTA side. She has been in peak form for a couple of months now. No reason she should change now.
On the ATP side, it's no one's guess. We can assume who the finalists will be. That is one of our points below.
5 storylines to watch at the 2025 US Open
Can an American man finally win in New York again?
It's been since 2003, when Andy Roddick won the US Open title, that an American man has won the trophy. The good news is that the current flock of American men is the best group in 20 years. Taylor Fritz reached the final last year before falling, and Be Shelton has the game to take the title.
Frances Tiafoe, currently ranked No. 17, but is better than that when in form, might be the fan favorite. The joy he plays the game with is infectious. If he won in New York, it would be special.
Let's be real: Who will win in the final? Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner?
The last seven Grand Slam titles have belonged to either the Spaniard or the Italian. There is no real reason to believe that one of them won't make it eight majors in a row. They are indisputably the best players on the ATP currently, and maybe for the next 5-10 years.
Who wins is based on the form Alcaraz is in. If he plays his best, he can beat Sinner's best. If Alcaraz dips in form, Sinner will win as he is the more consistent player.
Will Naomi Osaka or Venus Williams stun the world?
Venus Williams received a wildcard to play in the event. She is 45 years old and long past her prime, but she is still a charismatic and well-liked player whose deep run in the major would be tennis magic. Will it happen? No, but one can dream.
Osaka has a more realistic chance. She has won the major twice, but not since 2020. She is beginning to get back into solid form, but not her best. It only takes one run, however unlikely, to get Osaka back close to the top 10.
Can Novak Djokovic make one last run?
How much longer will arguably the greatest player continue to play? It seems like he has slowly been grinding to a stop over the last couple of years. He is still capable of greatness, but he might no longer be capable of defeating Sinner or Alcaraz.
Somehow, the Serb is still in position to make the ATP Finals, but he might decide to skip the event. One might wonder if Djokovic were to win the US Open, if he would then retire.
Does Emma Raducanu have what it takes to get title No. 2?
Raducanu has one title in her career, and that was when she won the 2021 US Open. That is also the only final she has reached. She has struggled for most of her career, but has slowly improved over the last year.
She has a terrific personality, and it would be good for tennis if the 22-year-old were elite, but she hasn't proven she can be great against great players deep in tournaments. Still, she shouldn't be discounted for a surprise run.