Under the raging lights of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, current and former champions are aiming for the billboards at the U.S Open.
“I’m following Djokovic a lot. He was my dad’s favorite player and now mine,” said senior Rishal Melvani. Djovokic is up against World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz for the semi-finals. But Djovokic is not the only returning champion. For the 2025 U.S. Open, the featured players include top-ranked Men’s Singles Jannik Sinner and Women’s Singles Aryna Sabalenka, who are defending their titles along with past champions Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz, and American stars Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton. Other prominent players expected to compete are Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, Venus Williams, and Naomi Osaka.
The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament, played on hard courts in New York City. This year, we have seen an array of unexpected defeats, chaotic outbursts, and sweet victories for all players. Along with that, a storm of young, ambitious players who, with their hunger and drive, have already knocked out some of the former champions. Sophomore Sophie Jackman said, “ It’s really hard to say, but the young players play like they have nothing to lose. I think that’s what gives them the edge.”
During Russian player Daniil Medvedev’s match, a photographer walked onto the court at match point, causing chair umpire Greg Allensworth to let his opponent Benjamin Bonzi replay the point. This angered Medvedev immensely, and he riled up the crowd while arguing with and insulting the umpire. He argued that the interruption was too brief for a replay, and the match was delayed for six minutes until it restarted. Bonzi went on to win five sets, beating Medvedev. After the match, Medvedev was fined $42,500 for his unsportsmanlike behavior, and the photographer had his credentials revoked, though Medvedev said he wasn’t upset with the photographer but with the umpire’s decision.
From Medvedev’s meltdown to the surprisingly quick defeat of both returning tennis legend Venus Williams and Australian Open champion Madison Keys, this year’s US Open is full of unexpected turns and chances for the new generation of tennis players. Thankfully for Williams, however, she and her partner, Leyla Fernandez, are advancing fast in the Women’s Doubles. But enough about these familiar names– let’s check out Renata Zarazua. Don’t know who she is? That’s alright, she’s only the woman No.82… who advanced to the second round after defeating No.6 Madison Keys. Representing her home country, Mexico, Zarazua has brought Mexico back to the global stage after a period of challenges.
Past champions of the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, are in good form, swiftly advancing to their semi-finals. Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, the two No.2* players, have also reached the quarterfinals with dominant wins. However, Amanda Anisimova avenged her loss in the Wimbledon finals by taking down Swiatek in the quarterfinals, causing a huge upset. This means Anisimova will be facing Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals.
Some pleasant surprises swept through the stadium as well. World Number 2 Men’s Singles Carlos Alcarez sported a shaved head when returning to the courts, apparently after a barber’s mistake committed by his brother. But that’s less surprising than No.24 Naomi Osaka besting No.3 Coco Gauff in straight sets, recording her most significant win since the 2021 Australian Open. Among young players, Mirra Andreeva, a rising eighteen-year-old star, could not climb the hill that was Taylor Townsend, and did not advance past the third round.
It seems the U.S Open is racked with unbelievable talent, but only the top player from each division will take home the trophy. We have witnessed the defeat of some renowned players and the setbacks of young dreams, while also seeing former champions test themselves and regain their spark, and younger players find their potential. The tournament ends on September 7th, and it’s up to these players, new and experienced, to make a mark.
*Seeds: In tennis, a seed is a player who is given a predetermined position in the tournament draw based on their high ranking, which prevents top players from facing each other until the later rounds of the competition. The purpose of seeding is to create a more balanced and fair draw, ensuring that the tournament has the most exciting potential matchups, such as the top seeds meeting in the finals. They are mostly expressed in number format, so when you see No. 2 or No. 82, it just means their seed ranking.
