From Down Under in Melbourne, across to picturesque Paris and the luscious lawns of Wimbledon, it's been a supreme season on the Grand Slam stage.
Time for New York City and the 2025 US Open to finish the show in style. Are you ready?
USOpen.org previews Day 1 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with men's and women's singles play launching into action at Flushing Meadows.
The tiger is back in town
Last September, with her mischievous grin and lethal game, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka lifted a third Grand Slam title in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The title defense begins on the same court on Sunday with a clash facing world No. 108 Rebeka Masarova.
Sabalenka successfully defended her Australian Open title in 2023-24 and will be the favorite to burst out of the blocks again. However, Masarova pushed Sabalenka all the way 6-2, 7-6(6) on the grass of Berlin just two months ago. Can the top seed stamp her authority?
To underline Sabalenka’s major brilliance, the 27-year-old is closing in on 100 Grand Slam victories with a current record of 94-26. A century could be posted in the Big Apple…
Home heroes take center stage
The stars and stripes squad is a 15-player strong contingent on Day 1—there are 48 total Americans across the singles main draws.
What a moment for Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse, who takes on No. 6 seed, the American powerhouse Ben Shelton in the Arthur Ashe Stadium curtain raiser. Remember, Shelton recently captured a maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto and the young gun will want to dazzle his home fans once again.
Into the night session, a certain Novak Djokovic—a four-time champion here—begins his pursuit of an unprecedented 25th major once again. Learner Tien has the task of destroying that storyline in the first act.
There is plenty of promise. You may recall the teenage prodigy overcame Daniil Medvedev in a five-set, late night rollercoaster at the Australian Open en route to making the fourth round. Tien will strike freely and fearlessly, grab the popcorn.
Finishing up the night session will be 2024 runner-up Jessica Pegula, who is out to transfer that form into the 2025 edition, opening against world No. 78 Mayar Sherif.
Grounds pass gold
Of course, Arthur Ashe Stadium tickets offer up the ultimate experience. Saying that, in the opening rounds of a Grand Slam, the ground pass serves up compelling matches and major names all day long.
Every turn, every court, has world-class action taking place amongst packed stands. What isn’t to love?
Take Grandstand. Miami Masters 1000 champion Jakub Mensik is first up, across the net from Chile’s Nicolas Jarry. Following on will be a WTA duel of the present and future.
Former junior world No. 1 Clara Tauson is having the season of her life, having dispatched Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in 2025. The No.14 seed must navigate past Filipino trailblazer Alexandra Eala, who won the US Open girls’ singles title in 2022.
And that’s all before seeded American duo Emma Navarro and Brandon Nakashima join the Grandstand party.
Let’s rewind to 2021
Scanning down the schedule a few names pop out who have flourished at Flushing Meadows, players with plenty of New York knowhow.
Over to Louis Armstrong Stadium and 2021 champion Emma Raducanu, who recently pushed Sabalenka to the brink in a 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) Cincinnati WTA 1000 sizzler, meets Japan’s Ena Shibahara.
Closing Armstrong under the lights will be fellow 2021 singles champion Medvedev. The mercurial No. 13 seed has a stern opening test over the net from Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
The world No. 51 prevailed past Medvedev in four sets at Wimbledon. Meddy is a different beast on the hard courts, this one will be well worth tuning in for.
Flying the flag together
There is even more Team USA action to absorb.
Last year’s finalist, Taylor Fritz, will be fiercely determined to go one step better this September.
However, the draw hasn’t been kind to the No. 4 seed, with countryman Emilio Nava his first battle. The wild card has been in ferocious form this year by winning a bucket load of matches on the ATP Challenger Tour.
Earlier this month Fritz punched 6-4, 6-4 onto the scoreboard facing Nava in Cincinnati. It was tight, it was finely poised.
Expect a captivating clash to close up the day on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
