Are there more real candidates to win the US Open besides Sinner and Alcaraz?
Italian and Spanish are positioned as clear favorites to win the last Grand Slam of the year. Do we rule out all others from the competition?
In a few hours, the US Open 2025 will begin with two clear favorites: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The current ATP ranking leaders keep sharing the tennis pie between them, as they have won most of the recent Masters 1000 and the last seven Grand Slam tournaments. The chances of seeing a player with a different name win this final Grand Slam of 2025 are low, although it is not impossible in a tournament that has seen surprises in recent years.
A special pressure is felt at all Grand Slams, but at the US Open, the pressure from the audience is quite high. The nearly 24,000 people who fit into Arthur Ashe Stadium can pose a huge headache for a player not having their best day, as they can succumb to those looks at any moment. In recent years, players like Juan Martín Del Potro, Marin Cilic, Stan Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem, or Daniil Medvedev have been surprising winners when they were not the main favorites. What will happen at this US Open 2025? Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the leading figures.
- Daniil Medvedev, the champion no one is thinking about
It has been less than a lustrum since Daniil Medvedev touched the sky with the title at the US Open 2021. He was a player specialized in these types of courts, and facing him was daunting. With brutal solidity from the baseline, the Russian made the American courts his particular playground. However, Medvedev's 2025 season is one to forget, and this tour has not been an exception. He fell in the third round of the ATP Washington after a good start against Corentin Moutet (1-6 6-4 6-4), didn't go beyond the second round in the ATP Toronto (5-7 6-4 6-4), and in the ATP Cincinnati, one of his favorite tournaments, he succumbed to Adam Walton (6-7 6-4 6-1), who had never defeated a top 50 player. Moreover, Medvedev faces his Wimbledon debut conqueror, Benjamin Bonzi, in the first round of the US Open 2025. It doesn't seem like his streak will end at Flushing Meadows, but undoubtedly, the best moments of his career have been at this event.
- The GOAT relieves pressure
Novak Djokovic's decision not to participate in any tournaments before the US Open sparked discussion, as he couldn't maintain his sixth place in the rankings. Without competition rhythm, it's difficult to consider him the top favorite for the crown at 38 years old, but it's impossible not to believe he will perform well since he has been the champion in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2023. The Serbian doesn't want pressure, so he lets people talk more about Alcaraz and Sinner than about him, although his participation indicates he sees real chances.
- Shelton, at the peak of his career
There is great excitement to see Ben Shelton back at a Grand Slam. His abundant charisma and flair on the court have once again excited American fans, who see their player as a golden opportunity to break the 22-year streak without a national champion. Andy Roddick was the last in 2003, and since then, there have only been disappointments. Shelton has just won the biggest title of his career at the ATP Toronto, and this US Open 2025 is a great chance for him to position himself as a main contender against Sinner and Alcaraz. Hopefully, he lives up to his words and truly doesn't feel external pressure in the crucial moments of the toughest matches.
- Alexander Zverev, Jack Draper, or Taylor Fritz
It's difficult to consider but not impossible. Carlos Alcaraz faces a tough first round against Reilly Opelka. The 2.11-meter-tall server could likely put significant pressure on the Murcian. He will play without pressure and with a supportive environment, which could lead him to win crucial points in potential tiebreaks. Alcaraz will have to sweat, but if there is a major surprise in the early days, players like Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz would gain strength as favorites.
Jack Draper is excluded, as he hasn't played any tournament since a resounding defeat to Marin Cilic in the second round of Wimbledon (6-4 6-3 1-6 6-4). The British player has the tools to win the title and has shown his high level, but it's evident that his physical condition has always been his major limitation, which doesn't allow him to be considered a real title contender.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Hay más candidatos reales a ganar el US Open aparte de Sinner y Alcaraz?