2025 U.S. Open: Five men to watch in Flushing

Jannik Sinner

Current rank: 1

Country: Italy

Age: 24

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2024-Won, 2023-lost 4th round, 2022-lost quarterfinals, 2021-lost 4th round, 2020-lost first round

The Volley: Sinner is on course to be one of the all-time greats. He won Australia and Wimbledon this year and lost a classic five-setter to Carlos Alcaraz in the French final. A three-month negotiated drug ban did nothing to slow him. It is concerning that Sinner had to retire with illness against Alcaraz in the Cincinnati Open final on Monday, but the defending Open champion has the best all-around game on the tour with a serve of lethal accuracy and power and precision groundstrokes.

Carlos Alcaraz

Current rank: 2

Country: Spain

Age: 22

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2024-lost 2nd round, 2023-lost in semis, 2022-Won, 2021-lost in quarterfinals, 2020-DNP

The Volley: Alcaraz seems to be the only road block in Sinner’s way. He’s beaten him twice this season, and benefited on Monday from the ailing Sinner’s retirement in the Cincinnati final. Sinner-Alcaraz is the next great rivalry and the two of them have distanced themselves from the rest of the field. Alcaraz isn’t so razor-sharp as Sinner, but he’s got an abundance of moxie and the game’s best drop shot. He also engages every crowd.

Novak Djokovic

Current rank: 7

Country: Serbia

Age: 38

Last 5 U.S, Opens: 2024-lost third round, 2023-Won, 2022-DNP, 2021-lost in final, 2020-disqualifed

The Volley: Djokovic, the greatest of all-time with 24 Grand Slam titles, can’t be counted out, not even at the age of 38. He has to be well rested, having only played the French Open and Wimbledon this summer. He only has one title this season, at Geneva in the middle of May. But he’s still the greatest returner of serve and all-around defender who ever played the game. At this point it’s about his ability to get through six matches to reach the final. You don’t bet against him.

Taylor Fritz

Current rank: 4

Country: United States

Age: 27

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2024-lost in final, 2023-lost in quarterfinals, 2022-lost in first round, 2021-lost in second round, 2020-lost in third round

The Volley: Fritz is the highest ranking American, and he reached the Open final last year where he lost to Sinner. He has two titles this season, and his best Grand Slam result is a semifinal loss to Alcaraz at Wimbledon. Fritz always seems to be on the edge of being a premier player, but he will have to get at least one Grand Slam under his belt in order to prove that. A good serve and decent groundstrokes don’t add up to greatness without wins in the biggest events.

Ben Shelton

Current rank: 6

Country: United States

Age: 22

Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2024-lost in third round, 2023-lost in semifinals 2022-lost in first round 2021-lost in qualifying, 2020-DNP

The Volley: Shelton won in Toronto recently and is showing some growth in his game. He’s a huge server, and has been recorded officially at 150 mph. But he needs to get it in consistently. In fact consistency is the key to his success. Hugely athletic, he can get to almost every ball, but he has to convert a winning percentage of his shots for the ultimate success. He seems to be getting there.