US Open 2025. It was boring
Well, that's it. There will be no more majors this year, as the next one is scheduled only for January 2026. A major event has concluded in New York, leaving us with mixed emotions. The champion is known, and the hefty prize money has been awarded, but what do we care about that? Our editorial team suggests recalling the interesting moments of the US Open 2025 and summarizing the Grand Slam season. Before the tournament, we promised to return in two weeks, and we did just that. Read this material to the end, as the next one in the tennis section won't be anytime soon. Let's get to it.
Thoughts Aloud
Unfortunately, men's tennis hasn't been delivering surprises in recent months. The results of many players are unimpressive, and the gap in class is widening. Remember the young prospects who were predicted to achieve great things, and then forget them immediately. Most talents play inconsistently, sometimes losing to unexpected opponents. For example, João Fonseca, who received compliments for a long time. Do you know where the Brazilian stopped? Only in the second round, losing without a chance to Tomáš Macháč. The Czech himself, talented but fragile, reached the fourth round, where he crashed in the match against Taylor Fritz. Typically, if you see a deep tournament run by an average player, it's just a favorable draw.
I'd like to specifically mention Ben Shelton, without dedicating an entire section to him. Before the tournament, we anticipated a breakthrough from the American, but unforeseen circumstances intervened. And it's not about Adrian Mannarino, but an injury that prevented him from finishing the match. Mannarino didn't last long in the tournament and went home in the third round, losing to Lehečka, who took advantage of a draw without a top-ten player. But we'll remember the Czech a bit later. As for Shelton: our editorial team wishes the tennis player health and encourages him to keep working on himself, and work some more.
Psychosis
We now know that Daniil Medvedev ended his collaboration with Gilles Cervara, with whom he won all his significant titles. Maybe it should have been done earlier? But we are unlikely to know the truth; it's quite possible that the French coach simply ran out of patience after his protégé's last performance. But it seems everyone is already used to such scandals from the Russian. Unfortunately, the tennis player continues to fall in the rankings and solidifies his reputation as a scandalous figure. Sorry, but it is what it is.
It's somewhat strange that Medvedev lost to Bonzi again at the start of the Grand Slam. That serve by the Frenchman for the match in the third set was discussed by everyone, as Daniil's behavior was clearly unsportsmanlike. Benjamin couldn't handle the pressure in the long game, losing the third set, and later losing the fourth with a bagel. What happened afterward is better left untold. But we cannot fail to mention this match and Daniil Medvedev. Honestly, we would like to talk about someone else. However, the question is, who else managed to make such a splash? The tournament is over, and this incident in the first round might be a contender for the highlights. Or for a headline in the sports section of the tabloid press.
The Russian is entering a new phase of his career, without his old coach. But there's no time to ease into it. Every tournament requires defending points, and Daniil has fewer and fewer of them. Losing seeding in major events can significantly alter a player's career, and returning to the usual level might not be possible. Daniil Medvedev is not young, and unfortunately, his successes are in the past.
Failures
This article won't accommodate everyone. We are forced to focus on those who are well-known, but if you dig into the tournament draw, you can find certain players who performed below their potential, but in such a case, it would be a long discussion. It's simple: the personalities in this section are well-known, but unfortunately, they did not succeed at the US Open 2025.
Alexander Zverev
The cover of the article before the tournament (thanks to everyone who read it) seemed to embody Alexander's headache. Zverev continues his journey towards a Grand Slam title, but it seems like he's moving on an escalator in the opposite direction. Competitors are only getting stronger, while the German delivers extremely strange matches.
Zverev was knocked out of the US Open in the round of 16, losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime (we'll also talk about the Canadian). We can only congratulate those who bet on the Canadian's victory that day and became almost four times richer. The match was unexpected, as the opponent's status did not suggest any problems. It's not to say that Zverev was bad, but he didn't reach his usual level, constantly failing to close out.
The cost of victory was a couple of lost serves; indeed, it was the fine details that champions are supposed to handle. Maybe we have a mistaken opinion about Alexander? Although the world of tennis is harsh, and history knows many players who were at the top but never won a Grand Slam.
Karen Khachanov
Again, the Russian might not have been in this article, but he was very good before the tournament. Karen extended his excellent form after Wimbledon and stormed into the final of the Masters in Toronto, where he was close to victory but lost. Then there was a withdrawal in Cincinnati, with Khachanov citing an old injury. Did this moment serve as a factor for the failure at the US Open? It seems not, but the questions remain.
Karen had already defeated the Pole Majchrzak at Wimbledon, and quite easily at that. On grass, the Russian fully dominated the match, and few doubted his success. And so the guys had to play on hard courts. After the first two sets, Khachanov led 2-0, and it seemed everything was decided, but it wasn't. Unfortunately, Karen has already had such battles (remember the struggles with Evans), and unfortunately, the unpleasant trend continues, even if it doesn't happen very often.
The Pole managed to turn the match around, taking it to a fifth set, but even here the Russian should have won, as he was serving for the match in the 9th game, having previously missed match points on return. Such moments happen to all tennis players; it's important to draw the right conclusions from them. Majchrzak won the match on a championship point.in a tie-break, but unfortunately, his journey in the tournament ended in the first set of the next stage. Can you guess why?
Andrey Rublev. Missed Opportunities
According to recent interviews with the Russian player, Marat Safin has instilled positive thinking in him since taking on the role of coach. Perhaps this was what Rublev was lacking, as he began to show effective tennis. However, as the US Open 2025 indicated, there is still much work ahead.
The Russian reached the fourth round, where he lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime once again. The irony is that Rublev had only lost to the Canadian in one previous head-to-head match. It's disappointing because had Rublev won, he would have faced Alex De Minaur, whom Rublev knows how to defeat. This would have been the quarterfinal stage, ladies and gentlemen. Without Alexander Zverev. You couldn't ask for a better opportunity to reach the first Grand Slam semifinal. We wait further, with a dull (0:3) and a plane ticket. Rublev couldn't show his best tennis against the Canadian. A disappointing defeat.
The Legend
And it's not who you think. Djokovic will certainly be mentioned, but only in the sections below. We conclude the sad part of the article, and before moving on to a more positive section, let's make a small distinction. We're talking about a person who is present in all our articles. And if you don't like him, you're simply envious.
Alexander Bublik
Strangely enough, Sasha had a quality tournament, despite taking a break before the US Open and not playing in major events. The tennis player did everything he could. He was stopped by Jannik Sinner, and as they say, that doesn't count.
If Bublik loses, he does it beautifully. It seems the tennis player deliberately set himself up for such a score (1-6, 1-6, 1-6). No matter how hard Sinner tried to lose the second game in all sets, it didn't work out… Bublik spoiled the Italian's celebration. At least somewhat, otherwise, he would have completely relaxed.
Still, if we forget the jokes, Bublik deserves praise. He plays really well, and most importantly, his level doesn't drop. Let's note his confident victory at the US Open over Marin Cilic and his five-set success against Tommy Paul. Do you remember the last time Bublik pulled off a marathon? It's worth refreshing your memory. And our editorial team gives a thumbs up to the Russian with a Kazakh passport. Moving on.
Unexpectedly
The men's tour is going through a challenging period, as the level of competition has significantly decreased. There are leaders and everyone else. Yes, we have a certain group of players who can deliver quality results, but they are not capable of much more. Again, take Taylor Fritz, who reached the quarterfinals this time, ultimately losing to Novak Djokovic. Look at his opponents – he simply did what he was supposed to, and last year's final was more of a fluke. The American is a great tennis player, but his potential is limited. Let's talk about two more individuals who deserve a place in the article, although their success was unexpected.
Lorenzo Musetti
The Italianknows how to play tennis... If he wants to. Lorenzo is ranked quite high, but he doesn't play like a top tennis player. The US Open turned out well for the player, as reaching the quarterfinals is an excellent result. When you only lose to the boss, there's no reason to criticize yourself.
The 10th-ranked player might not have even needed to play his last match of the tournament against Jannik Sinner, as he lost it easily and deservedly so. Musetti's success in the tournament is more of a fluke than a pattern. Look at his opponents: which of them would interest you? Only Flavio Cobolli can be considered a serious obstacle, but the tennis player didn't finish the match and was not in his element.
Perhaps Musetti is overrated by the public. Before the tournament in New York, he hadn't shown anything spectacular for a long time, with an early exit from Wimbledon and failures in two Masters tournaments. It feels like the tour only needs one top Italian, and Lorenzo's time at the top might be short-lived. But a longer distance will tell us more accurately.
Jiri Lehecka
The Czech can be praised for this tournament; he took advantage of his chance to go far. Jiri took the place of Ben Shelton, who, as we mentioned, ended his major due to injury. It's worth noting that Lehecka didn't face difficulties with his opponents and stuck to his game, playing his usual aggressive tennis. In the match against Carlos Alcaraz, there was no intrigue. Perhaps Jiri had even packed his bags in advance.
Don't get used to seeing this player in the late stages of major events. Lehecka is a solid mid-level player who performs in waves. The tennis player is capable of achieving quality wins, but not consistently. He will be around in the tour for a while, but his ceiling at Grand Slams is the third round, and beyond that only as an exception.
Surprises
Yes, there were those who surprised. Or rather, there was one. But before we start talking about the Canadian athlete, who has already been mentioned earlier in our article, it's worth mentioning another solid performer – Alex De Minaur, who delivered another good result. The Australian took advantage of his high ranking, reaching the quarterfinals.
No, that's not a surprise. Many are used to Alex's great results, and he is undeservedly overlooked. Although it's important to remember that the tennis player remains in the top ten despite everything, lacking physical power and a strong serve. Even the accuracy of his first serve is a big problem for De Minaur, which he has been battling for a long time. We wish the Australian progress, and titles will surely come his way.
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Perhaps he is one of the mentally weakest players on the tour. Felix mostly forces discussions about himself from the perspective of inconsistent results, as he plays in waves. The tennis player stayed in the top ten for a long time, but then he seemed to hit a wall – the US Open 2025 saw the Canadian start at 27th in the rankings. And then we know what happened – a semifinal. And this was not the easiest draw.
Interesting fact: Auger-Aliassime will be getting married two weeks after thethe countdown has begun. This undoubtedly significant event could have provided a certain boost. And the question is not even about the expenses, but about the right emotions, which the Canadian seems to have been missing in recent years on the tour.
If we look at Felix's results before the Grand Slam, nothing hinted at success. He was exiting in the early stages, not showing quality tennis. The Masters in Cincinnati might have given a hint, but it was barely noticeable. However, the match against Zverev put everything in its rightful place. The player's future spouse certainly deserved an extra bouquet at the wedding.
The battle against the German might be the highest quality match for the Canadian player in recent years. Of course, this concerns matches against top players. We haven't seen such a Felix in a long time, serving brilliantly and not faltering in crucial moments of the matches. Over four sets, the Canadian lost only two of his serves and wasn't afraid to take risks, hitting 50 winners. It was a real battle of nerves, and the result was a pattern, not a coincidence.
There was another feat by Auger-Aliassime. He managed to outplay Andrey Rublev, with whom he had a frankly poor head-to-head record. The balance was simply dreadful: 8-1 in favor of Rublev, but this didn't faze Felix, as he was unstoppable after the match with Zverev. It was done simply and tastefully (3:0). Hardly anyone expected the meeting to last just over two hours. Too little. And again, we note the winners, of which there were 42. The main component that brought the Canadian this far. Of course, no one forgets about his serve, but in modern tennis, that's not enough; the times of John Isner are long gone.
How long will this last? It's impossible to say yet. Felix Auger-Aliassime deservedly received the largest section in our article, as he is perhaps the biggest surprise at the US Open 2025. His success has it all: tactics and psychology. There is a feeling that the player's breakthrough will continue, as we are at the end of the season, which means indoor tournaments are ahead, where the Canadian feels great.
A New Reality
Novak Djokovic will no longer win a Grand Slam. The US Open 2025 confirmed this statement. However, this is absolutely normal. "Nole" hasn't dropped in his level of play; he was simply defeated by age. The Serb is still strong on the tour in most matches, but he is no longer able to withstand the new kings of tennis. The tournament in New York ended for him at the semifinal stage.
Djokovic went through the tournament not without problems, regularly dropping sets, but ultimately pushing through and winning. It's worth noting the match against Taylor Fritz, whom he managed to defeat once again without any extra trouble. To some extent, the draw helped Novak, as the American is the best opponent from the top players at the quarterfinal stage. And then Carlos Alcaraz came up in the draw. Curtain, suitcases, vacation. The important events left are the Asian swing, which the Serb might not attend. There's no point in even talking about the year-end finals, so Novak's participation is even more questionable. It's possible that the tennis player has played his last match this year. Enjoy your vacation, legend.
Only Two Players
The 2025 season has definitively divided tennis. Unfortunately, the intrigue in the men's draw has disappeared. The tour now has two rulers – Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. In the tournament preview, we warned you that the final would most likely be the same. There wasn't even a hint of intrigue. The guys played in the final again, and the only interesting aspect of the decisive match was Donald Trump's attendance. Don't get me wrong, but no sport is better when only two people are competing.
Be that as it may, Carlos Alcaraz is the 2025 US Open champion. The Spaniard claimed another title and surpassed Sinner in the rankings. We now have a new world number one, but it's unlikely to make things more interesting. It's even more regrettable to realize that we once again didn't witness the spectacular show that was at Roland Garros. It was yet another dull final that didn't even last three hours. Alcaraz's domination was total – throughout the match, he lost only one serve, which cost him an entire set. As for Sinner, there's no point in discussing him, as he initially struggled with his first serve (48% accuracy). There is no intrigue, and Alcaraz's failure at the previous US Open helped him this time. He had nothing to defend, while Sinner was defending his title. In general, as one famous person says: “Well, they played and they played.”
P.S
It's time to say goodbye (but not for sure). It's quite likely that the next article about tennis will appear on the site only in 2026, since all the Grand Slams have been played, and they are what attract casual fans. We have a sad conclusion: only Alexander Zverev managed to mix up the known company by playing in the Melbourne final. And that's it. The participants in the decisive matches were the same. As for the titles, it's currently 2:2. Jannik took the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while Carlos has victories at Roland Garros and the US Open. The Big Four is no more, long live the Big Two. We can't know how long they'll be in the game, or if anyone will join them. Time will tell, and we can only hope for some possible intrigue. See you on Scores24!
