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Jack Draper’s US Open Wildcard Wait: Injury-Plagued Briton Faces Uncertain Path to Flushing Meadows

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Former World No. 4 Jack Draper heads into the North American hard-court swing in an unfamiliar position: hoping for a Jack Draper US wildcard into the US Open rather than knowing he’s already in.

Jack Draper US Wildcard

A Season Derailed by Injury

Draper has played only 13 top-level matches in 2026 after a late start to the season, missing the Australian Open due to an arm injury before suffering a knee injury in the build-up to the French Open. He returned at the Eastbourne Open and reached the semifinals, only to miss Wimbledon due to a recurrence of the bone bruising in his left arm that has plagued him for over a year.

The toll on his ranking has been steep. Draper has dropped to 147th in the world after managing only a handful of tournaments since first stepping away from the tour a year ago with the same arm issue, a stunning fall for a player who sat at No. 4 in the world rankings this time last year.

Missing Direct Entry to the US Open

Draper and Grigor Dimitrov have both failed to make the cut for direct main draw entry at the 2026 US Open after slipping outside the top 100 of the ATP Rankings, with Dimitrov at No. 142 and Draper five places behind him. World No. 101 Francisco Comesana is the lowest-ranked player to receive direct entry, leaving Draper and Dimitrov on the alternate list with more than 40 players ahead of them in the queue.

That leaves two realistic paths back to Flushing Meadows: fight through qualifying, or receive one of the tournament’s discretionary wildcard invitations. Along with Stan Wawrinka and Reilly Opelka, Draper’s situation suggests he may need a wildcard to avoid the qualifying rounds altogether — unless a last-minute cascade of withdrawals opens up a direct spot.

A Wildcard in Washington, and a Statement of Intent

Draper has already needed help to get into this stretch of the season. Ranked outside the top 100, Draper needed a wildcard just to compete at the ATP 500 event in Washington, D.C. But he’s shown signs of returning form.

Draper delivered a convincing practice-match showing ahead of the DC Open, with a deep run at the tournament potentially strong enough to help secure him a Jack Draper US wildcard into the Grand Slam he famously reached the semifinal of back in 2024. Absent that direct nod, the former World No. 4 will need to go through qualifying to get into the tournament.

An Unusual Scheduling Decision

In a further sign of how seriously Draper is treating his comeback, he has been confirmed in the entry list for the ATP Challenger Brownsburg event, a notable step down for a player who was ranked inside the world’s top five just twelve months ago. He is set to drop down a level to the ATP 75 Challenger in Brownsburg, which begins August 10, as he looks to rebuild ranking points and match sharpness.

It’s a pragmatic decision from a player who, despite Wimbledon historically representing his worst Grand Slam, has enjoyed his greatest Slam success at the US Open — most notably that sensational run to the semifinals in 2024, where he fell only to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

What’s Next

With Andy Murray reportedly by his side in Washington, Draper’s form over the next few weeks — first at the DC Open, then potentially in Brownsburg — will go a long way toward determining whether tournament organizers extend a Jack Draper US wildcard, or whether the Briton is left fighting through three rounds of qualifying just to get another shot at Flushing Meadows.

Serena Williams Wild Card US Open: Why Flushing Meadows Should Say Yes

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Serena Williams is coming home. After a shaky but headline-grabbing comeback at Wimbledon 2026 — a first-round loss to Maya Joint that ended with a knee injury — the tennis world has one question on its mind: will the USTA extend a Serena Williams wild card US Open invitation for this year’s tournament? The answer should be an easy yes, and here’s why.

Serena Williams
Serena Williams

The Case for a Serena Williams Wild Card at the US Open

A wild card is, by definition, a judgment call. Tournament organizers aren’t obligated to reward current ranking alone; they’re allowed to weigh box office, history, and narrative. Few players in the sport’s history check every one of those boxes the way Serena Williams does.

She is a US Open institution. Williams has won the tournament six times, more than any other woman in the Open Era. Flushing Meadows isn’t just another stop on her calendar — it’s the site of some of the most iconic moments in American sports history, from her breakthrough 1999 title to her emotional, sold-out farewell run in 2022. A Serena Williams wild card for the US Open wouldn’t be charity. It would be the natural continuation of a relationship between a player and a venue that has defined both.

The commercial case is overwhelming. Grand Slam organizers routinely hand wild cards to past champions and fan favorites because they sell tickets, drive television ratings, and generate exactly the kind of media coverage tournaments crave in the weeks before the season’s final major. James Blake, a former US Open quarterfinalist, put it plainly when discussing her potential return: her presence “will be huge and it’s deserved because she’s the greatest of all time on the women’s side — and an American.” That’s not just sentiment. That’s a made-for-New-York storyline, arriving in a summer already stacked with the Knicks’ first title in decades and a World Cup final across the river.

She’s already shown intent, not just nostalgia. This isn’t a one-off exhibition appearance. Williams spent six months in the anti-doping testing pool to become eligible again, played doubles with sister Venus at Wimbledon, and took a singles wild card there too. Her coach, Rennae Stubbs, has confirmed Williams’ desire to keep playing through the US Open. A player doesn’t rebuild her whole competitive infrastructure — rackets strung, testing requirements met, matches logged — just to skip the one tournament that means the most to her.

The Case Against It

A fair op-ed has to grapple with the counterargument, and it’s not a weak one.

Wild cards are a zero-sum resource. Every spot given to a 44-year-old former champion is a spot taken from a younger American player grinding through qualifying or the lower rungs of the tour, someone who may need the ranking points and prize money far more than Williams does at this stage of her career. Critics of legacy wild cards argue they undermine the meritocratic spirit of a Grand Slam main draw.

Her body may not cooperate. The knee injury that ended her Wimbledon run is a real concern, not a footnote. Williams is 44. A short, injury-shortened US Open appearance — win or lose — carries the risk of overshadowing the tournament’s competitive storylines with health updates instead of match results.

It could set an awkward precedent. If Serena gets a wild card on legacy alone, does every past champion in the draw’s twilight years deserve the same courtesy? Tournaments have generally reserved that treatment for genuinely rare cases — but rare is also exactly what Serena Williams is.

Why the Scale Still Tips Toward Yes

The counterarguments are legitimate, but they undersell just how unusual this situation is. Serena Williams isn’t a fading former champion angling for one more paycheck; she is, by a wide margin, the most consequential player in the tournament’s modern history, actively training, medically clearing testing requirements, and publicly stating her intent to compete. The USTA has precedent for honoring exactly this kind of story — Venus Williams received a US Open wild card in 2022 under similar late-career circumstances, and no one seriously argued it damaged the sport.

A Serena Williams wild card at the US Open isn’t about pity or nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s about recognizing that some athletes earn the right to write their own final chapters on the biggest stage they built. Should organizers hand out wild cards to every fading star? No. Should they hand one to the six-time champion who turned Flushing Meadows into her personal cathedral? Absolutely.

As Williams herself teased after her Wimbledon exit: “Stay tuned to a city near you.” New York should be ready to answer.

Arthur Ashe Kids Day Returns To U.S. Open Saturday, August 23, Featuring “Dude Perfect”

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The USTA today announced that fan-favorite YouTube sensations Dude Perfect and rising music stars 2BYG, Liamani, Magnus Ferrell, That Girl Lay Lay and Young Dylan will headline the lineup of epic music, sports and entertainment performances making this year’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day powered by Net Generation the best-ever rendition of the world’s largest annual grassroots tennis event. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, which celebrates the life and legacy of tennis icon and humanitarian Arthur Ashe, will be held Saturday, August 23, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with free admission to the US Open grounds and all on-site activities.

The Dudes – Tyler “The Beard” Toney, “The Twins” Cory and Coby Cotton, Garrett “The Purple Hoser” Hilbert, and Cody “The Tall Guy” Jones – will perform their popular stadium show for the fourth consecutive Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, at a new time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Dudes will be joined by some of the biggest names in tennis – including reigning US Open women’s singles champion and current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka – as the renowned sports entertainment troupe will test their tennis skills with a variety of fun and off-kilter challenges while concocting some multi-sport fun. The Dudes will also host a meet & greet with fans following the show.

Following the Dude Perfect show, a blockbuster lineup of young music and entertainment stars will headline the Fountain Plaza Stage for fans of all ages to enjoy. The lineup includes: R&B vocal group 2BYG; multi-talented vocalist and actor Liamani; singer-songwriter and TikTok sensation Magnus Ferrell; breakout singer, rapper and actress That Girl Lay Lay; and rising actor and hip hop artist Young Dylan, who will also co-host the show. Fountain Plaza Stage performances will run from 1-3:30 p.m.

A festival atmosphere will permeate the National Tennis Center on Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. Featured practices starring some of the game’s most popular players will entertain fans in the US Open’s main stadiums, while many of the field courts will feature tennis activities for kids. On-court lessons, drills, contests and competitions will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET, while the rest of the grounds will offer plenty of off-court fun, such as face-painting and temporary tattoos, storytelling, hair-braiding and beading,balloon artists and roving entertainers. The US Open also will offer a specially priced $10 meal for kids and their families.

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has historically brought together the biggest names in tennis and entertainment to honor Arthur Ashe’s legacy. AAKD has been a showcase for artists such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Shawn Mendes, Flo Rida, Ava Max, Ne-Yo, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, Alessia Cara, CNCO, and Kim Petras. Many of the biggest names in tennis, including Rafael Nadal, Serena and Venus Williams, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, and Carlos Alcaraz, have been joined by celebrities such as Ansel Elgort, Will Ferrell, Jon Cena, Sofia Carson and Michelle Obama, among many others.

Besides entertaining thousands of kids and showcasing the hottest talent each summer, AAKD helps promote the sport of tennis to young people and continue Arthur Ashe’s legacy of instilling the values of humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence. For more information about Arthur Ashe, visit the Arthur Ashe Learning Center.

AAKD also celebrates the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network, a nationwide group of more than 250 nonprofit youth development organizations that provide free or low-cost tennis programs, academic support and life-skills training to thousands of kids each year. Founded more than 50 years ago by Ashe, along with Charlie Passarell and Sheridan Snyder, the NJTL is now a cornerstone of the USTA Foundation, the national charitable arm of the USTA that utilizes the powerful combination of tennis and education to enhance the lives of thousands of under-resourced youth.

AAKD marks the culmination of US Open Fan Week, which begins Monday, Aug. 18 and runs through Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, during which the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center are free and open to the public. Fan Week includes the free-to-attend US Open Qualifying Tournament and a host of other events and activities, including the reimaged US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. The Singles Main Draw will start on Sunday, Aug. 24, and conclude with the women’s singles final on Saturday, Sept. 6, and the men’s singles final on Sunday, Sept. 7. For more information visit USOpen.org/FanWeek.

*All players and participants are subject to change.

U.S. Open Announces 2025 Prize Money Totals – Players Get A 20 Percent Raise!

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 The USTA today announced that the 2025 US Open will once again offer the largest purse in tennis history, being the first tennis event to reach $90 million in total player compensation. This amount tops the total $75 million in 2024, the previous highest purse in tennis history, an increase of 20 percent. Men’s and Women’s Singles Champions at the 2025 US Open will earn $5 million, up 39 percent from the $3.6 million in 2024, making it the largest winning payout in the sport.

The US Open has made a deliberate and concerted effort to ensure double-digit percentage increases from 2024 in all rounds of all events for all players, while at the same time significantly increasing the percentage of prize money for athletes playing late into the Singles Championships.

In addition to the increase for the champions in the Singles Main Draw, finalists ($2.5 million, an increase of 39 percent), semi-finalists ($1.26 million, an increase of 26 percent), quarter-finalists ($660,000, an increase of 25 percent) and Round of 16 competitors ($400,000, an increase of 23 percent) will all see substantial growth. This follows years of a strategic focus on redistribution to the early rounds and Qualifying Tournament to provide meaningful payouts to all players.

Men’s and Women’s Doubles purses also are significantly increased in an effort to support the players competing in these championships, up 23 percent to $4.78 million from $3.89 million in 2024. For the first time ever, the winning teams from the Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles Championships will earn $1 million in prize money.

The Men’s and Women’s Qualifying tournaments’ prize money will increase to a record $8 million, up 10 percent for this year.

In addition to prize money, as has been the case in recent years, the US Open has made an effort to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for all competitors in all professional Main Draw and Qualifying events. All players will receive a travel stipend of $1,000, as well as two hotel rooms in the official player hotel (or $600 per day if the player chooses to lodge at another accommodation), resulting in $5 million in overall support. In addition, players will receive free racquet stringing of up to five racquets per round. 

Star Chefs, Elevated Dining Offered at 2025 U.S. Open Tennis

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The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and its hospitality partner Levy announced a preview of their unbeatable culinary lineup available to fans on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the 2025 US Open. This year’s tournament will feature a star-studded roster of globally renowned chefs, offering fans extraordinary food and drink experiences that match the intensity of the game on the court. From gourmet bites to signature dishes by culinary icons, the US Open continues its tradition of delivering championship-level food alongside world-class tennis.

Tennis fans can experience world-class Mexican hospitality through Dobel® Tequila’s exciting new culinary partnership with Oyamel by José Andrés Group, bringing together two masters of their craft to celebrate the rich regional diversity of Mexican cuisine and vibrant cocktail experiences inside the Dobel Tequila Club. Guests will enjoy various Mexican dishes, including Oyamel’s Taco Cochinita, made of Yucatán-style pit barbecued pork, achiote, Mexican sour orange and pickled red onion.

Making its US Open debut, pastaRAMEN will bring its unique Wafu Italian cuisine to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 2025. Led by James Beard-nominated Rising Star Chef Robbie Felice, pastaRAMEN will present fans with a bold fusion of Italian and Japanese flavors, meticulously prepared using high-quality ingredients and time-honored techniques. Originating as an invite-only omakase pop-up in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, pastaRAMEN is now based in Montclair, N.J. It holds the distinction of being the first Italian ramen shop in the United States, taking inspiration from Kabenoana, a 1950s Tokyo restaurant whose name translates to “hole in the wall.”

Restaurateur Simon Kim, the Founder and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management, the group behind the Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse in New York City’s Flatiron District, will return for his second year with a fresh twist to his beloved restaurant concept COQODAQ. Known for its elevated approach to Korean-inspired Better Fried Chicken, the revamped “CQDQ” will be located in Food Village and feature a curated menu of fan-friendly favorites, including the iconic nuggets. The original COQODAQ, featuring signature dishes such as “The Golden Nugget” — the renowned chicken nugget paired with caviar — will also be available to fans in the club level of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Teaming up once again in Aces are Michelin-starred Chef Ed Brown, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, and James Beard Award-winning Chef Kwame Onwuachi. Guests will enjoy local and seasonal seafood creations, sushi and other specialties that they have come to know and love from the US Open’s distinguished seafood spot.

Michelin-starred and Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli returns to the US Open for her fifth consecutive year, bringing fans delectable dishes and exhilarating cocktails from her Mediterranean bistro, Fare. Also returning is Chef David Burke’s popular Cuban-American fusion spot, Mojito by David Burke, as well as Chef Josh Capon’s Fly Fish with its lobster rolls, tuna poke, oysters, and more.

This year’s tournament also includes new dishes and returning favorites from Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, Champions by Benjamin’s Steakhouse, Carnegie Deli, San Matteo NYC, Dos Toros Taqueria, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Fuku, Eataly, Korilla BBQ and Poke Yachty, Hill Country BBQ, King Souvlaki, The Migrant Kitchen, The Nourish Spot, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, and more.

Fans looking to indulge in a refreshing beverage while they watch the top tennis players compete on the court can enjoy an impressive selection of drinks, including the US Open’s signature cocktail, the Grey Goose® Honey Deuce™. New this year, the US Open is excited to announce Clos du Bois as its official wine partner. Clos du Bois wines will be offered at bars and select concessions. A delicious variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available from official US Open partners, including Aperol®, Dobel® Tequila, evian® Natural Spring Water, Heineken®, Lavazza Coffee, and Moët & Chandon.

Food and drink options will be available for fans onsite during US Open Fan Week from Aug. 18 to Aug. 23 and through the main draw from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7. For more information about this year’s US Open culinary experiences, visit usopen.org.

US Open Fan Week Kicks Off August 18 With World-Class Tennis And Entertainment

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The USTA announced the can’t-miss lineup of world-class and fan-friendly shows, events and activities set to make this year’s US Open Fan Week the biggest and best-ever free tennis and entertainment festival preceding the US Open Singles Main Draw. US Open Fan Week – the first week of the US Open – runs August 18-23 this year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and features free grounds admission all six days. In addition to the previously-announced, separately ticketed events taking place during Week 1 – the blockbuster US Open Mixed Doubles Championship presented by Vital Proteins played August 19-20 and the fan-favorite Stars of the Open presented by Chase held August 21 – US Open Fan Week will feature a packed schedule of free and accessible tennis and entertainment for fans and families of all ages.

Experience World-Class Entertainment and See Iconic Tennis Players Up Close – For Free

The first-ever US Open Silent Disco joins Fan Week’s lineup of free entertainment for 2025, taking place Monday, August 18, from 7-9 p.m. on the Fountain Plaza. Thousands of fans will be able to groove the night away to three different varieties of tunes – Top-40 hits; ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s throwback; and Latin and HipHop Fusion – spun by DJs Jasmine Solano, DJ Whutever and DJ Curly Nez through green, red and blue sets of headphones, each representing one of the different playlists. 

Today’s hottest music will take over the Fountain Plaza on Friday, August 22, as the fan-favorite US Open Block Party – a nighttime, festival-style celebration – returns for a second consecutive year. Legendary New York City artist, producer and DJ D-Nice returns to headline the Block Party, accompanied by renowned producer and DJ Beverly Bond and hosted by KTU’s Maxwell and Z100’s Shelley Rome.

Fan Week also continues to offer one of the best deals in sports – free grounds admission to watch the US Open Qualifying Tournament and to see the biggest stars in tennis practice up close. The Qualifying Tournament, played on the field courts of the US Open August 18-21 – features 128-draw men’s and women’s tournaments that determine the final 16 players to gain entry into each of the US Open Men’s and Women’s Singles Main Draws, which begin on Sunday, August 24. Fans can also enjoy free access to see the biggest stars in tennis practice on the US Open’s practice courts and stadiums throughout Fan Week, including featured practices in Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand, as well as inside Arthur Ashe Stadium via the Arthur Ashe Stadium Experience.

Mike Lawrence/USTA

Fan Access Pass is Your Ticket to the Block Party and Silent Disco, Arthur Ashe Stadium Experience, Giveaways and More

Fans can download the free Fan Access Pass – the must-have, digital ‘ticket’ that grants special access to certain areas, events and giveaways during Fan Week, including: 

  • Free access to headphones for the Silent Disco (August 18) and free advance reservations for the US Open Block Party (August 22).
  • The Arthur Ashe Stadium Experience, including the Media Day Fan Event on Friday, August 22, where fans can sit up close to hear from top players directly, as part of their interview circuit. 
  • A wide range of free giveaways, and more. 

Registration is available at fanpass.usopen.org, with the ability to download your pass to your mobile wallet for easy access. 

Weeklong Entertainment and Activation throughout the US Open Grounds

Fan Week offers something for everyone at any time throughout the grounds, including a variety of entertainment on the Fountain Plaza Stage Monday through Friday. Heineken Happy Hour will take place on the grounds from 5-7 p.m. Monday, August 18, through Friday, August 22, for friends and colleagues to enjoy music from a lineup of well-known DJs, tennis and special drink offers. 

All US Open concessions will be open again during Fan Week, with a $10 kids’ meal deal available every day. All of the on-site sponsor booths and activities will also be open – including the dynamic, indoor US Open American Express Fan Experience, with a court to play Red Ball Tennis, a high-energy, low-pressure spin on the world’s healthiest sport – to ensure all those attending US Open Fan Week can enjoy a true US Open experience.

Lineup of US Open Fan Week Events

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025

US Open Qualifying Tournament Begins (Free to attend with Grounds Admission)

Details: 128 men and 128 women battle for the final 16 spots in the singles Main Draws on the US Open’s field courts, beginning on Monday, August 18, and running through Thursday, August 21. Players in the Qualifying Tournament traditionally are ranked between No. 100-250 in the world, and the field includes everything from rising young stars to veterans on the comeback trail. 

Location: Field Courts

Details: Monday, August 18-Thursday, August 21

US Open Silent Disco (Free via Fan Access Pass)

Details: A unique, silent dance party on the Fountain Plaza featuring three different varieties of tunes – Top-40 hits; ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s throwback; and Latin and HipHop Fusion – spun by DJs Jasmine Solano, DJ Whutever and DJ Curly Nez through green, red and blue sets of headphones, each representing one of the different playlists.

Location: Fountain Plaza

Time:  7-9 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025

US Open Mixed Doubles Championship presented by Vital Proteins – First Round and Quarterfinals

Details: Blockbuster reimagination of the official US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, with 16 star-studded teams of the best men’s and women’s players in the world competing together for a Grand Slam title and a $1 million champions’ prize. Fourteen of the confirmed teams were announced on July 29, with today’s biggest stars, legends of the game, current or former singles and doubles world No. 1s and Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles champions.

Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium

Time:  11 a.m.-6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2025

US Open Mixed Doubles Championship presented by Vital Proteins – Semifinals and Finals

Details: The ultimate showdown evening that will crown the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles champions with the $1 million champions’ prize. 

Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium

Time:   7-10 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2025

Stars of the Open presented by Chase (Ticketed event to Benefit USTA Foundation)

Details: Fan-favorite exhibition event featuring a marquee lineup of today’s top stars and US Open legends, to be joined by world-famous celebrities.

Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium

Time: 7-10 p.m.

Player Participants: Coco Gauff, Joao Fonseca, Andre Agassi, Venus Williams, John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro, American wheelchair stars Dana Mathewson and Casey Ratzlaff.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2025

US Open Media Day (Free, via US Open Fan Access Pass)

Details: The game’s biggest stars will participate in US Open Media Day inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, with a fan-facing portion of their interview circuit allowing fans in Ashe to hear directly from the players up close and personal (Fans must register for this event via Fan Pass; Visit USOpen.org/FanWeek for more details).

Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium

Time: Beginning at noon.

US Open Block Party (Free with RSVP via Fan Access Pass)

Details: Legendary NYC artist, producer and DJ D-Nice returns to headline the fan-favorite US Open Block Party, the night-time, festival-style celebration returning for a second consecutive year. Also performing will be American author, businesswoman, producer and one of the world’s preeminent DJs and Black Girls Rock founder Beverly Bond.

Location: Fountain Plaza

Time: 8-10 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day powered by Net Generation (Free)

Details: The long-running Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, the largest grassroots tennis event in the world, honoring Arthur Ashe’s legacy of instilling the values of humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence alongside promoting the sport of tennis to young people, will take place on Saturday, August 23, with kids and family activities all throughout the grounds, featuring top players, music acts, face painting and a free special show in Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Grounds

Time: 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; 11 a.m. Stadium Show; 1:30 p.m. Fountain Plaza Show

*All players and participants are subject to change. 

The Men’s Grand Slam Scene So Far – And What To Look For At The U.S. Open

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We are now three-quarters of the way through the tennis Grand Slam calendar. With Wimbledon still fresh in our minds, there is still more than enough top-quality tennis going on around the world. But it is only natural that fans are now starting to think about the US Open scheduled for two weeks at the end of August and the beginning of September.

Although all the competitions have been fascinating at every Grand Slam event so far in 2025, the men’s singles is throwing up what has become just the latest in a long history of elite duels. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been winning the biggest tournaments for a few years now, and if you check the Bodog sports betting markets, you will see that those two are favored to battle it out again in New York.

In this article, we will be looking at the grand slam men’s singles season so far and share our thoughts on what might happen at the US Open. Can Sinner win back-to-back titles? Or will Alcaraz even up the honors for 2025? Or will someone else come through to snatch a title away from those two giants of the game?

Grand Slams in 2025 So Far

There is no doubt that the old guard has been swept aside by the new young talents of men’s tennis. Only two years ago, Novak Djokovic was still winning the majority of Grand Slam titles and Rafael Nadal managed to win two as recently as 2022. Other top players, like Dannii Medvedev were also claiming titles when the big two couldn’t keep their own impressive records intact.

The year started with the Australian Open, as usual, with a possible sign of things to come as Djokovic was forced to retire in his semifinal against Alexander Sverez. Jannik Sinner was then able to become the youngest man to ever defend his title Down Under, winning in straight sets. Carlos Alcaraz could only make it to the quarterfinals stage.

Next up was the French Open, where Alcaraz continued the recent history of Spanish dominance. It was his second consecutive title in Paris and he managed to battle from two sets down – and survived three championship points – to come back and beat Sinner by three sets to two.

Alcaraz came into Wimbledon as the pre-tournament favorite, thanks to winning the singles title for the last two years and his performance at the French Open. The two big names in men’s tennis met each other in the final once again, with Alcaraz managing to take the first set. But Sinner came back strongly and won the next three to claim his second Grand Slam title of the year.

US Open 2025

Now our attention is focused on the final Grand Slam of the year in New York in August. Sinner and Alcaraz are the big favorites to meet in the final again, with the Italian fancied to win his third title of the year after that stirring performance at Wimbledon. It just shows how far ahead these two are now in the world of men’s tennis that even legends like Djokovic are just an afterthought when it comes to predicting who might lift the trophy.

Sinner and Alcaraz are so far ahead of the rest when it comes to the men’s singles tournament these days and the fans are eagerly anticipating yet another battle between two of the best. They have now faced each other in back-to-back Grand Slam finals and Sinner is also the defending champion. In a personal battle between the two, the Italian player has also managed to win three of the last four Grand Slam events and must feel like he is the one that everyone thinks they must beat to break into the elite level of men’s tennis.

Sinner winning the US Open in 2025 is not a foregone conclusion, however. Carlos Alcaraz announced himself to the tennis world when he claimed his first-ever Grand Slam title with the US Open in 2022. The Spaniard made it to the semifinals the year after but suffered a huge shock defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp last year. That defeat – and the recent loss to Sinner at Wimbledon – should spur Alcaraz to come back strongly in New York.

Sinner vs. Alcaraz: The Latest Great Men’s Tennis Duel

For a while, we had “the big three”, but the men’s singles tennis tournament has a long history of famous rivalries. Back in the late 1970s, it was Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe – for much of the 1990s and 2000s, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal battled each other, with Novak Djokovic also enjoying intense rivalries with both of those players during the same period of time.

Now, we are being treated to the intense battles between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Even though the Italian player seems to have the upper hand in 2025 so far, the competition between the two is enthralling and always hard to call. At times both players seem unbeatable but the meetings between the two are never predictable.

There is a chance, of course, that someone else aside from Alcaraz and Sinner will end up winning the US Open this year. But at the moment, that eventuality would seem to be very unlikely. We are currently living at a time when the men’s singles division is dominated by these two excellent players – and the best thing to do is just sit back and enjoy the action.

Wake Forest’s Stefan Dostanic, Stanford’s Valerie Glozman Win USTA’s US Open Collegiate Wild Card Tournaments

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Stefan Dostanic and Valerie Glozman each secured a spot in the 2025 US Open singles main draw Wednesday night as they won the men’s and women’s singles titles, respectively, at the American Collegiate Wild Card Playoffs held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.

The new event featured the top American collegiate tennis players competing across men’s and women’s singles and doubles with six wild cards into this summer’s US Open up for grabs.

Dostanic, a native of Irvine, Calif., capped off his college tennis career by leading the Wake Forest men’s tennis team to the NCAA title last month where was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. In the last 12 months, he has won three ITF World Tennis Tour singles titles. He’ll be making his US Open and Grand Slam debut. Watch Dostanic’s match point and victory celebration here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9s_I2dJMSg and watch his post-match interview with Randy Walker here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw_czlC47TE

Glozman, a native of Bellevue, Wash., completed her freshman year at Stanford where she was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and earned All-American honors. A former top-ranked junior, she has competed in US Open qualifying each of the past three years. She’ll be making her Grand Slam main draw debut. Listen to her speak to Randy Walker after her win here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4x0H5HkNo&t=45s

Columbia’s Michael Zheng (Montville, N.J.) and Texas A&M’s Mary Stoiana (Southbury, Conn.), who were the singles finalists, will each receive a wild card entry into the US Open Qualifying Tournament.

This Player Not Only Got Defaulted From The Modern-Day U.S. Open But Got Suspended For Life!

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There was a feature on Tennis Channel and Tennis.com that counted down the top 10 “Biggest Hot Heads In Tennis.” As with many of these polls and rankings, mainly recent players are featured, while many players prior to the 1980s are not mentioned.

One “hot head” not featured was Cliff Richey, whose nick-name was “Bull” because of his temperament was about as subtle as a bull. A once-famous – now forgotten – episode involving Richey and his temper came at the Washington, D.C. tournament when, disputing the condition of the clay court, actually ripped up the nailed-down baseline strip of the court. Richey discusses this – and other on and off-court incidents – in his memoir “Acing Depression: The Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match.”

Before Richey, there was Dennis Ralston, who was so ill-tempered that his nick-name was “Dennis the Menace” and was once suspended from the 1961 U.S. Nationals at Forest Hills.

However, perhaps the biggest hot head that was overlooked in the poll was the only player who was banned for life from tennis due to his temper.

His name was Earl Cochell and he, like Ralston, was a former member of the University of Southern California men’s tennis team. Cochell actually received a life-time ban from tennis due mainly to an incident at the 1951 U.S. Nationals against Garnar Mulloy. Mark Young features Cochell in his book on ”Trojan Tennis Trojan Tennis: A History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” (for sale here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559823/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_fTOhCbTHFW8JX) and describes the incident description as follows:

A passionate competitor, Cochell was known to have a fierce temper. During a Round of 16 match at the U.S. Championships in 1951 against Gardnar Mulloy, Cochell, after splitting the first two sets, but down 4-1 in the third, decided to throw that set and save his energy to come out strong in the fourth set. When it became obvious to the crowd that he was throwing the set (he began to serve underhanded), they started to boo and heckle him. Cochell began to yell back. The chair umpire asked Cochell to “play tennis,” at which point he attempted to climb the umpire’s chair to grab the microphone. Cochell was pulled back before he could get the mike. At one point he hoisted his racket to the crowd as an extension of his middle finger.

After he lost the fourth set to Mulloy, he confronted refer Ellsworth Davenport and used such abusive language that the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association (now the USTA) banned him from tennis for life. To this day he holds the distinction of being the only tennis player to have ever been sanctioned for life by the USTA. In 1962, he was reinstated, but by that point he was no longer competitive.

Cochell’s teammate (Don) Eisenberg was surprised by the news about him when the news of his famous tantrum came out. “In 1951, I played Ed in a Palm Springs tournament and I won the first set and had a chance in the second. He could have gone off and shown his temper then but I don’t recall anything. I do remember that he was a character, would clown around a lot and had a good sense of humor. He would also would sing opera while he was walking between classes. After the Forest Hills incident, I never heard from him again.”

“Trojan Tennis: A History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” by USC men’s tennis historian and Marshall School of Business professor S. Mark Young, is the first-ever book about a college tennis program. Published by New Chapter Press, “Trojan Tennis” documents the most successful college tennis program, dating from 1899 through the end of the 2016-17 season. USC tennis legends Stan Smith and Stevie Johnson both contributed forewords to the hardcover book that features interviews with many of the program’s greatest players also including Alex Olmedo, Dennis Ralston, Bob Lutz, Rick Leach, Luke Jensen as well as legendary coaches George Toley, Dick Leach and Peter Smith. While the progress of the team is central, readers will be fascinated by the biographical details of the key figures in each time period, which are enhanced by extensive footnotes drawing from archival materials, including personal letters, scrapbooks, published news stories, and original interviews.

“We are so lucky Dr. Mark Young found us,” said Peter Smith, the USC men’s tennis coach. “He had a dream to write the story of the USC men’s tennis team. Little did any of us know what a the grand that lay ahead of him. Mark looked into every detail and every character – the story is a great read. He is the perfect person to tell our story and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”

USTA Celebrates Althea Gibson In 2025 U.S. Open Theme “75 Years of Breaking Barriers”

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The USTA has proudly unveiled its theme for the 2025 US Open, “Celebrating 75 Years of Breaking Barriers,” in honor of Althea Gibson breaking tennis’ color barrier at the 1950 U.S. National Championships. Illuminating this year’s theme is the deeply powerful and dynamic theme art – a layered, silhouette profile of Gibson, incorporating iconic symbols emblematic of the US Open – created by Melissa Koby, the first Black theme artist in US Open history.

“Celebrating 75 Years of Breaking Barriers” will commemorate Gibson, her legacy and the future generations of barrier breakers she inspired. The theme will be championed throughout the full three weeks of the 2025 US Open, which runs August 18-September 7. A centerpiece moment will be a tribute to Gibson inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, August 24, the start of the Men’s and Women’s Singles Main Draws.

“The USTA and the US Open are incredibly proud and humbled to be able to celebrate Althea Gibson – a universal inspiration and one of our game’s foremost pioneers — on the 75th anniversary of her changing the game forever,” said Stacey Allaster, US Open Tournament Director and Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA. “The character and the courage she displayed at the 1950 U.S. National Championships changed the course of history and created a legacy that helped make the US Open what it is today – truly ‘Open for All.’ On the 75th anniversary of that watershed moment, we celebrate Althea, the barriers she broke and the legacy she inspired.”

The theme art was created by combining and layering images of stencil- and laser-cut paper, resulting in a piece that evokes a natural emotion with its depth. The layered style is signature to Koby, a resident of Tampa, Fla., whose resume as an artist and illustrator includes an impressive list of high-profile brand collaborations.

“I wanted to create a piece that represents Althea as uniquely and beautifully as she deserves and also inspires a deep connection of representation with anyone who sees it,” Koby said. “Whether it be the layer of her playing tennis for an avid tennis-lover, or somebody who has ties to Arthur Ashe Stadium, or somebody who just loves really strong women in sports — I wanted to make sure that in having the honor and privilege of representing Althea for the US Open, I created a piece in which everyone can find a deep connection with her but also within themselves.”

Posters of the theme art are available for purchase via USOpen.org.

Tickets to All US Open Events Go On-Sale Friday, Including Blockbuster Mixed Doubles Championship

Tickets for all three weeks of events at the 2025 US Open go on sale to the general public at 9 a.m. Friday via Ticketmaster and USOpen.org, including:

  • US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, reimagined and elevated to be a must-attend championship competition featuring a blockbuster field of today’s top men’s and women’s stars competing together for a $1 million champions’ prize.
    Date: Tuesday, August 19 – Wednesday, August 20
     
  • Stars of the Open presented by Chase, a fan-favorite event featuring many of tennis’ biggest names alongside today’s hottest celebrities, returns as a Fan Week staple, with a portion of ticket proceeds benefitting the USTA Foundation.
    Date: Thursday, August 21

US Open Fan Week runs Monday, August 18 through Saturday, August 23, this year and once again features free grounds admission to the USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center as the US Open Qualifying Tournament – 128 men’s and women’s singles players battling for the final 16 spots in each Main Draw – plays out on the field courts.

The US Open Men’s and Women’s Singles Main Draw begins Sunday, August 24 – the first weekend start to the US Open Singles Main Draws in the Open Era. The Women’s Singles Championship will be played on Saturday, September 6, with the Men’s Singles Championship taking place on Sunday, September 7.