The primary main of the 2025 season got here to a detailed over the weekend as Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner claimed the singles trophies on the Australian Open.
In her forty sixth Slam look — and final earlier than turning 30 subsequent month — Keys gained her first main title behind a shocking run all through the match. The No. 19 seed rattled off one spectacular victory after one other earlier than defeating No. 2 Iga Swiatek within the semifinals in dramatic vogue after which upsetting two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka within the last on Saturday, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. She turned the primary lady since Serena Williams in 2005 to beat the highest two gamers en path to the trophy in Melbourne.
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Keys credited her shock triumph partially to letting go of the burden of getting to win a Slam.
“I lastly bought to the purpose the place I used to be OK if it did not occur,” Keys mentioned after the ultimate. “I did not want it to really feel like I had a very good profession, or that I deserved to be talked about as an amazing tennis participant. I really feel like lastly letting go of that sort of inner speak that I had simply gave me the flexibility to truly exit and play some actually good tennis to truly win a Grand Slam.”
On the boys’s aspect, there was remarkably much less suspense as Sinner, the world No. 1, cruised comparatively unscathed all through the fortnight and efficiently defended his 2024 title. The 23-year-old Sinner dropped only one set in Melbourne and largely dominated his opponents, together with throughout a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 last towards Alexander Zverev on Sunday. Sinner is the youngest man to win back-to-back on the Australian Open since Jim Courier did so in 1992 and 1993 and the primary Italian to say three Slam titles in historical past.
In 2024, three girls — Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Barbora Krejcikova — and two males — Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz — captured Slam titles. Will any of them be part of Sinner and be capable of repeat the feat within the new yr? Or will somebody, like Keys, fly beneath the radar and make a splash on one of many sport’s largest levels?
With just below 4 months till the beginning of the principle draw on the French Open, and a number of tennis left to play on each laborious court docket and clay within the meantime, it is in fact practically unattainable to make predictions about the remainder of the season’s majors — however that will not cease us from making an attempt. This is who must be the highest contenders at every of the remaining Slams of 2025.
French Open
When: Could 25 – June 8
The place: Paris
2024 champions: Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz
Prime girls’s contenders in 2025: Swiatek, Zheng Qinwen, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Mirra Andreeva, Sabalenka
Nobody since Rafael Nadal has been extra dominant at Roland Garros than Swiatek. She’s gained 4 of the previous 5 titles in Paris and is actually the “Queen of Clay.” And he or she hasn’t simply gained on the match, she’s been nearly untouchable. In 2024, she dropped one set (straight away basic towards Naomi Osaka within the second spherical) however in any other case misplaced a mixed 20 video games throughout her run. Within the last, she resoundingly defeated Paolini 6-2, 6-1. She stays very a lot the favourite for the yr’s subsequent main.
However whereas it is uncommon, she will be overwhelmed at Roland Garros. Zheng pulled off one of many largest upsets of 2024 when she defeated Swiatek within the semifinals on the Olympics, held on the storied venue. Zheng went on to win the gold medal and can now arrive to the French Open brimming with confidence and in quest of her first main title.
Gauff, at the moment ranked No. 3 on the planet, has had success on the crimson clay all through her younger profession. She reached the ultimate in 2022, in addition to the semifinals final season, and gained the 2024 doubles title with Katerina Siniakova, in addition to the junior title in 2018. She has what it takes to win on the floor. Paolini was a shock finalist in 2024 after a outstanding run, which noticed her defeat two main champions alongside the way in which. She will likely be seeking to show final season was no fluke.
Andreeva, 17, reached the primary main semifinal of her promising profession on the occasion final season and solely continues to enhance. After which there’s Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and 2023 semifinalist. She has twice gained the 1000-level Madrid title on clay and will definitely be within the combine in Paris this spring — and possibly taking part in with a chip on her shoulder after her loss within the Australian Open last.
Prime males’s contenders in 2025: Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Zverev, Casper Ruud
Coming into final yr’s match having battled an arm harm within the lead-in occasions, Alcaraz was pushed to 5 units towards each Sinner within the semifinals and Zverev within the last. And but he discovered a approach to win, securing his first French Open title. Some six weeks later, he earned the silver medal through the Olympics on the venue, cementing his standing as among the finest on the planet on the floor and at Roland Garros.
Alcaraz’s bid to realize the elusive profession slam was stopped — for now, anyway — by Djokovic within the quarterfinals on the Australian Open final week however that defeat will seemingly make him solely hungrier the remainder of the season.
Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, defeated Alcaraz within the Olympic gold-medal match in dramatic vogue and proved he is nonetheless able to profitable the large titles. Djokovic, who will flip 38 simply earlier than the beginning of the match, needed to retire from his semifinal match towards Zverev in Melbourne with a hamstring harm. He additionally underwent an unrelated knee surgical procedure after having to withdraw from Roland Garros final yr forward of the quarters. However he stays centered on profitable his record-breaking twenty fifth main title, and he actually is aware of what it takes to win in Paris.
Zverev cited final yr’s defeat within the last as a turning level in his profession, and he is since dedicated himself to bettering his conditioning and stamina. Having clearly already achieved some outcomes, who’s to say he cannot win on the French Open? After now shedding in three main finals, Zverev can have no scarcity of motivation.
And whereas Ruud has had his struggles as of late — he misplaced within the second spherical on the Australian Open — he reached the ultimate in Paris in 2022 and 2023 (and the semis final season) and is all the time a menace on clay.
Wimbledon
When: June 30 – July 13
The place: London
2024 champions: Barbora Krejcikova and Carlos Alcaraz
Prime girls’s contenders in 2025: Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Krejcikova, Paolini, Ons Jabeur
There’s maybe no title extra up for grabs on the ladies’s aspect than Wimbledon. With grass such a brief section of the annual calendar, few have seemingly mastered the floor and it may lead to somebody sudden making a deep run.
However Sabalenka is a two-time semifinalist on the All England Membership and reached the spherical in her previous two appearances in 2021 and 2023. Whereas she was unable to play final yr on account of harm, and has by no means gained a title on grass, assuming she’s wholesome at that time within the yr, she may simply be the favourite.
Rybakina’s season to date has been outlined by her controversial teaching modifications, and she or he confronted many questions on them throughout her fourth-round run in Melbourne. But when she is ready to concentrate on tennis, the 2022 Wimbledon champion stays a severe contender on the match and is likely one of the finest on the planet on the floor. Her 2024 marketing campaign was derailed by Krejcikova within the semifinals.
Krejcikova, a two-time main champion, was the unlikely victor final season because of a number of comeback victories and unwavering self-belief. She missed the Australian Open on account of a lingering again harm however will undoubtedly wish to present her title victory was no accident.
Paolini, the opposite 2024 finalist, and Jabeur, the 2022 and 2023 runner-up, have additionally proved to be formidable foes on the floor. Jabeur, whose 2024 season was tormented by a shoulder harm, has spoken many instances about how a lot a Wimbledon title would imply to her.
Prime males’s contenders in 2025: Alcaraz, Djokovic, Sinner, Taylor Fritz
Regardless of being 21 and nonetheless having performed simply over a handful of grass tournaments in his profession, Alcaraz is the two-time defending Wimbledon champion. Whereas some gamers wrestle in adapting to grass and adjusting their actions, Alcaraz has had no such points. Forward of the 2024 last assembly, Djokovic known as Alcaraz “in all probability the perfect” on the planet on the floor proper now and it is laborious to argue. Having defeated Djokovic — a seven-time champion on the occasion — in straight units within the last, Alcaraz is the favourite at this level to win but once more.
Nevertheless, if wholesome, Djokovic will likely be a person on a mission at SW19. He has constantly waxed poetic concerning the particular place the match holds in his coronary heart, and he would really like nothing greater than to win one other title on the All England Membership. As he made the 2024 last simply weeks after knee surgical procedure, he stays a dominant power at Wimbledon and an opponent nobody would wish to see of their part of the draw.
Sinner, a 2023 semifinalist, gained his first grass title final season at Halle and can solely proceed to get higher on the floor. He misplaced to Daniil Medvedev in 5 units through the quarters final season however has turn out to be extra assured in his recreation and has an more and more untouchable aura. Barring a ban by the World Anti-Doping Company (a listening to is scheduled for April), may this be the yr he wins a non-hard-court main and continues to construct his legacy?
And do not depend out Fritz, a two-time quarterfinalist on the All England Membership. The 27-year-old American had a profession breakthrough by reaching the US Open last in September and is able to massive outcomes and upsets.
US Open
When: Aug. 25 – Sept. 7
The place: New York
2024 champions: Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner
Prime girls’s contenders in 2025: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, Keys, Jessica Pegula, Osaka
By the tip of the foremost season, something can occur. Through the years, the US Open has had some shock champions — assume Emma Raducanu in 2021 — however there was extra consistency within the current previous with Sabalenka, Gauff and Swiatek claiming the previous three titles in New York.
And, with seven months to go earlier than the beginning of the US Open, that trio — at the moment the top-three-ranked gamers on the planet — are the favorites to win once more within the Huge Apple.
The reigning champion in Cincinnati and having opened the season with the title in Brisbane, Sabalenka has proved how good she is on the laborious court docket. Add redemption to the combination after her devastating loss in Melbourne on Saturday and, properly, let’s simply say that is a harmful mixture.
Gauff, the 2023 champion who fell within the fourth spherical in her try and repeat in 2024, has elevated her recreation since her disappointment in New York in September. Since that loss, she’s made tactical and personnel modifications along with her staff and completed the 2024 season by profitable the WTA Finals. She opened 2025 by main the USA squad to a United Cup title and reached the quarterfinals on the Australian Open. The 20-year-old can have the group on her aspect in New York and will actually be in place to win her second title on the occasion.
Swiatek was practically flawless all through a lot of her run in Melbourne. Earlier than being stopped within the semifinals, she hadn’t dropped a set and had conceded simply 14 complete video games. In opposition to Raducanu within the third spherical, she misplaced only one recreation. At her finest, she’s powerful to beat and one other trophy in New York appears believable.
However let’s not overlook Keys. She reached the ultimate in 2017 and now is aware of what it takes to win a Slam — and can have a number of help from the house crowd as a reigning main champion. After all, there’s additionally Pegula, who had her breakthrough in 2024 by reaching the US Open last, and Osaka, the two-time champion who appeared resurgent in Melbourne earlier than retiring from her third-round match with an belly harm. It is laborious to assume she will not be an element by the tip of the season if she is wholesome.
Prime males’s contenders in 2025: Sinner, Alcaraz, Fritz, Tiafoe, Shelton, Djokovic
After watching what Sinner did in Melbourne — and simply how straightforward he made it look — he’s resoundingly the person to beat within the yr’s different hard-court Slam at this level within the yr. He was equally dominant in New York final yr, dropping simply two units all through, and routed Fritz within the last 6-3, 6-4, 7-5. His unflappable demeanor is an ideal antidote for the rowdy crowds on Arthur Ashe Stadium and one other repeat title appears doable.
However Alcaraz might need different plans. The 2022 champion embraces the crowds and the highlight like few others and has gained three Masters 1000-level titles on the laborious court docket. After his back-to-back wins on the French Open and Wimbledon and silver-medal Olympic run final summer time, he was fatigued by the point he arrived in New York and was surprised within the second spherical. However he must be extra rested — and much more motivated — this season.
To not point out, there is a group of People who would do something to win in entrance of the house crowd and snap the Slam-less drought amongst countrymen. Assuming it isn’t damaged on the French Open or at Wimbledon, it is going to have been 22 years since Andy Roddick claimed the title on the US Open in 2003 and it is understandably a speaking level yearly. Fritz got here oh-so-close final yr by reaching the ultimate and that mix of disappointment and confidence may assist him get it accomplished in 2025.
Tiafoe, as beloved a participant as anybody in New York, has reached the semifinals two of the previous three years and may beat anybody with the group behind him. Simply ask Rafael Nadal. If Tiafoe finds his rhythm, a title is actually doable. Similar goes for Shelton. Simply 22, the previous NCAA champion reached the US Open semifinals in 2023 and is coming off a semifinal look in Melbourne. He has lengthy been touted because the nation’s finest hope to finish the streak, so why not this yr at dwelling?
Lastly, there’s all the time Djokovic, the four-time champion. Like Alcaraz, he was unable to provide his finest outcomes final season in New York following an extended summer time, which noticed him win Olympic gold, but when he is within the draw, he needs to be within the dialog.
