10 things to look for at the 2026 US Open

With the 2026 US Open already underway, it is time for me to write my 10 things to look for. Click here for the men's draw and click here for the women's draw. Ok, let's dive in!  

#1.  Can Aryna Sabalenka complete a three-peat? Aryna Sabalenka comes in as the number one player in the world in the women's draw, gunning for her third straight US Open title. A three-peat is not an easy feat at any grand slam. Especially one as grueling as the US Open. She's certainly the odds on favorite and should be feeling good about her chances. Especially since hard court is her best surface. 

#2. Can Carlos Alcaraz win his third US Open? Back from injury, number two seed Carlos Alcaraz is looking to win his third US Open and in the process defend his title. Given he was absent from the French Open and Wimbledon this year due to a wrist injury, it feels like it's been a while since we saw him compete. It's hard to know how well he'll be able to play in New York. Assuming he's feeling great, I don't see why we should pick against him. He won the Australian Open earlier this year and is the defending US Open champion. Hard court is his jam. On top of that, Jannik Sinner is not playing due to injury. 

#3. Can Elena Rybakina win her second hard court grand slam? Elena Rybakina comes in as the number two seed, having won the Australian Open earlier this year. She won Wimbledon back in 2022, so she's going for her third grand slam title overall and second on the hard courts. She came up short in Cincinnati in her most recent hard court tournament, losing to Iga Swiatek 4-1 via walkover in the quarterfinals, so it's hard to know how big of a worry that should be. Regardless, Rybakina absolutely should be seen as a serious contender given how things went for her at the Australian Open. 

#4. Can Felix Auger-Aliassime reach his first grand slam semifinal? Felix Auger-Aliassime comes in as the number three seed and yet he's never reached the semifinal of a grand slam. He has a chance to change that this year given he has a top four seed. On paper, he should be a semifinalist this year due to Sinner being out and Novak Djokovic getting eliminated in the first round, but every year he runs out of steam in the quarterfinals. Will this be the year he finally breaks through? It will be fun to find out. 

#5. Can Marta Kostyuk build on her French Open and Wimbledon success? Marta Kostyuk comes in as the No. 11 seed after reaching the semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon. She's had a fantastic summer and should look to build on that at the US Open. Last year, she reached the 4th round at the US Open, so she's shown she can compete at this event and now that she's been to back-to-back grand slam semifinals, she should be feeling confident. I'm excited to see what she does. 

#6.  Can Alexander Zverev take advantage of Jannik Sinner's absence? Alexander Zverev is the number one seed on the men's side as a result of Jannik Sinner being out. With Alcaraz potentially rusty due to missing the last two grand slams, and Djokovic losing in the first round, the stars really could be aligning for Zverev to win his first US Open and second grand slam (2026 French Open). The US Open historically has more withdrawals given how beaten up guys tend to be at this time of the season. If there's a guy who should be looking to pounce on this chance, it's definitely Zverev. 

#7. Can Naomi Osaka build on her strong Wimbledon? Naomi Osaka comes in as the No. 13 seed in the tournament, having reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon earlier this summer. Osaka certainly seems to be finding her groove again and she has won the US Open and Australian Open twice, making hard court her best surface. If she could make a deep run, that would be awesome for the sport. Especially given how much the New York crowd likes her. 

#8. Can Alex de Minaur reach his first grand slam semifinal?  Just like Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur keeps hitting a wall in the quarterfinals of a grand slam. As I've mentioned, with Djokovic eliminated and Sinner out due to injury, someone has to take advantage of the waters parting. Alex de Minaur is a guy who absolutely has a chance to be one of those guys. He's the No. 6 seed and has plenty of grand slam experience. He just has to go out and make the most of this opportunity. 

#9. Can Linda Noskova build on her Wimbledon title? Linda Noskova is the No. 6 seed and is coming off an amazing two weeks at Wimbledon in which she went the distance to win her first grand slam. Winning on grass and hard court are different animals and it's always tough to follow up your first grand slam with a second grand slam in the next slam. Especially when you factor in a surface change. Still, Noskova has to take a lot of confidence from what she did at Wimbledon. I look forward to seeing how she does in New York. 

#10. Can Taylor Fritz break through to win his grand slam? Taylor Fritz is the No. 9 seed and the top ranked American man. The New York crowd will certainly be cheering him on. He reached the final back in 2024, so he's shown an ability to find success at the US Open. The last American man to win a grand slam was Andy Roddick in 2003 at the US Open.  Fritz has a chance to break that spell. Especially with the way the draw has been shaking out. If he could go the distance, that would be awesome for American tennis. 

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10 takeaways from the 2025 US Open

 

               (Carlos Alcaraz & Aryna Sabalenka with their trophies. Credit: WTA Photo) 

The 2025 US Open is now in the rearview mirror, which means it is time for me to write my 10 takeaways from the two weeks that were in New York City. Alrighty, let's dive in! 

#1. Carlos Alcaraz re-established himself as No. 1: Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in the final 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. The two of them are the clear top two players in the world, jockeying for position. By winning the US Open, Alcaraz reclaimed the number one spot in the world. Alcaraz hadn't won the US Open since 2022, so it was huge for him to get back in the winner's circle at this event. On the year, they are 2-2 against each other in grand slam finals. Alcaraz also winning the French Open while Sinner won the Australian Open and Wimbledon. It'll be interesting to see which one of those two will end the year ranked number one. For now, Alcaraz has the inside track. 

#2. Aryna Sabalenka re-establishes herself as No. 1: Aryna Sabalenka defeated Amanda Anisimova in the final 6-3, 7-6. As a result, Sabalenka has a strong grip on the world number one spot having won Wimbledon earlier this year. Sabalenka has been the top hard court player in the world and this year's US Open reaffirmed that. She was fantastic all tournament long only dropping one set against Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. It'll be fun to see if Sabalenka can go the distance at the Australian Open. While she's won the Australian Open and US Open in the same year before, he's never followed a US Open win with an Australian Open title. So that's something for her to shoot for. 

#3. Sinner and Alcaraz are the clear top two players in the world: As I mentioned, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner went 2-2 against each other in grand slam finals this year. While they are going back and forth between who has the world number one ranking, one thing that is clear is that they are the top two players in the world. They're getting very little challenge from the rest of the tour. Given how young they are (Alcaraz 22 years old; Sinner 24 years old), it's hard to see that changing any time soon. 

#4. Amanda Anisimova is knocking on the door: Amanda Anisimova followed up her run to the Wimbledon final with a run to the US Open final. At just 24 years of age, her time certainly seems to be coming. She had a great tournament in New York and as a result is now ranked No. 4 in the world. It'll be fun to see how the rest of the season goes for her and whether or not she'll be able to break through to win her first grand slam in 2026. 

#5. Felix Auger-Aliassime continues to have US Open success: Felix Auger-Aliassime had a strong US Open, reaching the semifinals for the second time of his career (2021). Auger-Aliassime hasn't reached the semifinals at any other grand slam before, so the US Open really is his best tournament. I guess the combination of hard court and proximity to Canada gives him an advantage. He started out the tournament seeded No. 25 and is now ranked No. 13 in the world. It'll be fun to see if he can make some noise at the Australian Open and build on the success he had in New York. 

#6. Naomi Osaka had a renaissance: Naomi Osaka had a fantastic tournament, reaching the semifinals where she lost to Amanda Anisimova 7-6, 6-7, 3-6. It was her first trip to the semifinals of a grand slam since winning the Australian Open in 2021. This was truly a renaissance tournament for Osaka as she played the best she's played in a good while. At 27 years of age, Osaka still has plenty of tennis ahead of her. It'll be fun to see if this strong US Open performance will propel her to a strong 2026 season. 

#7. Novak Djokovic is still elite, but no longer on top: Novak Djokovic fell to Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals 4-6, 6-7, 2-6. Ranked No. 4 in the world, Djokovic is still an elite player, but as I wrote above, it's clear that Alcaraz and Sinner are the clear number two guys. Djokovic at this point is playing for the love of the game. How long will that last given the demands of playing on tour? That's a question only he can answer, but I for one hope he plays at least a couple more seasons. 

#8. Jessica Pegula keeps knocking on the door: Jessica Pegula had a nice run to the semifinals, falling to Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 3-6, 4-6. This was the second trip to the semifinals that Pegula has had at the US Open, reaching the final in 2024. Pegula hasn't reached the semifinals at any other grand slam, but the US Open is where she plays her best tennis. Whether or not she can put it together at other grand slams remains to be seen, but the US Open she clearly has developed a lot of comfort at. 

#9. Taylor Fritz was unable to get back to the final: After reaching the final in 2024, Taylor Fritz was unable to get back to the final in 2025. Fritz fell to Novak Djokovic in four sets in the quarterfinals: 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 4-6. Given he's the top ranked American man, now No. 5 in the world, it's a bummer for Fritz that he couldn't make a deeper run. Hopefully for him, he'll be able to make more noise next year and also do more to knock Sinner and Alcaraz off their perch. If he can't do it, it's fair to wonder who can. 

#10. Iga Swiatek was unable to win a second US Open: Iga Swiatek fell to Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals 4-6, 3-6, failing to win her second US Open title after winning it in 2022.  Clay has been her best surface by far with four French Open titles and then she finally broke through on grass this year at Wimbledon. At just 24 years of age, she's got plenty of time to win more US Opens and complete the career grand slam with an Australian Open title still needed. It'll be interesting to see if she can get more consistent on the hard court. If she does, given her clay abilities, she's got a chance to really dominate the WTA Tour. 

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10 things to look for at the 2025 US Open

 

The US Open actually began on Sunday, so I'm a bit late to getting this up. Below are my 10 things to look for at the 2025 US Open in New York. Click here to check out the draws in case you haven't yet seen them. Ok, let's dive in! 

#1. How healthy is Jannik Sinner? No. 1 Jannik Sinner pulled out of the final in the Cincinnati Open due to an illness, handing the title to No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. A lot of questions have swirled around about how healthy Sinner is and whether or not he'd even compete. Well, he's in the main draw and will give it a go. But will he stay healthy the entire tournament or could he be in for an early exit? The first couple rounds will tell us a lot. 

#2. Can Aryna Sabalenka defend her title? No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka comes in as the defending champion with many picking her to defend her title. However, she did lose to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final earlier this year, unable to defend her title there. Sabalenka will be eager to not have that happen again and this time defend her crown. If she does, she'll be sending a message that she truly is the top hard court player in the game. 

#3. Does Novak Djokovic have one more slam in him? No. 7 Novak Djokovic has won 24 grand slams and is gunning for his 25th. He cruised to a 6-1, 7-6, 6-2 victory over Learner Tien in the first round, so he's off to a good start. The key for Djokovic will be to make sure he takes care of business in straight sets through the first four rounds. The less tennis he has to play, especially on the hard courts, the better. Djokovic has to make sure in these early rounds he doesn't get pushed. Otherwise, fatigue will certainly catch up with him in the later rounds. 

#4. Will Coco Gauff's coaching change pay off? No. 3 Coco Gauff fired her catch Matthew Daly just days before the US Open in a move that sent a bit of a shockwave through the tennis world. It's a bold move to make that only will look smart if she goes all the way. If she doesn't, it will look like a desperate move that should have at least waited until the end of the season. It certainly adds more pressure on Gauff to perform well at this tournament, but then again, maybe this will help her out mentally. Time will tell. 

#5. Can Carlos Alcaraz build on his win at Cincinnati? After winning the Cincinnati Open, Carlos Alcaraz comes into the US Open with a lot of momentum. But will it ultimately matter? If Sinner is not able to play to his full strength, one has to like Alcaraz's chances of winning it all. The only reason to pause is he hasn't won the US Open since 2022. It's a bit of a dry spell in New York that Alcaraz would love to end. 

#6. Can Iga Swiatek build on her win at Cincinnati? No. 2 Iga Swiatek defeated No. 7 Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open. Just like Alcaraz, Swiatek is eager to build on the momentum she has coming into the tournament. Also like Alcaraz, she hasn't won the US Open since 2022. Will this be the year she wins it all again in New York? It should be interesting to see. 

#7. Can Alexander Zverev contend? No. 3 Alexander Zverev is still seeking his first grand slam title. He only reached the US Open final once in his career (2020), but he did reach the Australian Open final earlier this year. If Sinner is unable to go deep in the tournament, Zverev in theory should be the guy to take advantage as the number three guy in the world. But can he actually do it? That's the question. 

#8. Can Madison Keys threaten? After winning the Australian Open, No. 6 Madison Keys will look to wrap up the 2025 season how she started it: winning a hard court grand slam. Keys should have a lot more confidence in her US Open chances after the way she performed Down Under, but as a word of caution, she has only reached one US Open final in her career and that was back in 2017. If Keys does go the distance this year, that would be quite a story. 

#9. Can Taylor Fritz go the distance? If there's an American man to threaten to win it all this year, it would be No. 4 Taylor Fritz. Fritz reached the final last year and really fed off the American crowd. While not the same level of pressure that was on Andy Murray to win Wimbledon as a Brit, it has been 22 years since an American man won a grand slam (Andy Roddick, 2003 US Open). Fritz is the best chance the United States has to end that drought. It would be cool if he did. 

#10. Can Jessica Pegula go the distance? The number four seed on the women's side is also an American in Jessica Pegula. She reached the final last year just like Fritz did and is also in search of her first grand slam. It'll be interesting to see how she does and whether or not she can once again feed off the energy from the New York crowd. 

Prediction: I'm gonna pick both Cincinnati winners to win the US Open. I got Carlos Alcaraz winning on the men's side and Iga Swiatek winning on the women's side. They're both playing great tennis right now and seem eager to win a second US Open title. 

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10 things to take away from 2025 Wimbledon

 

                        (Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek with their trophies. Credit: Getty Images) 

With 2025 Wimbledon now officially behind us, it is time for me to write my 10 things to take away from the two weeks that were on the grass. Let's dive in! 

#1. Iga Swiatek can get it done on the grass: By winning Wimbledon, world No. 3 Iga Swiatek has now won a grand slam on every surface and only needs to win the Australian Open to complete the career grand slam.  She absolutely smoked Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the final as Anisimova was nowhere near the level she was playing at going in. Some of that of course a credit to Swiatek. While she is still most dangerous on the clay with her four French Open titles, it's huge for Swiatek to show she can win grand slams on all surfaces. It makes her a much more dangerous opponent going forward. 

#2. Jannik Sinner proved he can go the distance on the grass: Just like Iga Swiatek, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner won his first Wimbledon title, showing that he can go all the way on the grass. Now he just needs a French Open title to complete the career slam, so unlike Swiatek, he is yet to win a grand slam title on all three surfaces of clay, hard court, and grass. For Sinner, what made this title extra special was he got revenge against world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz by beating him in the final 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 after narrowly losing to him in the French Open final. Given how close he came at the French Open, one has to think his time is coming on the clay. But regardless, winning Wimbledon is a big deal for Sinner. Hopefully the first of many for him. 

#3. Coco Gauff needs to figure out the grass: Coco Gauff had a 1st round exit at Wimbledon this year and has never gotten past the 4th round. While she is off to a great start to her career with her 2023 US Open title and 2025 French Open title earlier this year, it's clear that she has work to do on the grass. The odd thing is she reached the 4th round at Wimbledon back in 2019 in her first Wimbledon and first grand slam main draw. You would think she would have at least reached a Wimbledon quarterfinals by now, but she clearly has more work to do in order to make a deep run on the grass. 

#4. Carlos Alcaraz met his match against Jannik Sinner: Carlos Alcaraz came into Wimbledon having won back-to-back titles, gunning for a third straight title on the grass. He met his match against Jannik Sinner, going down in four sets. What's clear is that these two guys are forming a fantastic rivalry on the court and there really isn't a third guy who is consistently giving them a run for their money. It would be fun if a third guy could do that (hopefully Alexander Zverev), but if we have to live with watching more Sinner/Alcaraz battles for the next few years, I think that's okay. They really are a treat to watch. 

#5. Amanda Anisimova had a breakthrough tournament: Even though getting double bageled in the final against Iga Swiatek isn't what she wanted to have happen, Amanda Anisimova still can hold her head high knowing she reached her first grand slam final and at Wimbledon no less. She had a great tournament and at just 23 years of age, she has plenty of years ahead. It'll be fun to see how the rest of the season goes for her. 

#6. The end is nearing for Novak Djokovic: Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals, losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets 3-6, 4-6, 4-6. The fact that a run to the semifinals is considered "running out of gas" so to speak just goes to show how freaking talented and amazing Djokovic is. That notwithstanding, it's fair to wonder if he'll ever win another grand slam and how much longer he wants to play if he knows he no longer can compete at the absolute highest level. 

#7. Aryna Sabalenka still in search of first non-hardcourt slam: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka came up short, losing in the semifinals to Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 4-6. She has won the Australian Open two times and the US Open once, but she is still in search of her first non-hardcourt grand slam. The semifinals is the furthest she's gone at Wimbledon and the final (2025) is the furthest she's gone at the French Open. I have no doubt that Sabalenka will get there and win a grand slam on either grass or clay, but for now, it remains a goal for her to shoot for. 

#8. Taylor Fritz needs to find that next gear:  World No. 4 Taylor Fritz lost in the semifinals to Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-7. Fritz has reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the 4th round at the French Open, the semifinals at Wimbledon, and the final at the US Open. He appears to be knocking on the door, but with Alcaraz and Sinner in front of him, he needs to figure out how to find that next gear. Can he do it? That's the question. 

#9. Emma Raducanu needs to get more out of her home court advantage: Despite being the darling of British women's tennis, Emma Raducanu is still yet to make a serious challenge at Wimbledon. She won the US Open back in 2021, making people think a Wimbledon title could be in her future. As of now, the furthest she's gone at Wimbledon is the 4th round and this year she exited in the 3rd round. Given she's a Brit, she has a great opportunity to get the home crowd behind her at Wimbledon, but she's gotta do her part to make some noise and give them something to cheer about. 

#10. Jack Draper needs to back up his ranking at grand slams: Ranked No. 5 in the world, Jack Draper has only one grand slam semifinal under his belt at the 2024 US Open. Matter of fact, it's the only grand slam semifinal he's reached in his career. This year, he reached the 4th round at the Australian Open and the French Open before losing in the 2nd round at Wimbledon despite being British. He's going to have lot of points to defend at the US Open and unless he can make another deep run in New York, he very well may see his ranking drop come September. 

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10 things to look for at 2025 BNP Paribas Open | Indian Wells

 

                                             (Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images) 

The 2025 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California is underway. I would like to provide my list of 10 things to look for at this year's event, which is often dubbed the 5th grand slam. To check out the draws, click here. 

#1. Can Taylor Fritz bounce back from his disappointing Australian Open? Taylor Fritz comes in as the No. 3 seed and No. 4 player in the world on the men's side. He did not have a particularly strong Australian Open as he went down in the 3rd round, meaning he needs to bounce back and not let that result linger. The good news for Fritz is he's won Indian Wells before back in 2022 and being from Southern California, he basically has home court advantage. If there's an event for Fritz to bounce back at, this is the one. How he does could be very telling for how the rest of his 2025 season will go. 

#2. Can Aryna Sabalenka win her first Indian Wells title and reestablish hard court dominance? Aryna Sabalenka comes in ranked No. 1 in the world and the top hard court player in the women's game. In this year's Australian Open, Sabalenka fell to Madison Keys in the final, unable to win her third straight Australian Open title and third straight hard court grand slam. Sabalenka seems fired up to win this event and remind the WTA tour that she's the best on the hard court surface. She also hasn't won this event before, reaching the final in 2023 where she lost to Elena Rybakina. So that's probably a big source of her motivation for winning. It'll be fun to see if she can go the distance. 

#3. Can Novak Djokovic prove he's still got it? I think there are some questions about whether or not Novak Djokovic still has what it takes to win more grand slams. Personally, I think he does, but it would be huge for him to win at Indian Wells just to give himself some momentum after losing in the semifinals at the Australian Open earlier this year. Djokovic has won Indian Wells five times, so he knows what it takes to win it. But, he hasn't won since 2016. It would be pretty cool if he won a sixth Indian Wells title. That would break the tie he has with Roger Federer, who also won five Indian Wells titles (tied for most all-time). 

#4. Can Madison Keys build on her Australian Open success? Madison Keys won her first grand slam at the Australian Open earlier this year, knocking off Aryna Sabalenka. It'll be interesting to see how Keys does at Indian Wells. She comes in as the No. 5 seed and thus should be in the mix to win the tournament. That said, she has never won this tournament nor has she reached the final. If she were to win this, that would really be sending a message to the rest of the WTA. 

#5. Can Ben Shelton make a run? Ben Shelton is coming into this tournament with some momentum having reached the semifinals at the Australian Open earlier this year. That was his second grand slam semifinal appearance (2023 US Open). He's the No. 11 seed in the tournament and shown an ability to get hot on the hard courts. If you want to talk a dark horse in this tournament to at least make a semifinal run, Shelton is absolutely a guy who could challenge. I look forward to seeing how this tournament goes for him. 

#6. Can Coco Gauff win her first Indian Wells title? Coco Gauff comes in as the No. 3 seed and thus a favorite to at least reach the semifinals. She lost in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open this year, which was a bit disappointing for her since she's trying to win multiple grand slams after winning her first grand slam at the 2023 US Open. She's won a couple of WTA 1000 titles, but an Indian Wells title still eludes her. She did reach the semifinals last year, so she's certainly knocking on the door. Perhaps this will be the year she breaks through. 

#7. Will Alexander Zverev back up his seed? Alexander Zverev is the No. 2 ranked player in the world, but with Jannik Sinner serving a suspension for doping, Zverev is the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The question is will it matter? The furthest Zverev has gone at Indian Wells is the quarterfinals last year. Perhaps this will be the year that finally changes. If he could win this tournament, that would be a huge boost to his confidence heading into Miami where he reached the final back in 2022. 

#8. Can Paula Badosa win her second Indian Wells title? Paula Badosa comes in as the No. 11 seed, fresh off a run to the semifinals of the Australian Open. She also won this event back in 2021, so she knows what it takes to win it all. If you want to pick a dark horse on the women's side, Paula Badosa would be a pretty good pick. Don't be surprised if she threatens to win it all this year. 

#9. Will we get another Alcaraz/Medvedev final? Carlos Alcaraz comes in as the No. 2 seed, ranked No. 3 in the world while Daniil Medvedev comes in as the No. 5 seed, ranked No. 6 in the world. The last two years, they've met in the final with Alcaraz getting the better of Medvedev. A big question coming into this year's tournament is will we see another Alcaraz/Medvedev final? They're both on opposite sides of the draw, so it's totally possible. If we do, will Alcaraz win his third straight Indian Wells title or will Medvedev break through? If not, who will knock these guys off? 

#10. Can Iga Świątek defend her title? Iga Świątek comes in as the No. 2 seed on the women's side, ranked No. 2 in the world. She's the defending champion at this event and has won it twice, so she knows how to get it done. If she does reach the final, odds are good Aryna Sabalenka will be there. All I can say is what a fun match that would be! If Świątek is to defend her title, she's certainly going to have to earn it. This won't be an easy draw. It never is at Indian Wells. 

Prediction: I'm going to say Alexander Zverev breaks through to win his first Indian Wells title on the men's side. If he doesn't win it this year, he probably never will. As for the women's side, I'm gonna roll with Coco Gauff. I expect her to play well and feed off the energy that will come with being the top ranked American. I look forward to seeing how the tournament goes and who ends up winning it all. 

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10 things to take away from the 2025 Australian Open

 

                                             (Credit: Mark Avelino/Anadolu via Getty Images) 

With the 2025 Australian Open now in the rearview mirror, I would like to share my 10 things to take away from the two weeks that were Down Under. 

#1. Jannik Sinner has an iron grip on the world number one: By winning his third grand slam title overall and three straight hard court grand slam titles, Jannik Sinner is without a doubt the top men's player in the world. He'll miss a bit of time (through May 4th) due to a WADA ban for testing positive for Clostebol, but he'll be back in time for the French Open and the remaining grand slams. The big thing for him is to figure out how to win grand slams on clay and grass, but given that hard courts are where most of the action is at, he should remain the top player in the world for the foreseeable future so long as he stays healthy and doesn't get banned again for a future doping offense.

#2. Madison Keys has proven she can win a grand slam: By winning her first grand slam title, Madison Keys has proven she can win a grand slam. Her only other grand slam final appearance was back in 2017 at the US Open, so it's pretty amazing she found a way to win a grand slam all these years later. Of course, now the question is whether or not she can break through to win a few more grand slams, but regardless, she can now say she is a grand slam champion.

#3. Alexander Zverev is knocking on the door: Alexander Zverev reached his third career grand slam final and first Australian Open final, losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets. At 27 years of age (turning 28 next month), Zverev can certainly take inspiration from Madison Keys. While I'm not sure if Zverev will ever be a multiple grand slam winner, I do think at some point he'll break through and win one. Especially since one of his grand slam finals came at Roland Garros in 2024. His ability to play on the clay is definitely a boost to his chances. 

#4. Aryna Sabalenka is beatable on the hard court: Aryna Sabalenka came in as the heavy favorite on the women's side having won back-to-back Australian Open titles as well as the 2024 US Open title. She's the best hard court player in the world and yet she wasn't able to defeat Madison Keys in the final, who won 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. This tournament showed the rest of the WTA tour that Sabalenka is beatable on the hard courts. It'll be interesting to see how she bounces back in the upcoming hard court swing. 

#5. Ben Shelton continues to make strides: 22 year old Ben Shelton had a nice run to the semifinals of the Australian Open before going down to Jannik Sinner in straight sets. Shelton has now reached two grand slam semifinals (2023 US Open) and appears poised to soon reach his first grand slam final. It'll be fun to see how the rest of the season goes for Shelton and what kind of impact he makes on the upcoming hard court swing as well as the US Open later this year. 

#6. Iga Swiatek needs to figure out the hard courts: Even though she's won a hard court grand slam at the 2022 US Open, it's clear that Iga Swiatek still needs to crack the code on the hard courts. She lost in the semifinals to Madison Keys in her second trip to the Australian Open semifinals (2022). She also has reached only three semifinals at hard court grand slams in total, which obviously includes her US Open title. This year's Australian Open was another reminder that while she's of course competitive on hard courts, she still has work to do if she wants to start winning multiple slams on the surface. 

#7. The end could be coming soon for Novak Djokovic: The last of the "Big Four" that's still standing, Novak Djokovic fell to Alexander Zverev in the semifinals 6-7, ret. due to a muscle tear. He hasn't won a grand slam title since the 2023 US Open and with the Australian Open being his best event (10 titles), if he's coming up short in that event, it's fair to wonder if the end is near for Djokovic. He's 37 years old and Father Time catches up with everyone. That said, he's still ranked in the top 10 at No. 7 in the world and probably has another grand slam title or two in him. Still, this year's Australian Open was a reminder that Djokovic's best days are behind him and that it won't be too long before he retires. 

#8. Paul Badosa finally reaches a grand slam semifinal: Paula Badosa finally reached her first career grand slam semifinal, losing to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. At 27 years of age, it's possible Badosa's best tennis is still in front of her. This year will tell us a lot about about whether or not the best is yet to come or if this run to the semifinals is where she's gonna peak. 

#9. Taylor Fritz needs to bounce back: Ranked No. 4 in the world, Taylor Fritz is the highest ranked American, who came into the Australian Open with a lot of hope after his run to the US Open final. Unfortunately, he went down in the 3rd round to Gaël Monfils. If Fritz wants to maintain his top ten ranking going forward, he's going to have to get back to work after such an early exit at the Australian Open. On paper, he's the best hope the United States has to break their men's grand slam drought, but after how things went Down Under, one can't help but have their doubts. He needs to put those doubts to rest fast. 

#10. Coco Gauff needs to figure out the Australian Open: Coco Gauff fell in the quarterfinals, which was not what she was hoping to have happen as she came in with championship hopes. Last year's run to the semifinals is the furthest she's gone at the Australian Open. It's clear that she has to figure out how to go deeper in this tournament. It'll be interesting to see if she'll be able to crack that code. Especially since her lone grand slam title is on the hard courts at the US Open in 2023. 

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10 things to look for at the 2025 Australian Open

 

                                             (Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports) 

The 2025 Australian Open is set to begin, which means it is time for me to write my 10 things to look for at the first grand slam of the year. If you want to check out any of the draws, click here. 

#1. Can Taylor Fritz go the distance? The top ranked American on the men's side is Taylor Fritz, who is ranked No. 4 in the world. He is coming off a run to the final of the US Open, where he lost to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in straight sets. It's been a while since an American man won a grand slam (Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open). Given how well he's playing, it feels like Fritz will break through to win a grand slam. The only question is when. Perhaps that breakthrough will happen at the Australian Open this year, though it should be noted that Fritz' best run at the Australian Open was last year to the quarterfinals. So, if he does win it all this year, it'll be quite a breakthrough. 

#2. Can Coco Gauff go the distance? If you are looking for an American on the women's side to put money on, it would be Coco Gauff, who is ranked No. 3 in the world. She's already won her first grand slam at the 2023 US Open and is certainly not done winning grand slams. Last year, she reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, so she's shown she can make some noise at this event. Given she's already won a hard court grand slam, one should like her chances to win the Australian Open. Perhaps this is the year she'll get it done. 

#3. Can Alex de Minaur overcome the hometown pressure? The top ranked Aussie on the men's side is Alex de Minaur, who comes in ranked No. 8 in the world. On paper, he should be a threat to at least make the quarterfinals and possibly semifinals. However, the furthest he's gone at the Australian Open is the 4th round. He's reached the quarterfinals at every other grand slam at least once in his career. If he doesn't at least reach the quarterfinals, one will have to wonder if the pressure of being an Aussie is weighing on him too much. 

#4. Can Naomi Osaka make some noise? Naomi Osaka made her return to the WTA tour last year after being out for the 2023 season, but didn't make any noise in the grand slams with three 2nd round exits and one 1st round exit. The 1st round exit happened to be at the Australian Open. That said, she is ranked 50th in the world and has won the Australian Open twice in 2019 and 2021, so she knows what it takes to win this event. If you're looking for a dark horse to win on the women's' side, Osaka would be an interesting pick. 

#5. Can Jannik Sinner defend his title? Jannik Sinner comes in ranked No. 1 in the world, winning both the Australian Open and US Open in 2024. Given that last season was truly a breakthrough season for him, this is the first year where he'll be entering grand slams as the favorite. Especially the ones where he'll be looking to defend his title. How he handles the pressure and expectations that come with that will be very interesting to see. 

#6. Can Aryna Sabalenka complete a three-peat? Aryna Sabalenka comes in ranked No. 1 in the world, having won the Australian Open back-to-back times in 2023 and 2024. This year, she'll be gunning for a three-peat, making her the heavy favorite on the women's side. Personally, I see no reason to pick against her. In addition to gunning for a three-peat at the Australian Open, she also is the defending US Open champion. She's proven to be hands down the best hard court player in the world. It'll be surprising if she doesn't defend her crown, but there's enough talent in the field that she'll have to play well to deliver. 

#7. Can Novak Djokovic bounce back to win another grand slam? Novak Djokovic didn't win a grand slam in 2024, raising the question of as to whether or not the 37 year old superstar still has it in him to win another one. He's the all-time leader in grand slam titles on the men's side with 24, so he certainly doesn't have anything to prove. That said, I'm sure he'd like to win at least one more grand slam before he retires. If there's a place for him to do it, the Australian Open would be the place as he's won it more than any other slam he's won: 10 times. Djokovic is ranked No. 7 in the world, so on paper he should still be a threat. Especially when you see how many times he's won this event. 

#8. Can Iga Świątek win her first Australian Open? Iga Świątek comes in ranked No. 2 in the world as probably the biggest favorite to win the women's singles title aside from Aryna Sabalenka. That said, Świątek has never won the Australian Open before, with her deepest run being to the semifinals in 2022. Świątek would love to add an Australian Open title to her collection and be one grand slam away from completing a career slam (Wimbledon). 

#9. Can Carlos Alcaraz complete the career slam? Even though Alexander Zverev is ranked No. 2 in the world, Carlos Alcaraz is probably the biggest threat to Sinner to win this title. Either him or Djokovic. Alcaraz is ranked No. 3 in the world and has won every grand slam except for one. The one grand slam he hasn't won is the Australian Open. The furthest he's gone at this even is the quarterfinals in 2024. At some point, I do think Alcaraz will complete the career slam. The only question is when. Perhaps 2025 will be the year that happens. 

#10. Can Zheng Qinwen win her first career grand slam? Ranked No. 5 in the world, Zheng Qinwen is one of the top rising talents in the world at just 22 years of age. She's been to one grand slam final in her career and that was at the Australian Open in 2024. It feels like she's going to win one at some point and if one had to pick a grand slam for her to win first, it would definitely be the Australian Open. I look forward to seeing how she performs. 

Prediction: On the men's side, I gotta roll with Jannik Sinner. He's the best in the world right now and the defending champion. Smart money is on him to defend his crown. On the women's side, I have to pick Aryna Sabalenka. She's the best in the world and is the two-time defending champion. Smart money is on her to defend her crown as well. 

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