US Open 2025 Preview - WTA Edition
Heading into the Cincinnati Open, the last Masters 1000 event before the year’s final slam, there are a few distinct storylines to be aware of.
This US Open preview focuses on the WTA, so be sure to check out our men’s fall predictions linked here.
After a string of first time winners at each of the first three slams of the year, is the US Open poised for a new champion as well? Or will a former champion lift the crown once more? Constant title contenders like Sabalenka, Swiatek and Gauff will certainly look to add to their already impressive trophy cabinets, but perhaps Flushing Meadows can reignite some other prior champions’ best tennis…
Venus Williams, global icon
After taking more than a year off, Venus arrives to the US Open after winning a singles match in July over then world No. 32 Peyton Stearns in DC as well as nabbing a doubles win alongside Hailey Baptiste. Though her movement may not be what it once was now at 45, her power and precision are still devastating, with her serve speed peaking at 119 mph. The last time Venus won this title was in 2001. Twenty-four years later, the fact that we are still getting to watch her at all is beyond special. Although Venus still uses a discontinued 28-inch Blade 102 from Wilson, you can shop a similar kind of racquet in the Solinco Whiteout XTD+, another control oriented 28-inch frame.
Past Champions Peaking
Prior to a heartbreaking ankle roll in Toronto in front of a hometown crowd, Bianca Andreescu had been playing some of her best tennis coming into this hard court swing. After an up and down few years, it was great to watch Andreescu rediscover some form, perhaps bolstered by her switch to a Yonex EZONE 100. Should she be healthy and recovered fully from the ankle roll in time, look for a reinvigorated Andreescu to ruffle some feathers.
Though she has yet to win a title since her remarkable championship run at the US Open in 2021 as a qualifier, Raducanu is starting to show better results and looks injury-free for the most part. No seeded player will want to see Raducanu next to their name in the draw.
Speaking of form rediscovery, Osaka has finally looked like she is focused and in form regularly for the first time in a long time. After a brief tenure with Patrick Mouratoglou, Osaka has looked formidable, consistently powering through the court off of both wings with scary reliability to a finals run in Montreal. She uses a heavily weighted up EZONE 98. We recommend using tungsten tape as a safer alternative to lead tape.
The Contenders | The WTA’s Big 3?
Sabalenka has had an interesting Slam season. After winning the title at the US Open last year, she dropped the first two Slams to Madison Keys and Coco Gauff in the finals respectively. She also lost to Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals of Wimbledon, the only slam she has yet to play the final of. However, back on hard courts, Sabalenka will likely be much more comfortable, with all three of her slam titles coming on this surface.
Swiatek too has had a season with its fair share of heartbreak, that is, until her maiden Wimbledon triumph this summer. Swiatek mastered the grass and stormed to the title with a 6-0, 6-0 drubbing in the final. A slam champion now on every surface, Swiatek has already cemented her status as one of the best players this century. The US Open’s slower hard courts are a good fit for her explosive defense, and her increasingly aggressive groundstrokes will likely prove a problem for most players to deal with. Shop her new signature look with the TFight ID collection.
Gauff too has had an up and down Slam season, a testament to the quality throughout the WTA’s top 200. After winning her second Slam at the French Open this year, she followed that up with a first round Wimbledon loss. Despite these hiccups, Gauff has seemed relaxed and motivated elsewhere on court, putting in work on the doubles court and even capturing the WTA 1000 title in Montreal alongside McCartney Kessler. A rare singles and doubles slam winner, Gauff poses a unique threat to the WTA tour, forcing her opponents to play their best tennis to get through her.
Summer Standouts
After taking an extended break from tennis for personal reasons, Anisimova has looked sharp and more in form perhaps than ever before. Alhough critics will point to that Wimbledon final scoreline, Anisimova has plenty to be proud of across her season this year. In addition to making her first slam final, Anisimova toppled world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka en route and won her first WTA 1000 title earlier in the year. Heading into the US Open, she will almost certainly be a top 10 seed, hopefully giving her an easier path to a deep run in her home slam. Funnily enough, the US Open has proved to be her worst major historically, being the only one where she has a losing record.
Having a sneakily good season, Tauson has been on an absolute tear during the hard-court summer swing, notching wins over Swiatek and Madison Keys. At Wimbledon, she defeated former champion Elena Rybakina, and earlier in the year she made her first WTA 1000 final in Dubai after taking out Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina and Karolina Muchová. These various deep runs have propelled her to a career high ranking of 15 heading into the US Open.
Victoria Mboko
Out of nowhere, Mboko will arrive to the US Open seeded, after starting the year outside the top 300. Her rise to stardom is surely one of the most exciting tennis stories in recent years, capped off of course with her run to the Montreal title, the biggest tournament for her home country of Canada. Mboko’s athleticism and all-court game make her a dangerous opponent. This name will be one to watch in the years to come.
Aoi Ito
With one of the most unusual games to hit the WTA in years, Ito is slicing and dicing her way into the top 100, notching a top 10 win over Jasmine Paolini in Montreal, and propelling her ranking up to 82 in the world. Ito’s ranking was bolstered by a great challenger run at the tail end of 2024 and then her ranking hovered around 110-100 for most of 2025. After breaking into the top 100, Ito is getting looks at higher levels of the game and is also causing her opponents plenty of frustration with her unusual cat-and-mouse game. Inspired by Hsieh Su-wei, Ito’s crafty game is delightfully refreshing.
After a torrential start to her 2025 campaign, including back to back WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, Andreeva has tailed off somewhat, but she still posted some strong slam results, making the quarters at both the French and Wimbledon. Alongside compatriot Diana Shnaider, Andreeva has also proved formidable in doubles, winning the title in Miami and making the semis at both the Australian and the French. Still the youngest player in the top 75, Andreeva has already proved her merit at the top of the game. Can she take the final step and become the youngest slam winner since Raducanu?
