New York’s electric tennis scene is crackling with anticipation as the 2025 US Open barrels toward its dramatic conclusion. With a mix of redemption arcs, record chases, and youthful ambition, this year’s tournament has delivered everything fans could hope for—and then some. From Novak Djokovic’s relentless pursuit of history to Amanda Anisimova’s shot at redemption, the action on the hard courts has been nothing short of riveting.
Let’s start with the ageless wonder himself. Novak Djokovic, now 38, continues defying Father Time in ways that leave even seasoned tennis watchers shaking their heads. On Tuesday night, Djokovic dispatched Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to book his spot in the semifinals. With that victory, he didn’t just punch his ticket to the next round—he became the oldest player ever to reach the semifinals of all four major tournaments in a single season. Add to that his 53rd Grand Slam semifinal appearance, the most in the Open Era, and you’ve got a legend still rewriting the record books.
“We don’t need to spend words about the two of them. We know they’re the two best players in the world,” Djokovic said, referring to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the current top dogs on the ATP tour. “Everybody’s probably expecting the final between them. I’m going to try to mess up the plans of most of the people. Let’s see.” According to ESPN, Djokovic remains as hungry as ever, despite the mounting whispers about retirement and his visible struggles with injuries.
Indeed, Djokovic’s journey this season has been anything but smooth. His campaign at the Australian Open ended prematurely due to a muscle tear in his left leg. At both the French Open and Wimbledon, he looked a step behind Jannik Sinner, the world’s top-ranked player, especially during long, punishing rallies. Yet here he is, still standing, still swinging, and still dreaming of a 25th Grand Slam title—a feat that would further cement his legacy as the sport’s most accomplished player.
The road ahead, however, is daunting. Next up for Djokovic is a Friday night semifinal showdown with Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 2 and a player whose rise has electrified the tennis world. The two have already battled across all surfaces, but this will be their first meeting in the cauldron of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic holds the edge in recent matchups, having won their last two encounters—including the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinal and the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal match. Still, the New York crowd and the hard courts could tilt the balance, and Djokovic knows he enters as the underdog. He’s not just fighting for another trophy; he’s fighting to disrupt the narrative that the new generation is ready to take over.
On the women’s side, the storylines are just as compelling. Amanda Anisimova, the eighth seed, is on a mission for redemption after suffering a brutal 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final just 53 days ago. Now, under the bright lights of the US Open quarter-finals, Anisimova is determined to flip the script in front of her home fans. Her start against Swiatek was a far cry from the one-sided affair at Wimbledon. Anisimova broke Swiatek early and showed the kind of aggressive tennis that’s given her a 5-3 record against top-10 players this year. “I’m really excited and looking forward to it. At this stage of the game you’re going to play a really tough opponent regardless. So to be able to have, you know, a rematch or to be able to face her again and give myself another chance, I’m really, really happy about that,” Anisimova said before the match.
Swiatek, for her part, isn’t taking anything for granted. The 2022 US Open champion aims to reach her 10th Grand Slam semi-final and second at Flushing Meadows. After her dominant Wimbledon win, Swiatek reflected on her mentality: “If you want to become an athlete, you need to want to win the point. I think every athlete has kind of the same vision and mentality, but obviously because of the score at Wimbledon, everybody started asking this question. When you don't play sports, you don't get it, but if you do, then you know that you're not going to give anything for free.” Her words ring with the kind of competitive fire that’s made her one of the game’s fiercest competitors.
This quarter-final is only the second-ever meeting between Anisimova and Swiatek. Their prior clash at Wimbledon was historic for all the wrong reasons if you’re in Anisimova’s camp, but the US Open offers a new surface, a new crowd, and a new kind of pressure. The American’s first appearance in a US Open quarter-final has been hard-earned, and the chance for payback is tantalizing. Will Swiatek’s relentless baseline game prevail, or can Anisimova channel the energy of the home crowd to pull off the upset?
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Felix Auger-Aliassime delivered one of the tournament’s grittiest performances, outlasting Alex De Minaur in a nerve-wracking four-hour battle to return to the US Open semifinals for the first time since 2021. Auger-Aliassime’s 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-4) victory was a showcase of resilience and big-match temperament. “A lot of nerves today in the whole match. It wasn’t pretty. I was willing to dig really deep to be standing here right now. It was a tough couple of years. It’s not over and the biggest challenge is still to come. I’m going to show up and be ready,” Auger-Aliassime told reporters after the win.
The Canadian’s reward? A semifinal date with either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or the talented Lorenzo Musetti, who were set to clash in the late session. Sinner, who has already bested Djokovic at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, remains the man to beat, but Musetti’s creative shot-making has made him a fan favorite and a dangerous opponent on any given day.
With so much at stake and so many storylines converging, the 2025 US Open is shaping up to be a classic. Will Djokovic’s legendary run continue, or will Alcaraz signal a changing of the guard? Can Anisimova avenge her Wimbledon heartbreak, or will Swiatek’s dominance roll on? And what about Auger-Aliassime—does he have another marathon win in him?
One thing’s for sure: as the semifinals approach, every match is loaded with history, heart, and the promise of unforgettable moments. The action is still unfolding in New York, and tennis fans around the world are glued to every point.
