The 2025 U.S. Open kicked off in style at Flushing Meadows, New York, with American hopes Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton both powering through their first-round matches on Sunday. As the tournament marks the 22nd anniversary since Andy Roddick became the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title back in 2003, the pressure and excitement around the nation’s top two men’s seeds are palpable. Could this be the year the drought finally ends?
Fritz, seeded fourth, set the tone early by dispatching fellow American and wild card Emilio Nava in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3. The match, lasting just under two hours, showcased Fritz’s trademark big serve—he hammered down 11 aces and won a commanding 78 percent of his first-service points (39 out of 50). Even when Nava threatened, Fritz held his nerve, saving all four break points he faced. Reflecting on the tight moments, Fritz admitted, “I had a game where I had some good chances in the first set and I just missed a couple of returns, just didn’t play as well as I could have in that moment. Against someone like Emilio with such a big serve, that might be the only chance I get. I was lucky to get another chance to break at the end of the first set and I think once I found that break, the return started working for me a bit more, loosened up and I did a good job holding my serve the whole match.”
Meanwhile, sixth seed Ben Shelton, who has been riding a wave of momentum after capturing his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open earlier this month, showed no signs of letting up. Taking to the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, Shelton dispatched Peruvian wild card and Grand Slam debutant Ignacio Buse 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. It wasn’t always smooth sailing—Shelton tallied 32 unforced errors—but he compensated with sheer power and composure, saving all five break points he faced and winning 78.2 percent of his first-serve points (43 out of 55). “I think that as soon as you start looking ahead of yourself, you stumble over your own feet,” Shelton said after the match. “So for me, it’s one match at a time, one day at a time and just grateful to be out here. I’m happy to come back here every year. This is the one for sure. This is the pinnacle of tennis for me, what I dreamed about when I was a kid.”
The significance of both Fritz and Shelton advancing isn’t lost on the American tennis faithful. This year’s U.S. Open is the first since 2007 to feature two American men seeded inside the top eight—a testament to the resurgence of men’s tennis in the United States. Fritz, reflecting on the broader state of American tennis, commented, “We’re in a great place in American tennis. The women have been really carrying for a long time, but the men—we’re coming.”
Both men have recent form on their side. Fritz, who made history last year as the first American man in 15 years to reach a Grand Slam final—ultimately falling to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner—continued his impressive run in 2025 by reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon and picking up grass-court titles at Eastbourne and Stuttgart. Shelton, for his part, not only reached the U.S. Open semi-finals in 2023 and the Australian Open semi-finals earlier this year, but also bested Fritz in the semi-finals of the Canadian Open en route to his Masters 1000 triumph. With both players on opposite sides of the draw, a potential all-American semi-final clash looms tantalizingly on the horizon, but neither is looking too far ahead. “We are here for the long haul and I am looking forward to it,” Shelton said, emphasizing his measured approach.
The opening day at Flushing Meadows wasn’t just about the American headliners. The men’s singles draw saw its first upset when veteran Frenchman Adrian Mannarino ousted 29th seed Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 7-5, 6-4, 6-0. Both players fired 14 aces, but Mannarino kept his errors in check, committing just three double faults compared to Griekspoor’s 10 and a hefty 45 unforced errors.
Elsewhere, Czech 16th seed Jakub Mensik added another chapter to his breakout season by defeating Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-4. Mensik, who claimed his first ATP Tour title earlier this year by stunning Novak Djokovic in the Miami Open final, had to dig deep but ultimately prevailed in straight sets. He’ll next face French qualifier Ugo Blanchet, who advanced after a four-set tussle against Fabian Marozsan. Mensik’s rise up the rankings—now at a career-high No. 16—has made him one to watch as the tournament unfolds.
Spanish 18th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina wasted little time in his first-round encounter, needing just 89 minutes to dispatch Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko 6-1, 6-1, 6-2. Davidovich Fokina’s aggressive baseline play and quick movement overwhelmed Shevchenko from the start, sending a clear message to the rest of the field.
The American contingent wasn’t the only group celebrating victories on opening day. Eliot Spizzirri, Arthur Rinderknech, Ugo Blanchet, Italy’s Luciano Darderi (No. 32 seed), and Tomas Machac (No. 21 seed) of the Czech Republic all advanced to the second round, adding to the international flavor and unpredictability that defines the U.S. Open.
As the tournament’s first round continues, the spotlight remains firmly on Fritz and Shelton. Their performances have reignited hopes that an American man could finally lift the trophy again, ending more than two decades of waiting. With both players showing poise, power, and a hunger for the big stage, fans can’t help but wonder—could this be the year history is made?
For now, the action at Flushing Meadows is just heating up. With the world’s best battling for glory and American stars leading the charge, the U.S. Open promises plenty more drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments in the days ahead.
