The 2025 US Open has hit its stride, and the action on the courts of Flushing Meadows is nothing short of electrifying. As the tournament barrels into its second week, fans are witnessing a blend of dominant performances, heart-stopping comebacks, and the ever-present drama of Grand Slam tennis. With headline clashes, surprise retirements, and a flurry of upcoming matches, the US Open is serving up storylines at every turn.
Sunday, August 31, marks a much-anticipated fourth-round showdown: Arthur Rinderknech of France faces off against Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz. The match is set to begin at 1:30 PM Eastern Time, with live coverage available to fans in the USA on Fubo, ESPN, and ESPN+. Alcaraz, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament and conceded just 10 games in his last two matches, is making a powerful case as a top contender for the title. Rinderknech, having battled through a tough draw, now stands as the next challenger hoping to disrupt Alcaraz's dominant run and deliver a major upset. Tennis aficionados across the states are tuning in, eager to see if Rinderknech can weather the storm or if Alcaraz will continue his near-flawless campaign.
The heat isn’t just on the men’s side. Day 7 of the US Open saw Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, claw her way back into the second week of a major for the first time since the world was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. Osaka’s journey has been anything but straightforward—her last second-week appearance came at the 2021 Australian Open, a tournament played in front of nearly empty stands due to lockdowns. Since then, Osaka has opened up about the toll the sport has taken on her mental health, taken breaks to focus on her well-being, and even stepped away from the tour for 16 months to welcome her first child. Now, after a stirring three-set victory over Daria Kasatkina, Osaka is back in the spotlight, setting up a blockbuster fourth-round clash with Coco Gauff.
Reflecting on her journey, Osaka shared, “Since I’ve come back, I kind of wanted everything to happen really quickly.” She added, “As a journey, it’s not something that I really pictured, but I’m glad to be living it.” Her resurgence also marks a new chapter in her coaching setup, with Tomasz Wiktorowski—formerly Iga Świątek’s coach—joining her team in July. The Osaka-Gauff matchup is already generating buzz as a can’t-miss encounter, promising fireworks and perhaps a glimpse into the future of women’s tennis.
On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner continues to prove his mettle. Saturday’s four-set victory over Denis Shapovalov was a testament to Sinner’s resilience and tactical acumen. Shapovalov, a flashy shotmaker with a rare single-handed backhand, pushed Sinner to the limit, grabbing the first set and threatening a double-break lead in the third. Despite the pressure, Sinner found a way through, ultimately prevailing 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. “I’m not a machine, you know. I also struggle sometimes,” Sinner admitted with a smile in his post-match news conference, acknowledging the physical and mental demands of Grand Slam tennis.
The physical toll of the tournament has been a major talking point. Day 7 saw a spate of retirements, as several players succumbed to injuries and sheer exhaustion. Flavio Cobolli retired mid-match against fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti, felled by a right arm injury after enduring 10 grueling sets in previous rounds. Kamil Majchrzak, fresh off a marathon five-set win over Karen Khachanov, was forced to retire early in his match against Leandro Reidi, visibly hampered from the outset. Daniel Altmaier, who had upset Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets, also could not finish his next match against Alex de Minaur. The trend has sparked debate about the grueling nature of five-set tennis, especially as the ATP calendar grows ever more demanding. For many, the early rounds are becoming survival tests, with only the fittest able to withstand the physical punishment and compete deep into the tournament.
Elsewhere, the women’s draw is brimming with intrigue. Coco Gauff, the tournament’s third seed, continued her impressive run with a straightforward 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 28 seed Magdalena Fręch. Gauff’s campaign has already featured emotional and hard-fought victories on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, and she now stands on the brink of another deep Grand Slam run. Iga Świątek, the reigning Wimbledon champion and No. 2 seed, pulled off a remarkable comeback against Anna Kalinskaya, rallying from 5-1 down in the first set to win 7-6(2), 6-4. Świątek’s ability to dig deep under pressure remains one of her defining traits, and her victory adds to the growing list of dramatic moments at this year’s Open.
On the men’s side, Andrey Rublev survived a five-set thriller against Coleman Wong, who made history as the first man from Hong Kong to win a Grand Slam match in the Open era. Wong pushed Rublev to the brink, but the Russian ultimately prevailed 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Meanwhile, Alexander Bublik outlasted Tommy Paul in a marathon five-setter, with Bublik taking the decider 6-1 after Paul battled valiantly through two grueling matches on Arthur Ashe.
Looking ahead, Monday’s schedule is packed with must-watch matches. Jessica Pegula, the No. 4 seed, faces Ann Li at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+. Li, who reached her first WTA Tour final in seven months leading up to the Open, will be looking to avenge a recent loss to Pegula at the French Open. At 2 p.m. ET, Barbora Krejčíková takes on Taylor Townsend in a contest featuring two Grand Slam doubles champions with contrasting styles. Tomáš Macháč and Taylor Fritz are set to battle at 4 p.m. ET, a rematch of their United Cup encounter earlier this year that ended abruptly due to Macháč’s cramps. The night session closes with a tantalizing clash between Elena Rybakina and Markéta Vondroušová at 9:30 p.m. ET, pitting two Wimbledon champions against each other in a stylistic showdown.
As the 2025 US Open heads into its second week, the tournament’s blend of youth and experience, power and finesse, and physical grit continues to captivate fans. Whether it’s the return of Naomi Osaka, the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz, or the emergence of new stars and storylines, this year’s Open is shaping up as one for the ages. With blockbuster matches on the horizon and every round delivering fresh drama, tennis fans have plenty to look forward to as the action in New York marches on.
