The world of tennis is buzzing as two of the summer’s marquee tournaments—the Cincinnati Open and the US Open—take center stage, drawing the sport’s biggest names and fervent fans to courts in the United States. With revamped venues, record prize pools, and a host of British talent making headlines, there’s plenty for tennis enthusiasts to dissect as the hard-court season reaches its dramatic peak.
Friday, August 8, 2025, saw the Cincinnati Open continue its first-round action at the newly renovated Lindner Family Tennis Center. The $260 million investment in the venue has expanded the tournament to 96-player draws, promising more matches, more drama, and more opportunity for emerging stars to make their mark. As fans poured in, the schedule was packed with singles action across multiple courts, featuring a blend of up-and-comers and seasoned pros.
World No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champions from 2024, are set to enter the fray in the second round, adding extra anticipation to the proceedings. Alongside them, British favorites Cam Norrie and Emma Raducanu are also seeded and will begin their campaigns in the next round, keeping UK fans on the edge of their seats. For Jacob Fearnley and Katie Boulter, however, the Cincinnati journey ended early, as both fell at the first hurdle on August 7. The tournament’s expanded draw, though, means there’s still plenty to play for and new stories to be written.
One such story is that of Sonay Kartal, who returned to the court on August 8 for her first competitive match since a breakthrough run to the fourth round at Wimbledon earlier this summer. Her presence at Cincinnati is a testament to her growing stature in the women’s game, and British hopes remain high as she continues to build on her recent successes.
As the action unfolds in Cincinnati, attention is also turning to New York City, where the US Open is set to begin at the iconic USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in Flushing Meadows. This massive complex, the largest in the world, has been the home of the US Open since 1978 and is once again preparing to welcome the sport’s elite for the final Grand Slam of the season.
The 2025 US Open kicks off with qualifying rounds from Monday, August 18, to Thursday, August 21, before the main draw takes over from Sunday, August 24, through Sunday, September 7. Notably, a new mixed doubles event is slated for August 19 and 20, adding a fresh twist to the tournament’s storied tradition. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports and NOW TV, ensuring no shortage of coverage for those eager to follow every serve and volley.
British tennis fans have plenty to cheer about this year, with a strong contingent earning direct entry into the singles draws. On the women’s side, Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, and Sonay Kartal will all fly the flag in New York. Raducanu, in particular, is attracting attention as she arrives in some of her best form since her historic 2021 US Open triumph. After reaching her first WTA 1000 quarter-final in Miami, making the quarters at the HSBC Championships, and a semi-final in Washington, Raducanu looks poised for another deep run.
Boulter, a three-time WTA title winner, is hoping to recapture her spark at the season’s last Grand Slam after reaching the third round at the US Open in 2023. Kartal, meanwhile, is set for her main draw debut after a transformative year that saw her claim her first WTA title in Monastir, reach the fourth round at Wimbledon, and break into the top 50. Her journey from the final round of US Open qualifying just a year ago to the main draw is a testament to her rapid rise.
On the men’s side, Jack Draper leads the British charge. Draper made waves last year by reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open and has since elevated his game further, winning his maiden ATP Masters 1000 at Indian Wells and breaking into the ATP top five for the first time. Draper returns to competition in New York after a brief injury layoff, eager to pick up where he left off.
Joining Draper are Cam Norrie and Jacob Fearnley. Norrie, a former world No.8, has been in strong form at the biggest events, making the fourth round at Roland Garros and the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Fearnley, in his first full year on tour, has impressed with third-round appearances at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros, as well as ATP Masters 1000 wins in Miami, Madrid, and Rome, and a quarter-final showing at Queen’s.
Of course, the US Open wouldn’t be complete without a look at its reigning champions. Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner claimed the women’s and men’s singles titles, respectively, in 2024—Sabalenka defeating Jessica Pegula in straight sets and Sinner dispatching Taylor Fritz in a clinical performance. The doubles and wheelchair events also crowned champions from across the globe, though it’s worth noting that last year’s wheelchair competition was canceled due to the Paralympic Games, so 2023’s winners remain the defending champions in those categories.
For British tennis, the US Open has provided some of its most memorable moments. Raducanu’s 2021 triumph as an 18-year-old qualifier—without dropping a set—remains one of the sport’s great Cinderella stories. Andy Murray’s epic five-set victory over Novak Djokovic in 2012 delivered his first Grand Slam title, while Virginia Wade’s 1968 win stands as a milestone for British women’s tennis. The doubles arena has also seen British success, with Joe Salisbury’s three consecutive men’s doubles titles (2021-2023) a testament to his consistency at the highest level.
Financially, the 2025 US Open is making headlines with a record-breaking prize money pool. The singles champion will take home a staggering $5,000,000, while the runner-up pockets $2,500,000. Even first-round participants are guaranteed $110,000, underscoring the tournament’s status as one of the most lucrative in the sport. Doubles champions will share $1,000,000, with significant payouts throughout the rounds.
As the tennis world’s attention shifts between Cincinnati and New York, the storylines are as compelling as ever. Will Raducanu recapture her magic in Flushing Meadows? Can Draper build on his semi-final run and recent Masters success? And with the sport’s top seeds and defending champions waiting in the wings, who will emerge as the summer’s breakout star?
With qualifying just around the corner and the main draw looming, one thing’s for certain: the stage is set for another unforgettable chapter in tennis history. Fans can follow every twist and turn as the world’s best vie for glory in Cincinnati and New York, with British hopes burning bright on both sides of the Atlantic.
