What You Need to Know: US Open 2025

US Open

What You Need to Know

It’s Day 3 of the US Open, let’s go! Here’s a couple of the biggest headlines from this year’s tournament, and my picks for who will go all the way.

Gauff Hires New Coach

Just before the Open started, Coco Gauff fired both of her coaches and left them a voice memo that said I work alone in a Batman voice. Kidding. She hired Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics specialist who helped Sabalenka with her serve a few years ago, when she lead the tour in double faults.

While it seems drastic to fire her primary coach Matt Daly, with whom she won Roland Garros this year, Gauff has struggled mightily this summer — and her serve has gone off the rails. Gauff hit 23 double faults in her second round match in Montreal, then hit 16 in a loss to Paolini a week later in Cincinnati. In total, the World No. 3 has hit a staggering 320 doubles in 48 matches this year, averaging almost 7 per match. That’s like starting every service game down 15-0.

Does MacMillan have the answer to Gauff’s prayers? Hell if I know. But since he gave himself a fancy title like Biomechanics Specialist instead of “Serve Coach”, I’m expecting a lot.

Record Prize Money (Again)

$5 million smackaroonies. That’s what the winners of this year’s tournament will take home. The US Open prize money growth has been staggering — up double (double!) from the prize money in 2021.

In total across all events, the prize money pool is up to $90 million. Or 26 Empire State Building’s worth of $1 dollar bills stacked up.

I can’t wait for the first player to ask, “Can I get paid in Bitcoin?”

My Picks: Sinner & Sabalenka

It’s just been too long since Sabalenka last lifted a major trophy. She’s simply too good and too consistent for that drought to continue — so I have a feeling that she won’t be denied this time around. She’s already made two finals this year, losing both in dramatic fashion. It’s hard to imagine she leaves 2025 without another Slam. Back-to-back titles in Flushing for Saby.

Sinner: am I boring you all with this pick? It just seems insane to not pick the concrete killer. He’s won the last 3 majors on hard court, and hit a 25 win streak on the pavement dating back to last fall before he had to pull out to Alcaraz last week in Cincinnati. Sinner or bust!

Trivia

Which ATP Player has won the most US Open titles in a row in the Open Era?

A. Ivan Lendl

B. John McEnroe

C. Roger Federer

D. Pete Sampras

Find out at the bottom!

Meet the Player

Clara Tauson

From: Denmark 🇩🇰

Best Slam Result: 4th round

Career High Ranking: 14 (current)

Fun Fact: became the first woman from Denmark to become junior World No. 1

Game Analysis: One word to describe Tauson’s game: dangerous. She pairs booming groundstrokes with cat-and-mouse tennis to keep her opponents off balance. She’s also an incredible returner, sending back serves with an imprint on the ball that says “do better.”

Career Prediction: I’m as bullish on Tauson as a 19 year old who just put their summer job earnings into Fartcoin (Read: to the moon). It’s only a matter of time before Tauson has her named engraved in a slam trophy.

Personal

In all seriousness, we had a blast during Fan Week! We got to watch so many amazing players: Medvedev, Raducanu, Fritz, Fonseca, and tons of young players grinding through qualies. Till next time NY 🗽

Around the Net

Some of the best tennis content I found on the internet this week…

😂 Hear what Frances Tiafoe thinks of Alcaraz’s new haircut 

🎯 The celebrity’s picks are in for the US Open. See who Jimmy Butler, Jason Isaacs, Hannah Berner and more chose to lift the trophy in New York this year.

🎥 In case you missed it, Medvedev crashed out hard during his first round loss on Sunday night. His tantrum had everything — a smashed racket, an electric NY crowd, and another all-time Meddy quote.

Answer

C. Roger Federer

Fed was the King of Queens for a hot minute, winning a whopping 5 straight US Open titles between 2004-2008. Also noteworthy: that Wilson Six-One 95 stick he’s holding has got to be one of the sexiest rackets of all time 😮‍💨