US Open 2025: Jannik Sinner remains the bookmakers’ favourite, men’s final on 7 September
The retirement in the Cincinnati final against Carlos Alcaraz, which came after just five games, is already behind him. Jannik Sinner has arrived in New York determined to defend the crown he lifted at Flushing Meadows twelve months ago. Currently world number one and already champion this year at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, the Italian is aiming for a third Grand Slam of the season that would cement his dominance at the very top of men’s tennis.
Tournament schedule and key dates
The 2025 US Open is being staged at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. The main draw began on Sunday, 24 August and will conclude with the men’s singles final on Sunday, 7 September, while the women’s final is scheduled for Saturday, 6 September. For the first time, the tournament has been extended to a full 15-day format, with both day and night sessions. By 26 August, the first-round matches in the top half of the draw – including Sinner’s section – are already underway.
Updated odds: Sinner ahead of Alcaraz
As of 26 August 2025, betting markets continue to back Sinner as the outright favourite. His odds range between +105 and 11/10 (≈2.05–2.10), with Carlos Alcaraz the only realistic challenger, priced between +175 and +180. Novak Djokovic follows at around 12/1, reflecting a clear gap between the two young leaders of the sport and the rest of the field. Behind them, Alexander Zverev, Jack Draper, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz are priced between 20/1 and 30/1, outsiders with the potential to surprise but still distant from the main favourites.
A record-breaking edition
This year’s US Open offers an unprecedented $90 million prize fund, the richest in Grand Slam history, with $5 million awarded to each singles champion. Beyond the financial reward, the winner will also claim 2,000 ATP ranking points, vital for Sinner as he looks to extend his stay at the top of the rankings. Opening his campaign against Czech player Vít Kopřiva, the Italian enters the fortnight with momentum, focus and the expectation of another potential showdown with Alcaraz in what could be the defining rivalry of this generation.
Other contenders to watch
Although the spotlight is firmly on Sinner and Alcaraz, the tournament also features other high-profile names. Novak Djokovic, despite his advancing years, remains a dangerous opponent in best-of-five matches. Zverev, Fritz, Draper and Shelton will aim to push deep into the second week, even if bookmakers see their title chances as slim. On the women’s side, the battle between Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka is set to dominate the narrative. Świątek, fresh from her triumph in Cincinnati, is the favourite at +250, just ahead of Sabalenka at +270, with Coco Gauff rated third at +800. Italy’s Jasmine Paolini has already advanced past her opening match, though her odds for a maiden Slam remain long.
A defining moment for modern tennis
With a record-breaking prize purse, a stellar line-up, and the promise of another chapter in the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry, the 2025 US Open is poised to deliver one of the most memorable editions in recent history. All eyes will be on Sinner: the Italian is the bookmakers’ favourite, the defending champion, and the man to beat, but to retain his crown, he must once again withstand the pressure of Alcaraz and a field eager to challenge his supremacy.
This article was first published in Italian on 26 August 2025.
