A Look into the 2025 US Open Champions
Last month, Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz were crowned champions of the 2025 US Open Tennis Championships. Both players competed with titles, rankings, and glory on the line, and their adrenaline must have been soaring. However, in the words of legendary tennis star Billie Jean King, “pressure is a privilege,” and these victors certainly rose to the occasion.
This year, Aryna Sabalenka proved once again why she is the World No. 1, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3 7-6 in the women’s singles final. She clinched the title in a dominant display, only dropping one set throughout the entire tournament. Despite winning two WTA 1000s tournaments earlier in the year, the superstar’s season had been far from perfect. She suffered heartbreaks in 3-set thrillers at the Australian Open and the French Open finals followed by a disappointing summer. Sabalenka arrived at the US Open with immense pressure to defend the title, conquer a major in 2025, and maintain her position on the WTA rankings. At her quarterfinal press conference, Sabalenka shared her thoughts on facing pressure: “I’m not playing not to lose, I play to win … My mentality is to go out there every time, bring the best fighting spirit, and just fight for my dream.” Sabalenka’s victory at the US Open not only demonstrates her ability to perform under pressure, but is also a testament of her patience, resilience, and mental fortitude.
In the men’s singles finals, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4, allowing him to reclaim the World No. 1 rank. Alcaraz entered the tournament having already claimed six titles in 2025, including the French Open. Over the past few years, Alcaraz’s rivalry with Sinner has rapidly become one of the sport’s most exciting storylines and widely considered the future of men’s tennis by renowned tennis coaches and analysts. While the two have split the last eight grand slam tournaments. Alcaraz enjoys a lopsided head-to-head against Sinner, having won seven out of their last eight matches. This lopsided statistic can be attributed to their differing playstyles. Sinner beats his opponents with aggressive groundstrokes, known for their tremendous pace and precision. In contrast, Alcaraz’s all-court style game is characterized by his explosive power, movement, and variety in shot selection. Alcaraz has certainly proved his ability to overcome Sinner’s powerful groundstrokes with his unpredictable game and deceptive drop shots.
The talent and mentality of the US Open competitors left many Riverdale students in awe. Junior Naomi Duval shared her thoughts on watching Alcaraz: “Carlos treated every point like the last point and showed intensity and resilience throughout the entire tournament.” Delphine Tolouse, also a junior, added that “the motivation and spirit of tennis players at the US Open is inspiring to all student athletes.” Junior Stacy Peng highlighted that “tennis is such an intriguing sport because of how dynamic and strategic the game is.”
Whether you are an athlete or sports fanatic, the US Open will certainly excite you!
