The lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium hit differently when the favorites start falling. People always want to know who won the US Open because, honestly, the answer usually tells us exactly where the sport is heading. It’s not just about a trophy; it’s about who survived the humidity, the rowdy New York crowds, and the soul-crushing pressure of the year’s final Grand Slam.
Tennis has changed. Fast.
If you’re looking at the most recent results from the 2025 season, the narrative has shifted away from the "Big Three" era into something much more chaotic and athletic. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka didn't just win; they dominated. But to understand why their victories matter, you have to look at the wreckage they left behind.
The Men’s Draw: Sinner’s Hard Court Stranglehold
Jannik Sinner. That’s the name.
When people ask who won the US Open on the men’s side recently, Sinner is the definitive answer that silenced a lot of skeptics. His 2024 run was particularly wild because he had to play under a massive cloud of controversy regarding his anti-doping tests. Most players would have crumbled. Sinner just hit the ball harder.
He faced Taylor Fritz in the final. Fritz was carrying the weight of an entire country on his shoulders, trying to be the first American man to win a Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003. It didn't happen. Sinner won in straight sets, $6-3, 6-4, 7-5$. It wasn't even as close as the scoreline suggested.
The match was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Sinner’s baseline game is basically a metronome of destruction. He doesn't miss. Fritz played well, but "well" doesn't beat a guy who moves like a gazelle and hits like a freight train. Sinner became the first Italian man to ever win the US Open, which is a massive deal for Italian sports.
Why Carlos Alcaraz Wasn’t the One
Everyone expected Carlos Alcaraz to be the guy. He’s usually the guy. But the US Open is a grind. Alcaraz looked gassed, losing early to Botic van de Zandschulp in one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament. It proved that even the "chosen one" can have a bad week in Flushing Meadows.
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Novak Djokovic and the End of an Era?
Djokovic didn't win either. He looked human. Losing to Alexei Popyrin in the third round was a shock to the system for fans who have spent two decades watching him lift trophies. It felt like a changing of the guard. The speed of the court and the relentless humidity of late August in New York seemed to finally catch up with the GOAT.
Sabalenka’s Redemption in the Women’s Final
On the women’s side, the question of who won the US Open leads straight to Aryna Sabalenka. This was personal for her. She had lost the previous year’s final to Coco Gauff after being up a set. The New York crowd is famously loud, and they were firmly against her back then.
In 2024, she faced Jessica Pegula. Another American. Another hostile crowd.
This time, Sabalenka didn't blink. She won $7-5, 7-5$.
It was a heavy-hitting slugfest. Pegula is known for being "Billionaire Jess"—she’s the daughter of the Buffalo Bills owners—but she’s also one of the grittiest players on tour. She clawed back in the second set, leading 5-3, but Sabalenka went into "tiger mode." She rattled off four straight games to take the title.
The Evolution of Women’s Tennis Power
Sabalenka’s win mattered because it solidified her as the best hard-court player in the world. She had already won the Australian Open twice. Winning in New York proved she could handle the surface, the balls (which are different for the men and women at the US Open), and the mental demons of her past failures.
- Serve Speed: Sabalenka was consistently clocking serves over 115 mph.
- Forehand Velocity: On average, her forehand was faster than most of the men in the draw.
- Mental Toughness: She stopped the double-fault meltdowns that used to plague her game.
What Most People Get Wrong About New York
People think the US Open is just another tournament. It isn't. It’s loud. Planes fly over from LaGuardia Airport. Fans are drinking "Honey Deuces" (that famous $20+ vodka lemonade drink with the melon balls) and they aren't quiet like they are at Wimbledon.
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The court surface, DecoTurf, is fast. It rewards players who take the ball early. If you hesitate for a second, you’re done. This is why players like Daniil Medvedev—who won in 2021—always do well here. They embrace the chaos.
When you look at who won the US Open, you’re looking at a survivor.
The American Drought Continues (Mostly)
It’s been a rough stretch for American men. We keep getting close. Fritz made the final. Tiafoe made the semis. Ben Shelton made a deep run. But the trophy keeps leaving the country. On the women’s side, we’ve been luckier with Coco Gauff’s 2023 win, but 2024 and 2025 showed that the international field—specifically players from Eastern Europe and Italy—have found a gear that’s hard to match.
The technical gap is closing, but the physical gap is widening. Sinner and Sabalenka are athletes first. They don't just play tennis; they cover the court in ways that seem physically impossible.
Surprising Stats from the Recent Finals
In the Sinner vs. Fritz match, Sinner won 80% of his first-serve points. You can't beat that. Fritz, meanwhile, struggled with his second serve, winning only 45% of those points. At this level, that’s a death sentence.
In the women's final, the unforced error count was high—both players combined for nearly 70. That tells you how windy and nervous the environment was. It wasn't "pretty" tennis. It was "win at all costs" tennis.
Real-World Takeaways for Your Next Match
If you're a weekend warrior or just a fan trying to understand the game better, there are a few things these winners do that you can actually use.
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Focus on the "Plus One" ball. Sinner wins because his first shot after the serve is always aggressive. He doesn't just start the point; he tries to end it immediately.
Manage your emotions like Sabalenka. She used to scream at her box and lose her cool. Now, she breathes through the pressure. If you're down a break, don't change your strategy—change your intensity.
Hard courts are about movement. Notice how the winners slide on the hard court like it’s clay. This requires incredible core strength and specialized shoes. Don't try this at your local park unless you want a broken ankle, but do realize that the game is moving toward "all-surface" sliding.
Looking Ahead to the Next Open
The landscape is shifting. With legends like Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic moving toward retirement, the door is wide open. We are seeing a new "Big Three" form: Sinner, Alcaraz, and potentially someone like Holger Rune or Ben Shelton if they can find consistency.
On the women's side, it’s the Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka show, with Coco Gauff acting as the ultimate spoiler.
To stay ahead of the curve, watch the lead-up tournaments in Cincinnati and Toronto. That’s where you’ll see who has the fitness to actually survive two weeks in the New York furnace.
Actionable Steps for Tennis Fans:
- Check the UTR (Universal Tennis Rating): If you want to know who is actually playing well regardless of their seed, look at their UTR leading into August.
- Follow the "Night Session" trends: Players who play primarily at night have an easier physical road but deal with much crazier crowd energy. It affects their betting odds and performance.
- Watch the ball change: At the US Open, the balls are changed every 9 games. Watch how the top players change their tactics the moment fresh, fast balls are introduced. Sinner usually goes for more winners the second a new can is opened.
Tennis is in a good place. It’s faster, louder, and more unpredictable than it’s been in thirty years. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just checking in to see who won the US Open, one thing is clear: the era of the giants is over, and the era of the athletes has begun.