As the first week of the US Open wraps up, it is time to reflect on the highs and lows at Flushing Meadows. Alcaraz looks sharp, Coco Gauff continues to draw fervent home support and Djokovic’s game is finding its rhythm. But questions linger over Sinner and Swiatek, both former Wimbledon champions, whose performances so far have left room for doubt.
With the Round of 16 concluding tonight, the stage is set for the quarterfinals and the battles that will define the second week of the US Open.
The first week at Flushing Meadows delivered its share of magic from Carlos Alcaraz and steady dominance from Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz arrived with a sharp new haircut, early-2000s flair, and even some bonding time with Rory McIlroy — but none of it distracted him from playing his best tennis. He cruised through the opening rounds in straight sets, brushing past Opelka (6-4, 7-5, 6-4), Bellucci (6-1, 6-0, 6-3), Darderi (6-2, 6-4, 6-0) and Rinderknech (7-6[3], 6-3, 6-4). Against Rinderknech, one improvised backhand at the net left the crowd in disbelief, a reminder of his ability to conjure brilliance under pressure. Although a brief medical pause against Darderi raised eyebrows, Alcaraz now looks fit, sharp and in-form to reach yet another Grand Slam final.
For Nole, the week started in doubt and ended in control. He eased past Tien (6-3, 6-3, 6-2) but looked short of energy. Against Zachary Svajda, he dropped the first set in a tiebreak, only to call on his trademark composure and turn it around 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. His third-round clash with Cameron Norrie was the true reminder of what sets him apart: when pressure builds, Djokovic adjusts. Even carrying back pain, he found the answers to take it 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3. By the time he faced Jan-Lennard Struff, the gears were fully clicking — a straightforward 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 put him through. Next up is Taylor Fritz, the last American standing in the Men’s draw and what promises to be an electric quarterfinal.
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka has lived up to her No.1 rank as New York’s headline act. Cameras have followed her every move — from off-day rituals to brand events and jewellery shopping. On court, she looked every bit the defending champion. Her first week was emphatic: straight-set wins across the board, capped by a third-round dismissal of Cristina Bucsa in which she didn’t face a single break point (6-1, 6-4). Next comes Marketa Vondrousova, the former Wimbledon champion, in what promises to be a compelling clash. Waiting beyond that could be Jessica Pegula (4) or Barbora Krejcikova, with a semifinal spot on the line.
Today’s schedule still holds plenty of intrigue. In the day session, Lorenzo Musetti meets Jaume Munar in a clash worth watching. Munar, fresh from a breakthrough run at Wimbledon where he stunned Alexander Bublik to crack the top 50, arrives with momentum and belief. Musetti may be the favourite on paper, but Munar’s grit — and his 2024 win over the Italian in Hong Kong — make this a compelling matchup. The stakes are high: the winner will advance to face either Jannik Sinner or Bublik from tonight’s Round of 16.
Another standout duel on the men’s side pits Andrey Rublev against Felix Auger-Aliassime. Rublev has impressed this week, even battling through fatigue in his win over local hope Boyer — a match so draining he famously refuelled with sushi on court. Across the net awaits Auger-Aliassime, brimming with confidence after toppling world No.3 Alexander Zverev. ‘Hard courts suit my game’, the Canadian said with a grin ahead of his clash with Rublev. The winner will go on to face either Alex de Minaur (8) or Dominic Stricker Riedi for a place in the quarterfinals.
In the day session, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are the other names to watch. Swiatek, the world No.2, hasn’t yet hit her top level but remains firmly in the hunt for another final. Gauff, meanwhile, has carried the weight of expectation as the home crowd’s brightest star. The pressure told early in the week against Donna Vekic, when she was reduced to tears and on the verge of a panic attack. Yet she has steadied herself and now faces Naomi Osaka (23), the former US Open winner. It promises to be a headline night on Arthur Ashe Stadium — an All-American atmosphere for a decisive clash.
Headlining the night session is defending champion Jannik Sinner. After shaking off the illness that troubled him in Cincinnati, he opened the tournament smoothly with a straight-sets win over Alexei Popyrin (6-3, 6-2, 6-2). His third-round clash with Denis Shapovalov, however, was a far more difficult test. Sinner dropped the opening set on a double fault before steadying to take the second 6-4. In the third, Shapovalov raced to a 3-0 lead and threatened an upset, but Sinner responded with a flurry of dazzling points to steal the set and then controlled the fourth to seal the win. What looked like a scare became one of the matches of the week. Next up is Alexander Bublik — dangerous, unpredictable, and the man who beat Sinner at Halle earlier this season.
