The first major of the 2025 season ended on the weekend as the Madison Keys and Janik Sinner claimed single strophy at the Australian Open.
With her 46th slam appearance, and last before turning 30 next month, Keys won her first major title behind a stunning run throughout the tournament. The No. 19 seed defeated second Iga Swiatek in the semifinals in a dramatic way after beating impressive wins after another, upsetting two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the Saturday finals 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. She became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2005 to beat a top two player on her way to the Melbourne trophy.
Keys was praised for letting go of her surprise victory, in part, the burden of having to win the slam.
“We finally got to where we would have been fine if that hadn’t happened,” Keys said after the final. “I didn’t need it to feel like I had a good career or deserved to be spoken as a great tennis player. I’d finally want to let go of such an inside story that just gave me the ability to actually go out and play really good tennis and actually win a grand slam.”
On the men’s side, there was surprisingly little suspense as the world’s No. 1 sinner cruised relatively unharmed throughout the two weeks, successfully defending the 2024 title. The 23-year-old sinner fell only one set in Melbourne, dominating his opponents primarily, including Sunday’s 6-3, 7-6 (4), and 6-3 final against Alexander Zverev. Thinner is the youngest man to win consecutive Australian Open since the first Italian to win three slam titles in history in 1992 and 1993 by Jim Courier.
In 2024, three women (Sabalenka, Iga Swaitek and Barbora Krezikova) and two men (Cinner and Carlos Alkaraz) won the Slam title. Can someone of them join the sinner and repeat the feat in the New Year? Or is someone like Key flying under the radar and making a splash on one of the biggest stages of the sport?
It’s just under four months to begin the main draw at the French Open, with plenty of tennis remaining to play on both the hard court and the clay in the meantime, so of course it’s nearly impossible to predict the rest of the majors in the season’s majors, but that doesn’t stop us from trying. Here’s who should be the top candidate for each of the remaining slams of 2025:
French Open
when: May 25th – June 8th
where: Paris
2024 Champion: Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz
Top Women Candidates for 2025: Swiatek, Zheng Qinwen, Coco Gauff, Jasminine Paolini, Mira Andreva, Sabalenka
No one is more dominant in Roland Garros than Swiatek. She has won four of her past five titles in Paris and is essentially “Queen of Clay.” And she not only won the tournament, but was virtually unruly. In 2024, she dropped one set (in an instant classic against Naomi Osaka in the second round), but otherwise she lost a total of 20 games during her ride. In the final, she overwhelmed Paolini 6-2, 6-1. She’s a favorite of the next major of the year.
But, although rare, she could be beaten at Roland Garros. Zheng pulled away from one of 2024’s biggest upheavals when he defeated Swiatek in the semi-finals at the Olympics held at the prestigious venue. Zheng continues to win gold medals and now arrives at the French Open, confidently looking for her first major title.
Currently ranked third in the world, Gouf has been successful with Red Clay throughout his younger career. She reached the final in 2022, as well as the semi-finals last season, winning the 2024 doubles title and the 2018 junior title with Katerina Siniakova. She has what she needs to win on the surface. Paolini was a surprising finalist after an astonishing run in 2024. She wants to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke.
The 17-year-old Andreeva has continued to improve as she reached the first major semi-finals of her promising career at the event last season. And then there’s Sabalenka, the number one in the world and the 2023 semi-finalist. She has won two Madrid titles at the 1000th level with Clay and will be joining the mix in Paris this spring. He may play with a shoulder tip after Australia’s defeat in the Open Finals.
Top Men’s Candidates for 2025: Alcaraz, Novak Djocovic, Zevevid, Red Casper
Participating in last year’s tournament, fighting an arm injury in the lead-in event, Alkaraz was forced into five sets against both the sinner and Zverev in the semi-finals. Still, he found a way to win and secured his first French open title. About six weeks later, he won a silver medal during the Olympics at the venue, cementing his position as one of the best in the world on ostensibly and at Roland Garros.
Anyway, Alkaraz’s bid to achieve an elusive career slam was stopped by Djokovic in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open last week, but that loss could make him starve the rest of the season.
France’s three-time open champion Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in a dramatic way in the Olympic gold medal match, proving that he could still win a big title. Djokovic, 38, turns 38 just before the start of the tournament, had to retire from the semi-finals against Melbourne’s Zverev due to a hamstring injury. He also underwent unrelated knee surgery after having to withdraw from Roland Garros before the quarter last year. However, he continues to focus on winning his record-breaking 25th major title and certainly knows what it takes to win in Paris.
Zverev cited his loss in last year’s final as a career turning point, and he has since committed to improving conditioning and stamina. It’s obvious that he’s already achieved some results, who says he can’t win at the French Open? After losing in the next three major finals, Zverev is not lacking in motivation.
And Rood was experiencing a recent struggle – he lost in the second round at the Australian Open — he reached the finals in Paris in 2022 and 2023 (and last season), always a threat to clay.
Wimbledon
when: June 30th – July 13th
where: London
2024 Champion: Barbora Krejcikova and Carlos Alcaraz
Top Women Candidates for 2025: Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Krejcikova, Paolini, Ons Java
Perhaps there’s no more title to grab on women’s sides than Wimbledon. With such a short segment of the annual calendar, few people seem to have mastered the surface, and it is possible that someone will have an unexpected deep run.
However, Sabalenka has been a two-time semifinalist at the All England Club, reaching the round in 2021 and 2023 with his past two appearances.
The Rivakina season so far has been defined by controversial coaching changes, facing many questions in his four-round run in Melbourne. But if she can focus on tennis, the 2022 Wimbledon Champion is a serious contender in the tournament and one of the best in the world. Her 2024 campaign was derailed by Krejcikova in the semi-finals.
Two-time major champion Krejcikova was an unlikely winner last season thanks to multiple comeback victories and unwavering self-esteem. She missed the Australian Open due to a prolonged back injury, but her title victory was undoubtedly no coincidence.
Other 2024 finalists, Paolini and 2022 and 2023 Jabeur, have also proven to be formidable enemies on the surface. After suffering from shoulder injuries for the 2024 season, Yabour spoke many times about how much the Wimbledon title means to her.
Top Men’s Candidates for 2025: Alkaraz, Djokovic, Sinner, Taylor Fritz
Despite being 21 years old and still playing just a handful of grass tournaments in his career, Alcaraz is a two-time Wimbledon champion. Some players struggle to adapt to grass and adjust their movements, but Alkaraz didn’t have that kind of problem. Advances the final meeting in 2024, Djokovic is currently referred to as “probably the best” in the world, making it difficult to discuss. Defeating seven-time champion Djokovic in the event, Alkaraz is a favorite to win again at this point in the straight set.
However, if he is healthy, Djokovic will be the man on the mission of SW19. He has consistently waxed poeticly about the special place the tournament has in his heart, and he wants nothing but to win another title at the All-England Club. When he played the 2024 final just weeks after knee surgery, he was the dominant force at Wimbledon, and there’s no opponent in the enemy section that no one wants to see.
Thinner, a 2023 semi-finalist, won his first grass title with Hare last season, but on the surface he continues to get better. He lost to Danil Medvedev in five sets during last season, but he has a confident game and has an increasingly unruly aura. Except for bans by the world’s doping agencies (hearings are scheduled for April), is this the year he has won a non-hard court major and continues to build his legacy?
And don’t count Fritz, the All-England club’s two-time quarterfinalist. The 27-year-old American won a career breakthrough by reaching the US Open Finals in September, allowing for major results and confusion.
We are open
when: August 25th – September 7th
where: new york
2024 Champion: Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner
Top Women Candidates for 2025: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swietk, Keys, Jessica Pegula, osaka
By the end of a major season, anything happens. Over the years, the US Open has had a surprising champion considering Emma Ladukanu in 2021, but in the recent past it has been more consistent with Sabalenka, Gouf and Swaitek claiming the past three titles in New York.
And if you go seven months before the start of the US, the trio (now the top three player in the world) is your favorite to win again in the Big Apple.
Sabalenka, the Cincinnati champion and opening the season with a title in Brisbane, proved how good she is on the hard court. Let’s add redemption to the mix after a catastrophic loss in Melbourne on Saturday and say it’s a dangerous combination.
Gauff, the 2023 champion who fell into the fourth round as it was about to be repeated in 2024, has raised her game since her disappointment in New York in September. Since that loss, she has finished the 2024 season by changing tactical and human resources with her team and winning the WTA Finals. She led the US team to the United Cup title for 2025 and reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. The 20-year-old will have a crowd on her side in New York, and could certainly be in a position to win her second title at the event.
Swiatek was almost perfect throughout most of her run in Melbourne. Before she was stopped in the semi-finals, she didn’t drop the set and only allowed 14 games in total. She lost only one game against Radkanu in the third round. At her best, she is hard to beat, and another New York trophy seems plausible.
But don’t forget the key. She reached the final in 2017 and now knows what it takes to win a slam. Of course, there are Pegra, who made a breakthrough after reaching the US Open Final in 2024, and Osaka, a two-time champion who made a comeback in Melbourne. If she’s healthy, it’s hard to assume that she won’t be a factor by the end of the season.
Top Men’s Candidates for 2025: Sinner, Alcaraz, Fritz, Tiafoe, Shelton, Jjokovic
After seeing what the sinner did in Melbourne, and how easy he looks – he is the guy who beats at this point this year at this point this year. He was equally dominant in New York last year, dropping just two sets overall, routed Fritz at the final 6-3, 6-4, 7-5. His non-flapping attitude is the perfect antidote for the wild crowd at Arthur Ash Stadium, and another recurring title seems possible.
But Alcaraz may have other plans. The 2022 champions accepted the crowd and spotlight just like a few others, winning three Master 1000 level titles on the hard court. After consecutive victories at the French Open and the Wimbledon and Silver Medal Olympic Run last summer, he was exhausted when he arrived in New York and was surprised in the second round. But he should be more rested and motivated this season.
Needless to say, there is a group of Americans. Anything Win in front of the home crowd and snap slamless drought amongst your fellow countrymen. Assuming it’s not broken at the French Open or Wimbledon, it’s been 22 years since Andy Roddick won the title at the US Open in 2003, and of course it’s become a hot topic every year. Fritz was extremely crowded last year as they reached the final. That fusion of disappointment and confidence helped him achieve it in 2025.
Tiafoe is everyone in New York’s beloved player, reaching two semi-finals of the past three years and beat those with the crowd behind him. Ask Raphael Nadal. If Tiafoe finds his rhythm, the title is certainly possible. The same can be said for Shelton. The former NCAA champion, just 22 years old, arrived at the US Open semifinals in 2023 and competed in the semifinals in Melbourne. He has long been touted as the country’s greatest hope to end a winning streak, so why not do that at home this year?
Finally, there’s always Djokovic, the four-time champion. Like Alcaraz, he failed to produce the best results in New York last season after a long summer.