Australian Open 2025: Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner Shine in Melbourne
The first major of the 2025 tennis season wrapped up in spectacular fashion over the weekend, with Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner emerging as the champions at the Australian Open. It was a tournament filled with thrilling matches, unexpected upsets, and a few heartwarming stories that will be remembered for years to come.
Madison Keys, in her 46th Grand Slam appearance and just shy of her 30th birthday, finally clinched her first major title. The No. 19 seed delivered a series of impressive performances, culminating in a dramatic victory over No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. She then went on to upset the two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in a nail-biting final, winning 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. This victory made Keys the first woman since Serena Williams in 2005 to defeat the top two players en route to the Australian Open trophy.
Reflecting on her triumph, Keys attributed her success to a newfound sense of freedom on the court. “I finally got to the point where I was OK if it didn’t happen,” she said. “I didn’t need it to feel like I had a good career, or that I deserved to be talked about as a great tennis player. I feel like finally letting go of that kind of internal talk that I had just gave me the ability to actually go out and play some really good tennis to actually win a Grand Slam.”
On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, defended his 2024 title with remarkable ease. The 23-year-old Italian dropped just one set throughout the tournament and dominated his opponents, including a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev in the final. Sinner’s win made him the youngest man to win back-to-back Australian Open titles since Jim Courier in 1992 and 1993, and the first Italian to claim three Grand Slam titles in history.
As we look ahead to the rest of the 2025 season, the question on everyone’s mind is: who will join Sinner in repeating their Grand Slam success? In 2024, three women—Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Barbora Krejcikova—and two men—Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz—captured Slam titles. Will any of them rise to the occasion again, or will another underdog, like Keys, steal the spotlight?
With the French Open just under four months away, there’s plenty of tennis to be played on both hard courts and clay. While it’s nearly impossible to predict the outcomes of the remaining majors, that won’t stop us from speculating. Here’s a look at the top contenders for each of the upcoming Grand Slams in 2025.
French Open
When: May 25 – June 8
Where: Paris
2024 champions: Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz
Top women’s contenders in 2025: Swiatek, Zheng Qinwen, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Mirra Andreeva, Sabalenka
No one has dominated Roland Garros quite like Iga Swiatek in recent years. With four titles in the past five years, she is the undisputed “Queen of Clay.” In 2024, she dropped just one set and lost a mere 20 games throughout the tournament. However, she can be beaten, as Zheng Qinwen proved by defeating her in the semifinals at the Olympics. Zheng will arrive at the French Open with confidence and a desire to claim her first major title.
Coco Gauff, ranked No. 3 in the world, has shown her prowess on clay, reaching the final in 2022 and the semifinals last season. Jasmine Paolini, a surprise finalist in 2024, will be eager to prove her run was no fluke. Mirra Andreeva, just 17, reached her first major semifinal last season and continues to improve. Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, will also be a formidable contender, especially after her loss in the Australian Open final.
Top men’s contenders in 2025: Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Zverev, Casper Ruud
Carlos Alcaraz, the 2024 French Open champion, will be a top contender once again. Despite an arm injury last year, he managed to secure his first French Open title. Novak Djokovic, a three-time champion, remains a threat, especially after defeating Alcaraz in the Olympic gold-medal match. Alexander Zverev, who lost in the final last year, is determined to improve his conditioning and stamina. Casper Ruud, a consistent performer on clay, will also be in the mix.
Wimbledon
When: June 30 – July 13
Where: London
2024 champions: Barbora Krejcikova and Carlos Alcaraz
Top women’s contenders in 2025: Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Krejcikova, Paolini, Ons Jabeur
Wimbledon is often the most unpredictable of the Grand Slams, with grass being a challenging surface for many players. Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time semifinalist, could be a favorite if she’s healthy. Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion, remains a strong contender despite recent coaching changes. Barbora Krejcikova, last year’s champion, will be eager to prove her victory was no fluke. Jasmine Paolini and Ons Jabeur, both strong on grass, will also be in the hunt for the title.
Top men’s contenders in 2025: Alcaraz, Djokovic, Sinner, Taylor Fritz
Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, is the favorite to win again. Novak Djokovic, a seven-time champion, will be determined to add another title to his collection. Jannik Sinner, a 2023 semifinalist, continues to improve on grass and could make a deep run. Taylor Fritz, a two-time quarterfinalist, is capable of big results and upsets.
US Open
When: Aug. 25 – Sept. 7
Where: New York
2024 champions: Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner
Top women’s contenders in 2025: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, Keys, Jessica Pegula, Osaka
The US Open has seen its share of surprise champions, but recent years have been dominated by Sabalenka, Gauff, and Swiatek. Sabalenka, the reigning champion, will be eager to defend her title. Gauff, the 2023 champion, has made significant improvements to her game and will have the crowd on her side. Swiatek, nearly flawless in Melbourne, is always a threat. Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Naomi Osaka will also be contenders.
Top men’s contenders in 2025: Sinner, Alcaraz, Fritz, Tiafoe, Shelton, Djokovic
Jannik Sinner, the reigning champion, is the man to beat. Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, will be motivated to reclaim his title. A group of American players, including Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Ben Shelton, will be eager to end the country’s Slam drought. Novak Djokovic, a four-time champion, will always be a contender if he’s in the draw.
Originally Written by: D’Arcy Maine
