This year’s US Open is drawing ever closer, as players continue to battle it out on the North American hard courts.
There will be a different feel to the New York major in 2025, with the new US Open mixed doubles event taking place and a Sunday start for the first time.
However, the top contenders for both singles titles have more of a familiar feel, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz the players to catch in the men’s draw.
While in the women’s singles event, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek will be the top three seeds.
There are also some dark horses for the US Open, including a former top 10 player who appears to now be making a resurgence.
Maria Sakkari could be a dark horse at the US Open this year
It has been a tough year for Maria Sakkari, who is now the world number 90 after struggling to find form.
This did not even change much after Sakkari reunited with her old coach, who helped her reach a career-high ranking of world number three back in 2022.
Sakkari has also been involved in drama on the WTA Tour, after having a tense exchange with an opponent during the grass court season.
However, after suffering a second round loss at Wimbledon, the Greek is now starting to show signs of the player she once was.
Sakkari received a wildcard for the Washington Open as a former finalist, and she has certainly taken advantage of that.
The 29-year-old picked up an impressive victory over British number one Katie Boulter in the first round, before taking things up a level when she knocked out the second seed, Emma Navarro, who reached the US Open semifinals last year.
What makes these wins even more impressive is that Sakkari has now reached the quarterfinals of the Washington Open without dropping a set.
This stands Sakkari in good stead for the US Open this year, where she has reached the latter stages before.
Maria Sakkari’s previous results at the US Open
Unless Sakkari goes on an incredible run during the North American hard court swing, she will be unseeded at the US Open for the first time in eight years in 2025.
While some may see this as a negative thing, it may help Sakkari as she will have less external pressure on her.
Even throughout her extensive period in the top 10 of the WTA rankings, Sakkari’s Grand Slam results were less than desired.
Sakkari has only won one match in her last three appearances at the New York major, but there was one run that shows she can contend for the US Open title.
In 2021, Sakkari beat former champion Bianca Andreescu, Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova en route to the US Open semifinals.
This is where she was beaten by eventual US Open champion Emma Raducanu, in her stunning run to the title as a qualifier.
| Year | Round Maria Sakkari reached at the US Open |
| 2015 | Lost in the first round to Qiang Wang |
| 2016 | Lost in the first round to Yingying Duan |
| 2017 | Lost in the third round to Venus Williams (9) |
| 2018 | Lost in the second round to Sofia Kenin |
| 2019 | Lost in the third round to Ash Barty (2) |
| 2020 | Lost in the fourth round to Serena Williams (3) |
| 2021 | Lost in the semifinal to Emma Raducanu (Q) |
| 2022 | Lost in the second round to Xiyu Wang |
| 2023 | Lost in the first round to Rebeka Masarova |
| 2024 | Lost in the first round to Yafan Wang (by retirement) |
Sakkari ended her season after retiring at the US Open last year, so actually has the chance to gain a lot of ground in the WTA rankings in the second half of 2025.
The two-time title winner will be looking to continue the form she has shown in Washington D.C. so far, as she has shown that she can be a threat to anybody.
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