The 2025 Australian Open concluded recently, with Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner securing the singles titles.
Keys, in her 46th Grand Slam appearance, achieved her first major victory. Ranked No. 19, she progressed through the tournament impressively, defeating No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals and then overcoming two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final in three sets. This win makes her the first woman since Serena Williams in 2005 to defeat the top two players on her way to the Australian Open title.
Keys attributed her unexpected success to releasing the pressure of needing a Grand Slam win.
‘I reached a point where I accepted if it didn’t happen,’ Keys stated after her victory. ‘I realized my career or status as a great player wasn’t dependent on it. Letting go of that internal pressure allowed me to play freely and win a Grand Slam.’
In the men’s tournament, Sinner, the world No. 1, had a more straightforward path, successfully defending his 2024 title. The 23-year-old dropped only one set throughout the Melbourne fortnight, dominating opponents, including Alexander Zverev in the final in straight sets. Sinner is the youngest man to win consecutive Australian Open titles since Jim Courier in the early 90s and the first Italian to win three Grand Slam titles.
In 2024, several players including Sabalenka, Swiatek, Barbora Krejcikova, Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz, won Grand Slam titles. The question remains: will any of these champions repeat their success in 2025, or will a new contender, like Keys, emerge at the upcoming major tournaments?
With several months until the French Open, and with upcoming tournaments on both hard and clay courts, predicting the remaining Grand Slam winners is challenging, but we will attempt to identify the top contenders for each.
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
Iga Swiatek’s dominance at Roland Garros rivals Rafael Nadal’s. She has won four of the last five French Open titles, earning the title ‘Queen of Clay.’ Her 2024 performance was particularly dominant; she only lost one set en route to victory and decisively defeated Paolini in the final. She is the clear favorite for this year’s French Open.
However, upsets are possible. Zheng Qinwen defeated Swiatek in the Olympics semifinals held at Roland Garros in 2024. Winning the gold medal has boosted Zheng’s confidence as she aims for her first Grand Slam title at the French Open.
Coco Gauff, currently ranked No. 3, has shown strong clay-court form. She reached the French Open final in 2022 and the semifinals last year. She also won the 2024 doubles title and the junior title in 2018, demonstrating her capability on this surface. Paolini, a surprise finalist in 2024, will seek to prove her previous run was not a fluke. Andreeva, 17, reached her first major semifinal at the French Open last year and is continuously improving. Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and a 2023 semifinalist at Roland Garros, is also expected to be a strong contender, potentially motivated by her Australian Open final loss.
Top men’s contenders in 2025: Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Zverev, Casper Ruud
Carlos Alcaraz, despite an arm injury leading up to last year’s French Open, won his first title, overcoming five-set matches in both the semifinal against Sinner and the final against Zverev. He later secured an Olympic silver medal at the same venue, solidifying his status as a top clay-court player.
Alcaraz’s pursuit of a career Grand Slam was halted by Djokovic at the Australian Open, likely increasing his motivation for the remainder of the season.
Novak Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, defeated Alcaraz in the Olympic gold-medal match and remains a top contender. Despite turning 38 before the tournament and a recent injury at the Australian Open, Djokovic aims to win his record 25th major title and has a proven track record at Roland Garros.
Zverev views his French Open final loss last year as a turning point, leading him to improve his fitness. Having reached three major finals, he has strong motivation to win. Ruud, despite recent struggles, has been a consistent performer at Roland Garros, reaching the final in 2022 and 2023, making him a threat on clay.
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’s women’s title is particularly open this year. Grass court tennis, being a short season, hasn’t been mastered by many, potentially leading to unexpected deep runs by various players.
Sabalenka, a two-time Wimbledon semifinalist, reached the semifinals in both 2021 and 2023. Although she missed last year due to injury and lacks a grass-court title, her past performances suggest she could be a favorite if healthy.
Rybakina’s season has been marked by coaching changes. However, the 2022 Wimbledon champion remains a strong contender on grass. Her 2024 Wimbledon campaign ended in the semifinals against Krejcikova.
Krejcikova, the defending champion, secured an unexpected victory last year through resilience and comebacks. Despite missing the Australian Open due to injury, she will aim to prove her Wimbledon win was not accidental. Paolini, a 2024 finalist, and Jabeur, a finalist in 2022 and 2023, are also strong grass-court players. Wimbledon holds special significance for Jabeur, who is eager to win the title after past disappointments.
Top men’s contenders in 2025: Alcaraz, Djokovic, Sinner, Taylor Fritz
Despite limited grass-court experience, Alcaraz is the defending Wimbledon champion. His adaptation to grass has been seamless. Djokovic acknowledged Alcaraz as potentially the best grass-court player before their 2024 final, a claim supported by Alcaraz’s straight-set victory over the seven-time champion.
Djokovic, if healthy, will be highly motivated at Wimbledon, a tournament he deeply cherishes. Reaching the 2024 final shortly after knee surgery, he remains a dominant force at Wimbledon.
Sinner, a 2023 semifinalist, won his first grass title last year in Halle and is improving on grass. His consistent performance and growing confidence make him a strong contender, pending any potential WADA issues.
Fritz, a two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist, is also a contender. His US Open final appearance in September highlights his potential for major 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 often sees surprises, but recently, Sabalenka, Gauff, and Swiatek have consistently won titles in New York.
These top-three ranked players are again favorites for the 2025 US Open. Sabalenka, the Cincinnati champion and Brisbane winner, excels on hard courts. Motivated by her Australian Open loss, she is a formidable contender. Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, has improved since her 2024 disappointment in New York. Tactical and team changes led to her WTA Finals victory and a strong start to 2025. Playing at home, Gauff aims for her second US Open title. Swiatek was dominant in Melbourne before her semifinal exit. At her peak, she is hard to beat and a US Open title is likely.
Keys, a 2017 US Open finalist and now a Grand Slam champion, will have strong home crowd support. Pegula, a 2024 US Open finalist, and Osaka, a two-time champion showing resurgence in Melbourne, are also key contenders if healthy.
Top men’s contenders in 2025: Sinner, Alcaraz, Fritz, Tiafoe, Shelton, Djokovic
Sinner’s dominant Australian Open performance makes him the favorite for the US Open. He was equally dominant in New York last year, winning the title and defeating Fritz in the final. His composure is well-suited for the US Open crowds, making a repeat title possible.
Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion, thrives in the spotlight and has won multiple Masters 1000 titles on hard courts. After a busy summer in 2024, he was surprisingly defeated early in New York but should be more rested and motivated this year.
Several American players are eager to win the US Open and end the American Slam drought. Fritz, a 2024 finalist, is among them. Tiafoe, a New York favorite and past semifinalist, can beat anyone with crowd support. Shelton, a 22-year-old semifinalist in 2023, is also a top American hope. Djokovic, a four-time US Open champion, remains a contender if he participates, despite past fatigue after long seasons.
