The 2025 US Open main draw begins on August 24 at Flushing Meadows, with tennis fans worldwide eagerly watching to see which top players will shine under New York’s bright lights. Both World No. 1s, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, are set to defend their titles on the hard courts. Amid the anticipation, 2003 US Open Champion Andy Roddick has made a surprising pick for a women’s semifinalist, casting doubt on the defending champion’s chances.
What Did Andy Roddick Say About Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka?
On his podcast, “Served with Andy Roddick,” the American made waves by picking Elena Rybakina to reach the US Open semifinals over defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. This bold call came during a discussion with co-host Jon Wertheim, who had selected Sabalenka to advance to the same round.
Roddick explained his reasoning, stating that he favors Rybakina in a potential head-to-head matchup right now.
“This is where I get stuck because in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, I think I want to take Rybakina right now. For Rybakina to get to the semis, where I want her to get to, she has to get through Paolini and Sabalenka, hypothetically back-to-back, so it’s like, ‘Do I hedge and put Sabalenka in the semis just because I like that path a little bit better?’ I don’t know, I have Rybakina in the semifinals,” Roddick explained.
However, the most interesting part of his prediction came with a playful twist. Roddick suggested that Sabalenka should be pleased with his choice, citing his poor track record when picking her to win Grand Slams this year.
“Which should make Aryna’s day because I’ve picked her in every Slam so far, and she hasn’t won, so I’m actually doing her a favor. Last time I picked against her, she won, so ‘Congratulations, Sabalenka, you just won the tournament I picked Rybakina,'” Roddick said humorously.
His logic stems from a pattern in 2025. Sabalenka reached the Australian Open final but lost to Madison Keys and made the French Open final only to be defeated by Coco Gauff. At Wimbledon, she advanced to the semifinals. Roddick had picked her to win each of those tournaments, so he now believes his reverse psychology might work in her favor.
How Do Rybakina and Sabalenka Match Up?
Looking at recent results, both players have shown strong form heading into the US Open. Sabalenka is the current World No. 1 and has had an impressive 2025 season with 50 wins and only 10 losses. She has claimed three titles this year, with victories in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid.
Despite not winning a Grand Slam in 2025, Sabalenka enters as the defending US Open champion. Her consistency has been a key factor in her success, as she has consistently reached the final stages of major tournaments and maintained her top ranking.
Meanwhile, Rybakina, the ninth seed at this year’s US Open, has also displayed flashes of top form. In May, she won her first title in over a year at the Strasbourg tournament, defeating Liudmila Samsonova in the final. More importantly, she secured a recent victory over Sabalenka in their last meeting at the Cincinnati Open quarterfinal. This recent performance appears to be a major factor in Roddick’s analysis.
While the overall head-to-head record favors Sabalenka 7-5 across 12 matches, Rybakina’s game is well-suited for hard-court conditions. Her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play have proven effective on similar surfaces. Having reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2024, she has shown she can compete with the world’s best players when she is healthy.
