The US Open has already kicked off with the revamped mixed doubles setup, with the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori bagging the massive $1 million paycheck. With the conclusion of this thrilling setup, the spotlight now shifts to the singles event.
While players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and others have already tasted success at hard-court majors, several rising stars, including Ben Shelton, are still chasing their first Grand Slam title. Here are the five potential contenders (ATP) who could make a breakthrough at this year’s US Open.
Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev has reached three Grand Slam finals so far but is still searching for his first title. His closest chance came at the 2020 US Open, where he led Dominic Thiem by two sets and even served for the match before losing in a deciding tiebreak. He later fell to Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open final and to Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open.
People tend to overlook how diabetes hits him
heat, exhaustion, it’s brutal.
Yet he keeps fighting.
real-life superhero. đź’Ş
Couldn’t be prouder 🤍#teamSascha #AlexanderZverev pic.twitter.com/adx9pHtuk7— Rahaf Mahdi (@rahafmahdi) August 17, 2025
Despite these setbacks, Zverev has shown remarkable consistency. Since breaking into the top ranks in 2017, he has spent over 200 weeks in the world’s top five and peaked at No. 2 in 2022. His 2024 season was especially strong, with a 77% win rate and two Masters 1000 titles (his 2nd in Rome and 1st in Paris), proving he is always a threat on the biggest stages.
Taylor Fritz
Another potential deservant is Taylor Fritz. The American pro made history by becoming the first American man in nearly 15 years to reach a Grand Slam final. He stormed into the 2024 US Open final after an electric five-set win over Frances Tiafoe. He challenged world No. 1 Sinner in the final but fell short in straight sets: 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
On the ranking front, Fritz also stands out for his impressive consistency. He celebrated his 100th career week in the ATP Top 10 in April 2025. When he fell out of the Top 10 in those 31 weeks, he never dropped below No. 15. His climb includes eight weeks at a career-high of No. 4 since 2024, making him the highest-ranked American man since Andy Roddick ranked 1st in 2003.
Jack Draper
Jack Draper hasn’t yet reached a Grand Slam final, but his recent achievements place him firmly on the path to one. He made history as the British men’s No. 1, winning his first ATP Tour title at Stuttgart, then reaching the US Open semi-finals in 2024.
His climb continued into 2025, when Draper captured his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, defeating top players including Alcaraz and Holger Rune. That win vaulted him into the ATP top 10, initially peaking at world No. 7, the highest British men’s ranking since Andy Murray’s No. 1 in 2016.
Ben Shelton
Shelton has burst onto the tennis scene this year with a surge in form that’s hard to ignore. He reached his second Grand Slam semifinal at the 2025 Australian Open, matching his 2023 US Open performance. He also broke into the ATP Top 10 for the first time in June this year, becoming the first American-born 2000s player to reach that elite group.
Ben Shelton has now reached the second week at 50% of the Grand Slams he’s played in his career.
And that’s why I’m on the hype train. He’s not the most consistent player outside of Slams, but he turns up when it matters most. He loves a stage.
Like it or not, Slams define you. pic.twitter.com/28uVjIe9TN
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) July 5, 2025
But it’s his Masters 1000 triumph in Toronto that truly confirmed his arrival. Shelton captured his first Masters title at the 2025 Canadian Open, defeating Karen Khachanov in a tense three-set final. With that win, he climbed to a career-high No. 6 in the world, powered by skills like saving and converting break points at levels comparable to only Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Alex de Minaur
Alex de Minaur has built a fine 2025 season that makes him a real dark-horse contender heading into the US Open. He made it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, marking consistent Grand Slam progress, before falling to top seed Sinner. He also powered his way to the final in Rotterdam, pushing past big names before losing a tightly fought match against Alcaraz.
However, the highlight came at the Washington Open, where de Minaur staged an unforgettable comeback. Down in the third set and facing three championship points, he turned it around against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to win the title. This marked his 10th ATP singles crown and also confirmed his return to the top 10 in the rankings. He is currently ranked 8th, just two places lower than his career-high of No. 6.
