Picture this: the world’s top tennis players gathering, not for match point, but for ping-pong. That happened when Jannik Sinner and Naomi Osaka traded their rackets for paddles ahead of the 2025 US Open. While both arrive in New York with different expectations, their playful encounter reveals the lighter side of tennis’s biggest stage.
How Are Jannik Sinner and Naomi Osaka Preparing for the 2025 US Open?
Ahead of their singles campaigns at the 2025 US Open, Sinner and Osaka were spotted enjoying a friendly ping-pong match at their hotel. Last year, the men’s world No. 1 clinched the title at the New York Major by defeating Taylor Fritz in the final. Meanwhile, Osaka was eliminated in the second round by KarolÃna Muchová.
Osaka boasts two US Open titles, which she won in 2018 and 2020 by overcoming Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka in the finals, respectively. Her experience at Flushing Meadows gives her confidence despite last year’s early exit.
In preparation for the 2025 US Open, Sinner competed at the Cincinnati Open while Osaka participated in the Canadian Open. Both players finished as runner-ups, with Sinner retiring against Carlos Alcaraz and Osaka falling to Victoria Mboko in their respective finals. These strong showings suggest both are hitting their stride at the right time.
Before the 2025 US Open, the Baccarat Hotel New York hosted its ‘Annual Petit Slam,’ an event Sinner attended for the third time. This informal gathering allowed players and guests to mingle, creating a relaxed atmosphere before the tournament’s intensity began.
Sinner and Osaka played friendly ping-pong on a custom Baccarat red table featuring a stunning Baccarat crystal net. They used the event’s signature red paddles, turning the elegant setting into their playground.
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Here are some videos from the Baccarat Annual Petit Slam played between Sinner and Osaka:
this show off 😒 pic.twitter.com/lo7IVYj4Mo
— 💫 (@jannikssmiley) August 22, 2025
😠pic.twitter.com/ewWfeZfGX4
— 💫 (@jannikssmiley) August 22, 2025
Before her singles campaign, Osaka also participated in the mixed doubles event at the 2025 US Open alongside Gaël Monfils. They received a wild card entry into the main draw but were defeated in the first round by the wild card team of Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti, with a score of 5-4, 4-2.
Who Will Sinner and Osaka Face in the First Round?
The 2025 US Open will take place from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. Sinner is the top seed, and he will begin his title defense at the 2025 US Open by facing VÃt KopÅ™iva in the first round.
The two players have never faced each other on the ATP Tour, and their upcoming meeting at Flushing Meadows will mark the first time that they will face one another. The winner of the first round match between Sinner and Kopřiva in the first round of the New York Major will advance to the second round to compete against Alexei Popyrin or Emil Ruusuvuori.
On the women’s side of the draw, Osaka, seeded 3rd, will start her campaign at the 2025 US Open by going up against Greet Minnen in the first round.
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In the Grand Slam tournament lead-up, the Belgian participated in two hard-court events, the Cincinnati Open and Tennis in the Land, but lost in the first round of both, falling to Maya Joint and Talia Gibson, respectively. This recent form puts additional pressure on Minnen entering her matchup with the former world No. 1.
Osaka and Minnen have faced each other only once on the WTA Tour, during the first round of the 2024 Madrid Open, in which the former World No. 1 won with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-1. The winner of the first-round match between Osaka and Minnen will advance to the second round to face Hailey Baptiste or Kateřina Siniaková.
