Nine best second round matches at 2025 U.S. Open

Coco Gauff (Hameltion, Wikimedia Commons)

After three days of first round action at the 2025 United States Open in Flushing Meadows, New York, the second round is set to get underway on Wednesday. Here are the best nine matches. 

Men

(1) Jannik Sinner–ITA vs. Alexei Popyrin–AUS

The four-time grand slam champion has already won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year. Popyrin reached the National Bank Open quarterfinals in Toronto earlier this month. Popyrin won the only matchup head-to-head. That came in the second round of Madrid in 2021 by a score of 7-6, 6-2.

(6) Ben Shelton–USA vs. Pablo Carreno Busta–ESP

Shelton reached the semifinals of the United States Open in 2023 and the Australian Open in 2025. Carreno Busta reached the semifinals of the United States Open in 2017 and 2020. Shelton won their only prior meeting, 6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 in the second round of the 2025 Australian Open.

(14) Tommy Paul–USA vs. Nuno Borges–POR

Paul reached the semifinals of the 2023 Australian Open. Borges reached the fourth round of the 2025 US Open. This is their first meeting head-to-head.

(18) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina–ESP vs. Arthur Rinderknech–FRA

Davidovich Fokina reached the fourth round of Toronto earlier this month. Rinderknech reached the third round of Wimbledon and Cincinnati. Rinderknech won their only meeting, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of Marseille in 2021.

(20) Jiri Lehecka–CZE vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry–ARG

Lehecka reached the fourth round of Cincinnati and Toronto this month. Etcheverry reached the third round of Cincinnati. Lehecka and Etcheverry have beaten each other once. Lehecka won 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of Gstaad, Switzerland in 2022. Etcheverry won 7-5, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of Hamburg in 2025.

Cameron Norrie–GB vs. Francisco Comesana–ARG

Norrie reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2022. Comesana reached the fourth round of Cincinnati. This is their first meeting head-to-head.

Jordan Thompson–AUS vs. Adrian Mannarino–FRA

Thompson reached the fourth round of the United States Open last year and Wimbledon this year. Mannarino reached the fourth round of Cincinnati this month. Mannarino has played Thompson a lot, 10 times in fact, with Mannarino winning six meetings. Mannarino won their only match this year. That came in the first round of Cincinnati, 6-2, 6-2.

Women

(4) Coco Gauff–USA vs. Donna Vekic–CRO

Gauff is a two-time major champion as she won the 2023 United States Open and the 2025 French Open. Vekic reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2024. Vekic and Gauff have beaten each other once. Vekic won 7-6, 6-2 in the third round of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Gauff won 6-4, 6-2 in the round robin of the United Cup on New Year’s Eve.

Victoria Azarenka–BLR vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova–RUS

Azarenka won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013. Pavlyuchenkova reached the French Open final in 2021. Azarenka has won seven of nine meetings. Pavlyuchenkova won their only meeting at a major, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in the fourth round of the 2021 French Open.