Opinion: Top 10 first round matches at 2025 United States Open

Venus Williams (Anna Bialkowska, Wikimedia Commons)

The 2025 United States Open gets underway on Sunday. Here are the 10 best first round matches (seven singles matches on the men’s side and three singles matches on the women’s side).

Men

(2) Carlos Alcaraz–ESP vs. Reilly Opelka–USA

Alcaraz is a five-time grand slam champ, and is facing the 6’11” Opelka in the first round. This is their first meeting head-to-head.

(7) Novak Djokovic–SRB vs. Learner Tien–USA

Djokovic is a 24-time grand slam champion and Tien made the fourth round of the Canadian Open. This is their first meeting head-to-head.

(13) Daniil Medvedev–RUS vs. Benjamin Bonzi–FRA

Medvedev won the 2021 United States Open. Bonzi reached the fourth round of Cincinnati. Bonzi has won their two prior matches–in the first round of the 2017 French Open and the first round of Wimbledon in 2025 (7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2).

(23) Alexander Bublik–KAZ vs. Marin Cilic–CRO

An upset may happen here. Cilic won the 2014 United States Open.

(28) Alex Michelsen–USA vs. Francisco Comesana–ARG

Michelsen reached the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open and Comesana reached the fourth round of Cincinnati. This is their first ever meeting.

(29) Tallon Griekspoor–NED vs. Adrian Mannarino–FRA

Griekspoor reached the third round of the US Open last year, and Mannarino reached the third round of Wimbledon. This is their first ever meeting.

Roberto Carballes Baena–ESP vs. Arthur Rinderknech–FRA

Rinderknech reached the third round of Wimbledon, and Carballes Baena reached the third round of the Australian Open. Carballes Baena won their only prior meeting–6-0, 6-4 in the first round of Belgrade in 2021.

Women

(11) Karolina Muchova–CZE vs. Venus Williams–USA

Muchova reached the French Open final in 2023. Venus Williams has won seven grand slam titles. Muchova won their only prior matchup, 6-3, 7-5 in the first round of the 2020 United States Open.

(30) Daria Yastremska–UKR vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova–RUS

Yastremska reached the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open. Pavlyuchenkova reached the final of the 2021 French Open. Pavlyuchenkova won their only prior matchup, 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of Osaka in 2019.

Tatjana Maria–GER vs. Maria Sakkari–GRE

Maria reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2022. Sakkari reached the semifinals of the French Open and the United States Open in 2021. Maria and Sakkari have beaten each other twice.