There is no Slam quite like a home Slam – as many players who’ve either ridden the wave of support to unexpected glory, or crumbled under the weight of expectation before local crowds, can attest.
As first-round matches were completed at Flushing Meadows, American stars happily added to the tournament’s famously hyped atmosphere with winning starts.
Of the 23 American men in the 2025 main draw, 11 progressed to round two. Three of those victories came in all-American openers, highlighting pleasing depth in the men’s ranks.
While Madison Keys – the AO 2025 champion and No.6 seed in New York – suffered an upset loss to world No.82 Renata Zarazua, and Venus Williams’ comeback was thwarted by Karolina Muchova, nine of 25 American women advanced to the second round.
For fans hoping to see a homegrown champion in just under a fortnight, recent history provides encouraging signs.
Coco Gauff, the United States’ top-ranked singles player at world No.3, lifted her first Grand Slam trophy in New York two years ago and added to her major tally when she defeated world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in this year’s Roland Garros final.
At 21, Gauff is contesting her seventh singles campaign at her home Slam and made experience count when she was pushed to three sets by Ajla Tomljanovic on Day 3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I'm so used to these long battles,” said Gauff, who has been refining her serving technique under the guidance of biomechanic expert Gavin Macmillan after announcing a split with coach Matt Daly ahead of the tournament.
“But I think that this is the match that I needed. I don't think it could get any more stressful than this, honestly. First round is more stressful than the final, in my experience. Yeah, I think for me it was a good test.”
Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, each seeded No.4 in their respective draws, are also eyeing returns to the business end of their home Slam. Both achieved career-defining breakthroughs when they advanced to a maiden Grand Slam singles final at last year’s US Open.
Ahead of her ninth main-draw appearance, 31-year-old Pegula reflected on the unique buzz of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I don't think it gets much better than Ashe … just with the energy and the atmosphere,” said Pegula, who opened her 2025 campaign with a 6-0 6-4 win over Mayar Sherif.
“I don't think you can beat it being in New York City. It's just very electric, rowdy, fun, a little bit chaotic. But I feel like it's just New York kind of in a nutshell.”
Fritz, who advanced over wildcard Emilio Nava in his 2025 opener, appreciates the history at stake.
It’s 22 years since an American man, Andy Roddick, last triumphed at the US Open. Having come tantalisingly close as a runner-up to world No.1 Jannik Sinner last year, the 27-year-old recognises the tournament is “the most important for us Americans all year”.
He also acknowledges the competition. Not since 1997 have so many American men contested the singles draw, with five seeded this year.
Fritz noted how the tight-knit group – including No.6 Ben Shelton, No.14 Tommy Paul and No.17 Frances Tiafoe, all straight-sets winners in round one – can drive each other to greater heights.
"I do think the competition among all of us pushes all of us and gives us motivation to be better," he said.
The flipside, perhaps, is that those countrymen could soon challenge Fritz’s status as American men’s No.1.
With victory over Peru’s Ignacio Buse on Sunday, the 22-year-old stretched his North American summer record to 13 wins from 15 matches. Like Fritz, Shelton achieved his best Grand Slam result in New York, as a semifinalist in 2023.
And like Fritz, he is determined to go one step further this fortnight.
"This is the one, for sure," said Shelton. "This is the pinnacle of tennis for me, what I dreamed about when I was a kid."
Shelton entered his fourth US Open main draw at a career-high world No.6 ranking, fuelled by his biggest title to date at the recent Toronto Masters.