A look at some of the men to watch at the U.S. Open, which starts Sunday, with money-line odds via BetMGM Sportsbook:
Jannik Sinner
Ranked: 1
Career-Best Ranking: 1
Country: Italy
Age: 24
2025 Record: 31-4
2025 Titles: 2
Career Titles: 20
Grand Slam Titles: 4 — U.S. Open (1: 2024), Australian Open (2: 2024, 2025), Wimbledon (1: 2025)
Last 5 U.S. Open: 2024-Won Championship, 2023-Lost in 4th Round, 2022-QF, 2021-4th, 2020-1st
Aces: Reached the finals at each of the last four Grand Slam tournaments, a run that began with his first U.S. Open title a year ago. ... He won the Australian Open in January, lost an epic final to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open in June, and won Wimbledon in July by beating Alcaraz. ... Had to quit against Alcaraz in the Cincinnati Open final Monday because of an illness, ending Sinner's 26-match unbeaten streak on hard courts.
He Said It: “You have to be ready if you want to keep up.”
Read All About It: Jannik Sinner gets the better of Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final
Odds Are: +100
Carlos Alcaraz
Ranked: 2
Career-Best Ranking: 1
Country: Spain
Age: 22
2025 Record: 54-6
2025 Titles: 6
Career Titles: 22
Grand Slam Titles: 5 — U.S. Open (1: 2022), French Open (2: 2024, 2025), Wimbledon (2: 2023, 2024)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2024-2nd, 2023-SF, 2022-W, 2021-QF, 2020-Did Not Play
Aces: Has won 39 of his past 41 matches and leads the tour in victories and titles in 2025. ... Has a chance to return to No. 1 in the ATP rankings after the U.S. Open. ... Won his first Grand Slam title at age 19 at Flushing Meadows three years ago. ... Was 5-0 in major finals before the loss at Wimbledon.
He Said It: “I just want to think, ‘OK, I just played a final in a Grand Slam,' and try to forget that I lost it.”
Read All About It: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are creating quite a rivalry
Odds Are: +140
Taylor Fritz
Ranking: 4
Career-Best Ranking: 4
Country: United States
Age: 27
2025 Record: 38-15
2025 Titles: 2
Career Titles: 10
Grand Slam Titles: Zero — Best: Runner-Up, U.S. Open (2024)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2024-Runner-Up, 2023-QF, 2022-1st, 2021-2nd, 2020-3rd
Aces: His U.S. Open showing 12 months ago marked the first appearance in a Grand Slam final by an American man since Andy Roddick was the runner-up to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2009. ... Got to his second Grand Slam semifinal last month at the All England Club before bowing out against Alcaraz.
He Said It: “It’s always been one of my goals to be able to see tennis grow as a sport in the U.S."
Read All About It: Taylor Fritz’s U.S. Open final run was a long time coming for American men
Odds Are: +2200
Jack Draper
Ranked: 5
Career-Best Ranking: 4
Country: Britain
Age: 23
2025 Record: 29-9
2025 Titles: 1
Career Titles: 3
Grand Slam Titles: Zero — Best: Semifinals, U.S. Open (2024)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2024-SF, 2023-4th, 2022-3rd, 2021-DNP, 2020-DNP
Aces: Enjoying a real breakthrough season, including a Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells. ... Only the second left-hander — Rafael Nadal is the other — to reach the top five since 2000. ... Fitness issues from early in his career seem to be behind him.
He Said It: “I live and breathe the sport, and I’m obsessed with progressing and obsessed with becoming the player that I want to become all the time and achieve the things I want to.”
Read All About It: Jack Draper wins the trophy at Indian Wells and reaches the top 10
Odds Are: +1400
Ben Shelton
Ranked: 6
Career-Best Ranking: 6
Country: United States
Age: 22
2025 Record: 35-17
2025 Titles: 1
Career Titles: 3
Grand Slam Titles: Zero — Best: Semifinals, U.S. Open (2023), Australian Open (2025)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2024-3rd, 2023-SF, 2022-1st, 2021-DNP, 2020-DNP
Aces: Made his top 10 debut in June. ... Won his first Masters 1000 title in Canada this month. ... A semifinalist at the Australian Open in January and the U.S. Open in 2023. ... Has made it to Week 2 in six of his 12 career Grand Slam tournaments.
He Said It: “Love playing at the Slams. They always have the best crowds, more energetic crowds, the best atmosphere.”
Read All About It: Ben Shelton’s first Grand Slam semifinal came in New York two years ago
Odds Are: +1600
Novak Djokovic
Ranked: 7
Career-Best Ranking: 1
Country: Serbia
Age: 38
2025 Record: 26-9
2025 Titles: 1
Career Titles: 100
Grand Slam Titles: 24 — U.S. Open (4: 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023), Wimbledon (7: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), Australian Open (10: 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023), French Open (3: 2016, 2021, 2023)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2024-3rd, 2023-W, 2022-DNP, 2021-RU, 2019-4th
Aces: Dealt with a groin injury at Wimbledon and hasn't played a match since losing to Sinner in the semifinals there July 11. ... Most recent Grand Slam title came at the 2023 U.S. Open, the last time a man other than Sinner or Alcaraz won a major. ... Seeking a record 25th Slam trophy.
He Said It: "I feel like when I’m fresh, when I’m fit, I can still play really good tennis. I’ve proven that this year.”
Read All About It: Novak Djokovic says he plans to return to Wimbledon
Odds Are: +1100
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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press
