As the tennis world turns its attention to the 2025 US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season, a fierce debate is brewing over who will claim the women’s singles title. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, and No. 3 Iga Swiatek, a former US Open winner, are at the heart of the conversation, with their rivalry set to light up Flushing Meadows. Former top-10 player Jack Sock, now a respected voice in tennis, has weighed in with a bold prediction, favoring Sabalenka to triumph over Swiatek. Speaking on the *Nothing Major* podcast, Sock’s analysis highlights the Belarusian’s hunger and hard-court dominance, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown in New York.
Swiatek’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster of triumphs and challenges. Her stunning Wimbledon victory in July, where she crushed Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 to claim her sixth Grand Slam and first grass-court major, marked a career milestone. “I was really competing throughout the whole two weeks,” Swiatek said after the win, crediting her improved serve and newfound confidence on grass under coach Wim Fissette. Yet, her season was not without setbacks. A one-month doping ban in November 2024, due to contaminated melatonin, forced her to miss three tournaments and saw her ranking drop to No. 8. A semifinal loss to Sabalenka at Roland Garros, ending her 26-match win streak there, and a tearful Olympic semifinal defeat added to the turbulence. Despite these hurdles, Swiatek’s 2022 US Open title and her 85% win rate on hard courts (34-6 in 2024) make her a formidable contender. “I love hard courts as well,” she said, emphasizing her versatility despite her “Queen of Clay” moniker.
Sabalenka, however, has emerged as the WTA’s dominant force, holding the No. 1 ranking with 9,706 points to Swiatek’s 9,665. Her 2024 US Open triumph over Jessica Pegula (7-5, 7-5) solidified her hard-court supremacy, with 27 wins in her last 28 major matches on the surface. “I’m not trying to focus on ranking,” Sabalenka said after that victory, focusing instead on playing her best tennis. Her powerful game, marked by thunderous groundstrokes and an improved mental resilience, has carried her to three Grand Slam titles—two Australian Opens and one US Open. Despite a shoulder injury forcing her to miss Wimbledon 2024, Sabalenka’s 2025 season included a French Open final appearance, where she fell to Coco Gauff after defeating Swiatek in the semifinals. “It could not be more perfect than that,” she said of her 6-0 third set against Swiatek, showcasing her ability to seize control in clutch moments.
Sock’s prediction leans heavily on Sabalenka’s current form and hunger to end her 2025 Grand Slam drought. “All credit to Iga, but I think I am probably going to ride with Sabalenka as the favourite for the US Open,” he said, citing her status as defending champion and her relentless drive. He believes Sabalenka’s aggressive, first-strike tennis, which produced 29 winners in her French Open semifinal against Swiatek, gives her an edge on the fast hard courts of Flushing Meadows. Steve Johnson, Sock’s podcast co-host, praised Swiatek’s improved forehand and grass-court movement but agreed that Sabalenka’s power and consistency make her the player to beat. “She’s definitely going to be talked about in that category again,” Johnson said, noting her ability to dominate big stages.
The Swiatek-Sabalenka rivalry, with Swiatek leading 8-5, has become a defining narrative in women’s tennis. Their 2022 US Open semifinal, where Swiatek rallied from a break down to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, remains a highlight, though Sabalenka admitted to a tactical error: “I was trying to stay in the game, which was my mistake. I should just go for it.” As both players prepare for New York, Swiatek’s technical improvements under Fissette and Sabalenka’s raw power promise a blockbuster clash. With Coco Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion, also in the mix, the US Open is poised for drama, but Sock’s money is on Sabalenka to reign supreme.
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