Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spanish sensation, arrives at the US Open 2025 with a stellar season behind him, marked by a tour-leading 54 wins and six titles. However, history suggests that the Spaniard's most significant challenge might not be his opponents, but rather his own late-season form.

Alcaraz has had an undeniably impressive 2025. He started the season reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals. He then went on to win his first indoor hardcourt title at the Rotterdam Open, becoming the youngest man to win titles on all four surfaces. His clay-court season was particularly dominant, clinching titles at Monte Carlo and the Italian Open, completing his set of major clay titles. He also secured his second consecutive French Open title, marking his fifth major overall. Recently, Alcaraz added the Cincinnati Open to his trophy haul after Jannik Sinner retired due to illness in the final.

Despite these successes, Alcaraz has shown a tendency to lose momentum in the latter part of the season. In previous years, this has manifested as emotional outbursts, racquet smashing, and, most significantly, early exits from tournaments. In 2024, after winning the French Open and Wimbledon, followed by a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, Alcaraz suffered a shocking second-round defeat at the US Open to Botic van de Zandschulp. This pattern of late-season struggles has been attributed to both mental and physical fatigue. After his group stage elimination from the 2024 ATP Finals, Alcaraz admitted the difficulty of feeling fresh at the season's end.

However, there are indications that Alcaraz is taking steps to rectify this pattern in 2025. A key difference this year is his schedule leading up to the US Open. In contrast to previous years, where he participated in multiple tournaments and the Olympics, Alcaraz only competed in the Cincinnati Masters after Wimbledon. This reduced workload could prove beneficial in preserving his energy and focus for the US Open.

The US Open 2025 draw presents a potentially challenging path for Alcaraz. He is set to begin his campaign against the big-serving American, Reilly Opelka. A potential blockbuster semi-final showdown with Novak Djokovic looms. Djokovic leads their head-to-head series 5-3, with their most recent encounter being a four-set win for the Serb in the Australian Open quarter-finals. Other potential opponents include Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton, or Casper Ruud.

Alcaraz is aiming to recapture the US Open title he won in 2022. However, he crashed out in the semi-finals in 2023 and the second round in 2024. Despite his previous struggles, Alcaraz remains a formidable contender. His current form, marked by a Cincinnati Open title, suggests he is entering the US Open with confidence. He is also trying to manage the pressure and expectations that come with being a top player.