2025 US Open Tennis: Former tennis pro Brad Gilbert on what to expect this year

Key Concepts:

• US Open prize money increase
• Impact of increased prize money on players
• Men's and women's US Open favorites (Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Swiatek, Gauff)
• Coaching changes in tennis
• Benefits of playing tennis
• Tennis vs. Pickleball popularity

1. US Open Expansion and Prize Money:

• The US Open has expanded from a two-week tournament to a three-week "extravaganza."
• The main draw now starts on Sunday, adding an extra day, totaling 15 days.
• The tournament is expected to draw over a million fans.
• The prize money has increased significantly, with $5 million for the men's and women's singles champions.
• The increase in prize money is attributed to the added day, leading to more TV revenue and sponsorship dollars.

2. Impact of Prize Money on Players:

• Increased prize money in the early rounds, doubles, and qualifying rounds significantly benefits lower-ranked players.
• For top players, the increase from $3.6 million to $5 million is less impactful as they earn more off the court.

3. US Open Favorites (Men's):

• Sinner and Alcaraz are the massive favorites, with odds around -500.
• Djokovic, despite winning the last seven slams, is considered part of the field of 126 players against Sinner and Alcaraz.
• Sinner's individual odds are around +130.
• Ben Shelton is an American player to watch, with odds around 30 to 1.
• Taylor Fritz reached the final last year.

4. US Open Favorites (Women's):

• Swiatek is playing better.
• Coco Gauff is the third favorite.
• An American woman has been in the last four consecutive Slam finals.

5. Coaching Changes in Tennis:

• Coco Gauff recently fired her coach a week before the tournament.
• Coaching changes can provide a "lightning in the bottle" effect or a new voice that helps a player.
• Coaches can get "the hook" if results aren't satisfactory.
• Coaching is about helping players fulfill their dreams and reach another level.
• Players in the current era make changes sooner due to social media and constant feedback.

6. Benefits of Playing Tennis:

• Playing tennis 2-3 times a week after age 35 can extend lifespan by 9.7 years.
• 26 million people play tennis in the US, up from previous years.

7. Tennis vs. Pickleball:

• Pickleball has around 7-10 million players.
• Pickleball is considered harder on the body due to jarring movements.
• There is room for both sports.

8. Gambling Advice:

• "You cannot beat the juice 10% vig. Listen, if you win 55% of the time, you lose money."
• Betting on Sinner and Alcaraz together is a strong bet.

9. Notable Quotes:

• "You know they love you when the results are good." (referring to the player-coach relationship)
• "You got to have thick skin and you got to have confidence that what you're doing when I'm coaching, you know, the greatest thing about coaching is you're trying to help somebody fulfill their dreams, try to help them become better."

10. Technical Terms:

• Vig: The commission charged by a bookmaker.
• Qualies: Qualifying rounds in a tournament.
• Slam: Refers to one of the four major tennis tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open).

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The US Open is expanding, leading to increased revenue and prize money, which benefits players, especially those lower-ranked. Sinner and Alcaraz are the top contenders on the men's side, while Swiatek and Gauff are favorites on the women's side. Coaching changes are common in tennis, and playing tennis offers significant health benefits. While pickleball is growing in popularity, tennis remains a major sport with a large and growing player base.