The U.S. Open is Now Closed
The U.S. Open has become more than just a tennis tournament— it's a cultural phenomenon.
BY Chloe Rudnick ★ September 10th, 2025
Design by: Sofia Floresca
Somehow, the U.S. Open has become New York’s hottest place to be — and not just for tennis. With fashion moments, celebrity sightings and viral trends stealing the spotlight, it’s as much a cultural spectacle as a Grand Slam.
The 2025 U.S. Open, held Aug. 24 to Sept. 7, was the cherry on top of the tennis calendar. As the final stage for players to leave their mark before the season’s close, the tournament delivered…and then some.
On the women’s side, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defended her crown, defeating No. 4 Amanda Anisimova in the final. The win marked her second consecutive U.S. Open title and her fourth Grand Slam overall, cementing her dominance on the tour.
For the men, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over No. 2 Jannik Sinner in a thrilling final. At just 22 years old, Alcaraz claimed his second U.S. Open trophy, continuing to establish himself as the sport’s next era-defining champion.
Though Sabalenka and Alcaraz were the two big winners of the Open, a popular cocktail has been crowned the true champion. The Honey Deuce — the U.S. Open’s signature drink — has gone viral on TikTok and sparked countless DIY versions at home.
At $23 each, the cocktail generated more than $12 million in sales for the USTA last year. Ironically, enough to cover the $5 million prize money awarded to both the men’s and women’s singles champions. But, is it worth the hype? Normally, the answer might be no. This year, though, fans seemed to think so. Some New York bars even added their own spin on the cocktail to their permanent menus.
Created by restaurateur Nick Mautone and sponsored by Grey Goose, the drink features vodka, lemonade and raspberry liqueur and is finished with three honeydew melon balls designed to look like miniature tennis balls. Its ombré green-and-red base makes it as Instagrammable as it is refreshing.
It wouldn’t be high-level tennis without high-level attendees. Chances are one — if not several — of your favorite celebrities were spotted in the stands. The guest list crossed every corner of pop culture, from sports and music to television and fashion.
Olympians Simone Biles, Candace Parker and Trinity Rodman were on hand, joined by sports legends Steph Curry, Wayne Gretzky, Misty Copeland and Billie Jean King. Music icons including Bruce Springsteen, Ciara, Sting, Diplo and Maggie Rogers took a break from the stage to catch a match.
As for Hollywood, the star power didn’t disappoint. Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak, Michael J. Fox, Courteney Cox and Hugh Jackman all made appearances on screen — this time as fans rather than stars. And on what might as well have been Arthur Ashe Stadium’s runway, Anna Wintour and Vera Wang led the charge in setting the courtside dress code.
Speaking of the dress code, the U.S. Open has become just as much a fashion show as a tennis tournament, and the ultimate stage for player-brand collaborations. The entire event partners with Ralph Lauren, which sets the tone with uniforms and merchandise that blend a retro edge with classic polish.
On the court, Aryna Sabalenka defended her title in a custom black-and-white Nike cutout dress, topped with a silver bomber jacket. Naomi Osaka, a perennial style standout, returned with a look that could only be described as tennis Barbie — a bedazzled purple dress paired with matching Labubus. Another talked-about moment came courtesy of a lime green ruffled Nike skirt, styled with a white bomber jacket featuring a life-size bow on the back — with two smaller bows on each sneaker to match.
Many influencers were in attendance, but two standouts are redefining what it means to “win” at tennis, without ever picking up a racket. Morgan Riddle (girlfriend of Taylor Fritz) and Paige Lorenze (fiancé of Tommy Paul) have become the faces of courtside culture, branding themselves as the ultimate WAGs. During the finals, cameras panned to them almost as often as they do to Taylor Swift at a Chiefs game — and for good reason. Both women have cemented themselves as icons of courtside fashion.
Lorenze, for example, has spun her lifestyle into a booming business with her brand Dairy Boy. She’s nailed the crossover between tennis fans and trend-savvy girls so well that her second Soho pop-up during this year’s U.S. Open drew lines around the block daily. If you were lucky, you might have even caught Tommy Paul himself casually signing limited-edition U.S. Open sweatshirts inside. It’s this blend of entrepreneurial savvy and courtside glamour that led Tatler magazine to nickname her “the Princess Diana of court-side fashion.”
Meanwhile, Riddle has taken her platform in a slightly different direction, turning her TikToks into the ultimate crash course for casual fans and cementing her status as a style fixture at every match. Her reach has grown so strong that The Times credited her as “the most famous woman in men’s tennis.” Together, Riddle and Lorenze embody a new era of tennis WAGs — one where influence, style and fandom collide at the center court.
The 2025 U.S. Open aced it. This year’s Grand Slam was the perfect blend of world-class tennis and star-studded cultural moments, cementing its status as one of New York’s must-attend events. Same time next year?
Edited by: Madison Sherman