Jessica Pegula says she felt awful about her game just days before the 2025 US Open, after Aryna Sabalenka dominated her in practice. She even cut the session short and reset with friends at an escape room. A week later, she's in the quarterfinals without dropping a set and will face Barbora Krejcikova, calling the turnaround a complete 180 from last year’s confident run.
Carlos Alcaraz turned heads at the 2025 US Open with a near-shaved buzz cut after his brother botched a pre-tournament trim. He leaned into the look, calling it a fresh reset, and some see superstition at play—Alcaraz wore short hair when he won the 2022 title. The haircut stole the spotlight, even stunning fellow pros like Frances Tiafoe, as Alcaraz opened with a win and aims to erase last year’s early exit.