‘Hatgate’, stolen trophy overshadow top seeds at US Open Championships

The 2025 U.S. Open Tennis Championships set an attendance record even before the singles draws had their first serve. The momentum has continued into the second week of the tournament with the usual drama, but some controversy is making headlines as well.

Who has advanced on the women’s side?

Tensions were at their highest point Monday when two Americans, both former U.S. Open champions, battled for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Naomi Osaka seems to be returning to her major tournament-winning form, taking down No. 3 seed Coco Gauff. Osaka returned to the game in 2024 after well-documented mental health struggles and the birth of her daughter. She credits Gauff with giving her the motivation to get back into the competition. 

“I’m a little sensitive and I don’t want to cry, but honestly, I just had so much fun out here,” said Osaka. “I was telling everyone, literally, I was in the stands two months after I gave birth to my daughter, watching Coco. I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play. This is my favorite court in the world, and it means so much to me to be back here.”

One of the favorites in the women’s draw, second-ranked Iga Świątek, rolled into the quarterfinals and beat Ekaterina Alexandrova on Monday. She will face American Amanda Anisimova next. It’s a rematch of Wimbledon’s final in July, won by Świątek.

All eight women’s quarterfinalists at this year’s tournament are former major finalists. That has happened only two other times in the women’s Open era, both of which were at Wimbledon.

What is happening away from the court?

There was some controversy off the court in New York City over the weekend. Romanian player Sorana Cîrstea had a trophy stolen from her hotel room during the tournament. Cîrstea won the trophy in Cleveland last week –– her third career singles title –– and pleaded for its return in an Instagram post.  

“Whoever stole my Cleveland trophy from room 314 at The Fifty Sonesta, please give it back!” Cîrstea said. “It has NO material value, just sentimental value! It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, Sorana.” 

Meanwhile, “Hatgate” also made headlines Monday. The Polish CEO who went viral for taking Kamil Majchrzak’s hat away from a young fan as the kid reached out for the souvenir has apologized via social media. He said he’s sorry for his actions and that he never intended to “steal the prized memento from the young fan.” 

How is the men’s draw shaping up?

On the court, the men’s draw is shaping up to be another best-in-the-world showdown.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are on the same collision course as they were at Wimbledon. Sinner, the defending U.S. Open champion, dispatched Alexander Bublik in just 1 hour and 21 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals. 

“At times I felt like today I was playing some great tennis, and I managed to break him very early, which then gave me the confidence to serve a little bit better and play from the back of the court a bit better,” Sinner said. “It was a faster –– or, a fast match.”

Grand Slam tennis has been a two-man show for the last two seasons. The last seven major tournaments have gone one way or the other. Sinner has four titles, Alcaraz has three.

Tuesday night in Flushing, New York, the crowd will be in peak form. The legendary Novak Djokovic, who has four U.S. Open titles –– the last coming in 2023 –– will take on the only American left on the men’s side, No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz.

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