The 2025 US Open is the final Grand Slam tennis tournament. This year, the US Open is set to be a powerful stage for Black women tennis players. With 10 Black women in contention for the prestigious title, the most in a single tournament in more than a decade. 

The tournament is also honoring the legacy of the pioneer Althea Gibson on the 75th anniversary of her breaking the color barrier at the US National Championships, a tribute that underscores the deep historical roots of Black excellence in the sport.

In what is likely to be one of the most exciting US Opens in recent memory, here are all the Black women you need to watch at this year's US Open.

Coco Gauff

As the 2023 US Open champion and the No. 3 seed in the tournament, Coco Gauff is the highest-ranked American woman in the tournament. In June, Gauff won the women's singles title at Roland-Garros by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 French Open final. She became the youngest woman to win the French Open. If Gauff wins the US Open, she will capture her third Grand Slam title.

Naomi Osaka

A four-time Grand Slam winner, Naomi Osaka had been playing some of her best tennis in years. Osaka came up short in a duel against Victoria Mboko in the Canadian Open in August, but she is back in top form.  At the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo on May 4, 2025, she won a WTA title, marking her first since the 2021 Australian Open. She is scheduled to play her first-round singles match against Greet Minnen on Tuesday, August 26, and in the mixed doubles event with her partner, Gael Monfils.on Monday, August 25.

Venus Williams

With seven Grand Slam singles titles (five Wimbledon, two U.S. Open), 14 Grand Slam women's doubles titles (with Serena Williams), and four Olympic medals (one gold in singles, three golds in doubles), Venus Williams is a tennis icon. After receiving a wildcard invitation from the USTA (United States Tennis Association), the 45-year-old former champion will make her 25th appearance in the singles draw at her home Grand Slam tournament. If Williams manages to win the championship, it will be one of the greatest comeback stories in sports history.

Victoria Mboko

At 18 years old, Victoria Mboko is tennis’ next phenom. Following her historic victory at the 2025 Canadian Open (a WTA 1000 event), Mboko became the first Canadian in the Open Era to defeat four Grand Slam champions at a single WTA tournament. She also reached her highest ranking of No. 23 in August 2025 as the youngest Canadian woman to reach the country's hallmark tournament final in the Open Era. Although she sufferd a first round defeat, Mboko is well on her way to becoming an all-time great in sport.

Jasmine Paolini

Jasmine Paolini has achieved major success in 2024 and 2025, reaching consecutive Grand Slam finals in singles (Roland Garros, Wimbledon), winning the WTA 1000 Dubai title, and winning an Olympic gold medal in doubles with Sara Errani at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She peaked at a career-high singles ranking of World No. 4 in October 2024, a joint-highest rank for an Italian woman. Paolini also won her first Grand Slam doubles title at the 2025 French Open alongside Errani. On Wednesday, August 27, Palonii will ace her second opponent

Alycia Parks

Alycia Parks is a name you need to know in tennis. She has won one WTA singles title, the 2023 Lyon Open, and a WTA 1000 doubles title at the 2023 Cincinnati Open. Her highlights also include a third-round appearance at the 2024 Australian Open. On Monday, August 26, she’ll continue her stride to her first Grand Slam title against Mirra Andreeva in the first round.

Taylor Townsend

Currently ranked No. 1 in doubles in the WTA, Taylor Townsend has won two major doubles titles, at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships and the 2025 Australian Open, with her teammate  Kateřina Siniaková. She’s also won eight WTA Tour titles and reached two other major finals, the 2022 US Open with Caty McNally and the 2023 French Open with Leylah Fernandez. In the singles competition, she is ranked number 46 in the world. She faces Antonia Ružić in the opening round on Monday, August 25.

Hailey Baptise

Hailey Baptise achieved her best singles ranking of world No. 47 in August 2025. Her highest doubles ranking is No. 92, achieved on 22 July 2024. Baptiste’s resume includes a win on the WTA Tour and two WTA Challenger Tour doubles titles. She has also won four singles and four doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. Baptiste takes on Kateřina Siniaková on Monday, August 25, in the first round.

Clervie Ngounoue

Clervie Ngounoue, a star in the making, has achieved the #1 ranking in the ITF junior circuit in 2023 as the winner of the Wimbledon girls' singles title and the French Open girls' doubles title in the same year. After rising through the junior competition, she made her professional debut at the WTA level and played in the main draw of the US Open. In the first round, she’ll take on Anna Kalinskaya on Monday, August 25.