The 2025 U.S. Open opened in Flushing Meadows on Sunday, launching a 15-day schedule that carries a record $90 million prize pool and offers $5 million to each singles champion. The expanded purse comes amid continued growth in attendance, sponsorship and broadcast reach for the season’s final Grand Slam. Seven-time major winner Venus Williams, 45, returns on a wildcard for her record-extending 25th main-draw appearance. The two-time champion said playing at her home Slam “never gets old” as she prepares to meet No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova in the first round on Monday. Former champion Emma Raducanu made a brisk start, dismissing Japan’s Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 to claim her first victory at the tournament since her 2021 title run. The British No. 1 needed just 62 minutes, striking six unforced errors to Shibahara’s 36 and extending her season tally to 25 match wins. Defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka also advanced, overcoming a slow start to beat Rebeka Masarova 7-5, 6-1 for her eighth consecutive win in New York. On the men’s side, American No. 6 seed Ben Shelton eased past Peru’s Ignacio Buse, while France’s Arthur Rinderknech reached round two after a four-set duel with Roberto Carballés Baena. World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz begins his campaign later on Monday against Reilly Opelka.