One of the enduring charms of Grand Slam tennis is the rise of the unexpected. Beyond the big names and seeded stars, it’s the underdogs, players few outside of tennis circles know, who ignite the magic of a Slam.
At the 2025 US Open, that story belongs to Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym.
Jerome Kym’s Breakthrough Run in New York
Ranked No. 175, the 22-year-old has turned heads in New York with the biggest run of his young career. Kym qualified without dropping a set in three matches, After edging American Ethan Quinn in the opening round, Kym delivered the upset of his life against No. 30 seed Brandon Nakashima. In his first-ever five-set match, he showed remarkable composure, taking out the American 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8) in a gripping battle that stretched over four hours.
The match was a rollercoaster, full of momentum swings and nerve-shredding rallies. Kym struck more than 60 winners and often dictated play with his heavy serve and aggressive first-strike tennis. Despite surrendering breaks of serve, he never lost his belief, especially in the decisive match tiebreak, where he held firm to prevail 10-8.
The victory not only secured his first third-round appearance at a Slam but also earned him a place on one of the US Open’s showpiece courts. Waiting there is perhaps his toughest challenge yet: last year’s finalist and world No. 4 Taylor Fritz. Through five matches in New York, Kym is playing well beyond his ranking and showing he has the game to challenge top players on tour.
Whatever happens next, Kym has already achieved a breakthrough that will push him into the world’s top 150 and reward him with a career-best payday of more than $230,000. For a player who has endured injuries and setbacks in his young career already, simply being here, thriving under the lights in New York, feels like a victory.
And in many ways, that’s the essence of Slam tennis: moments when new names emerge, belief turns into reality, and the sport’s unpredictability keeps us watching.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images Copyright: xEricxDubostx
