Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams, Roger Federer.Photo:Nick Laham/Getty; Streeter Lecka/Getty; Al Bello/Getty
Nick Laham/Getty; Streeter Lecka/Getty; Al Bello/Getty
TheUS Openhas long been a venue for awe and excitement. Tennis legends from across the world have come to the Arthur Ashe Stadium courts and given us some of the most astonishing moments in the history of the sport. From whirlwind victory laps to stunning upsets, check out some of the most best moments from the US Open.
Arthur Ashe Becomes the First Black Man to Win the US Open
Arthur Ashe holds trophy after defeating Tom Okker.Walter Kelleher/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
Walter Kelleher/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
Prior to 1968, only professional players could play in the US Open. However, the year ushered in what is known as the Open Era, in which amateurs and professionals could play against each other.
Delivering a stunning win that year was amateur player (and No. 5 seed) Arthur Ashe, who defeated Amsterdam’s Tom Okker in five sets. The 25-year-old Virginia native was serving in the army at the time he played and actually had to request time off from West Point in order to compete, pera video from the US Open.
The Ilie Nastase vs. John McEnroe Near-Riot of 1979
Tennis official reprimands Nastase while John McEnroe (background) watches on.Bettmann Archive
Bettmann Archive
It’s no secret that John McEnroe was as impassioned a tennis player as he was great, but he actually wasn’t the troublemaker when a riot nearly broke out during his matchup with Romania’s Ille Nastase.
According to theNew York Times,the meeting was a pairing of the “original bad boys” of tennis, with both parties' reputations for being, shall we say, spirited preceding them. Still, it was Nastase’s antics that wound up causing a “match default, reinstatement, expulsion of a chair umpire and fan behavior that bordered on riotous,” reported theTimes.
The then 30-year-old Nastase flicked off a net-cord judge’s hat, was confrontational with the umpire and took his time strolling to the baseline as part of his charade. After being penalized and disqualified for his actions, the crowd began jeering and wouldn’t calm down for nearly 20 minutes. The presiding umpire was replaced and Nastase reinstated into the game. He went on to lose the match to the 20-year-old.
“I was tired,” Nastase, told theNew York Timesin 2019. “I was 33 already and not playing much anymore. He was 20. I had to pull out all the tricks.”
Tracy Austin Is the Youngest Person to Win the US Open in 1979
Tracy Austin becomes the youngest person to win the U.S. Open.Art SEITZ/Gamma-Rapho via Getty
Art SEITZ/Gamma-Rapho via Getty
Over the years, the US Open has seen a lot of young talent touch down; Roger Federer made his debut at only 19 years old, while Venus and Serena Williams were both 17. However, the youngest person to ever take home the coveted first-place trophy was Tracy Austin, who won in 1979 at only 16 years old, beating out that year’s favorite to win, Chris Evert.
“I look back at pictures and obviously it’s me, but it feels like so long ago,” she reflected onWFAN in 2017. “I was 16 and so naive. Going against Chris Evert who had won it four or five times already, I would have been overwhelmed if I knew what a big deal it really was.”
She continued, “I went in there just thinking ‘What am I going to have to do to beat Chris today?’ —not how it was going to change my life.”
Steffi Graf Wins the Grand Slam in 1988
Steffi Graff holds her trophy.Bettmann Archive
To this day, she remains the only tennis player in history — male or female — to complete the feat.
Venus & Serena Williams Face-Off in the Finals in 2001
Venus and Serena Williams at the 2001 U.S. Open.Matthew Stockman/Allsport
Matthew Stockman/Allsport
The 2001 US Open women’s singles finals was a benchmark event, not only because it was the first time in 117 years that sisters had faced off, but the matchup had garnered so much fare around it, it became the first US Open women’s singles final tournament to get a primetime slot.
Venusbeat her little sister 6-2, 6-4 to take the first-place prize for the second consecutive year.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Opens
Billie Jean King and USTA President Franklin Johnson pose with her plaque.Ezra Shaw/Getty
Ezra Shaw/Getty
When she retired from tennis in 1984, she had 39 titles to her name with 12 singles titles, 16 women’s doubles titles and 11 mixed doubles titles.
Andre Agassi’s Tearful Retirement
Andre Agassi retires.Ezra Shaw/Getty
Many men and women have been known to cry on the center court of the Arthur Ashe Stadium and in 2006, it was Andre Agassi.
With an ankle injury and back issues hindering him from playing his best, Agassi shed heartfelt tears as he was forced to retire from the game he had dominated for the better part of two decades. After falling 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 to Benjamin Becker, Agassi gave one of the most emotional speeches ever delivered in the tournament.
“The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn’t say is what it is I have found,” the then 36-year-oldsaid through tears. “Over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty, you have pulled for me on the court, and also in life. I’ve found inspiration, you’ve willed me to succeed, sometimes in my lowest moments and I’ve found generosity.”
He continued to address the cheering crowd, saying, “You’ve given me your shoulders to stand on, to reach for my dreams — dreams I could’ve never reached without you. Over the last 21 years, I have found you and I will take you and the memory of being with you for the rest of my life. Thank you. "
Roger Federer Snags His Fifth Consecutive US Open Trophy
Roger Federer kisses his trophy.Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty
Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty
The road leading up to the 2008 finals was a tough one forRoger Federer. He had contracted mononucleosis, which slowed his game and saw him lose to archnemesis, Rafael Nadal in both the French Open and Wimbledon that year.
Del Potro’s Shocking Victory Over Roger Federer
Juan Martin del Potro holds trophy after defeating Roger Federer.EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty
It seemed the 2009 finals were an easy open road for Federer to take home his sixth US Open title, but 20-year-old Juan Martin del Potro wasn’t having it. Going into the match, the towering Argentine had a 0-6 record against Roger Federer and had already lost to him thrice that same year, per theUS Open official website.
Not letting the odds get him down, del Potro clinched on, fought and managed to push the reigning champ to five sets. The 20-year-old first-time Grand Slam finalist shocked the world when he beat the indomitable Swiss 3–6, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–2.
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Kim Clijsters Brings Her Adorable Daughter to the Court
Kim Clijsters with daughter Jada.Julian Finney/Getty
Julian Finney/Getty
On the women’s court the same year, Kim Clijsters gave us what’s possibly the most adorable moment in US Open history.
In 2007, the then-23-year-old tennis champ stepped away from the game in order to concentrate a bit more on her family. She came back to the game of tennis in 2009 after having welcomed her first child in 2008. Coming into the US Open finals against Caroline Wozniacki, Clijsters was a wild card pick, having played only two tournaments up till then. She won 7-5, 6-3.
During the trophy presentation, Clijsters' daughter, 18-month-old Jada, ran down to the court and marveled at Mama’s trophy. The moment naturally tugged at all the spectators' hearts.
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world being a mother,” the Clijsters said while accepting her trophy, perthe US Open. “This is something in my wildest dreams I could never have imagined happening.”
According to the official US Open website, the win secured the Belgium native as the first wild card and the first unseeded player to win a US Open women’s singles title in the Open Era; she became the first mother to win the US Open since Margaret Court did so in 1973 and she was the first mom to take a Grand Slam singles title in almost three decades.
Rafael Nadal Completes Career Grand Slam
Rafael Nadal takes a bite at his trophy.Matthew Stockman/Getty
Matthew Stockman/Getty
At only 24 years old,Rafael Nadalcompleted a feat most players only dream of accomplishing — winning all four majors in the tournament. By the time he walked away from the center court in 2010, the legendarily swift Spaniard had a Wimbledon title, Australian Open title, French Open title and the US Open title to wrap up what’s known as a Career Grand Slam.
According toTennis Majors, Nadal “was the youngest player in the Open Era to achieve that feat, and he was only the third player — after Andre Agassi and Roger Federer — to triumph in four Grand Slams on four different surfaces.”
Novak Djokovic’s Major Comeback in the 2011 Semifinals
Novak Djokovic celebrates after beating Federer.Mike Powell /Sports Illustrated via Getty
Mike Powell /Sports Illustrated via Getty
The following year, the odds once again seemed to be in Roger Federer’s favor as spectators and fans wished for the Swiss legend to finally snag that elusive sixth trophy. Unfortunately, a tenacious Novak Djokovic stood in the way.
After being down two sets, the Serbian not only managed to turn his game around and give a better performance, but he went on to win the entire match, besting Federer 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. He would move on to the finals, where he beat defending champ Rafael Nadal to win the entire tournament.
The US Open trophy would be Djokovic’s third major tournament trophy that year, as he won the Wimbledon and Australian Open prizes too.
Serena Williams Wins Her Sixth US Open Trophy
Serena Williams smiling.STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty
STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty
In the 2014 finals,Serena Williamswent up against one of her closest friends, Caroline Wozniacki. And while that may be a challenge for some, Williams did what she had to do and brought her fiery A-game. She ousted the Danish supernova 6–3, 6–3 to clench her sixth US Open trophy, tying Chris Evert’s record.
Serena Williams Ends Her 25-Year Long Career
Serena Williams waves to the crowd after playing her last match at the U.S. Open.Al Bello/Getty
Al Bello/Getty
All eyes were on Serena Williams when she walked into the Billie Jean King National Center for Tennis to face off against Ajla Tomljanovic on Sept. 2, 2022. Aninjured Williams was reportedly considering retirement, and fans hoped she could close out her storied career on a high note — but Tomljanovic ultimately took the “W,” beating Serena 7-5, 6-7, 6-1.
At the end of the match, the 23-time Grand Slam winner gave anemotional farewell speechto the game. “I just thank everyone that’s here, that’s been on my side for so many years. Decades! Literally decades,” she said. “But it all started with my parents and they deserve everything so I’m really grateful for them.”
She also gave a shout-out to her big sister, saying, “I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus. So, thank you, Venus. She’s the only reason Serena Williams ever existed.”
The tennis champhas clarified that she’s “not retired” but for the time being is “evolving away from tennis"and towards other pursuits at the moment, including expanding her family: The tennis iconjust became a mom of twoafter welcoming her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian.
source: people.com
