US OPEN over the last two Decades

Hello, welcome once again to my Blog. Today, I am gonna write about the US Open as seen by me during the last two decades 🙂

 

Well, must confess that since the Time Difference between New York & India is 9:30 Hours, so, it becomes really difficult to keep track of US open, but, still I have burnt enough Mid Night Oil in seeing many-2 Finals of the year’s Last Grand Slam 🙂

 

So, here’s my analysis of the last 20 US Open Championships :::

 

1990 ::  The Start of Golden Era of Pete Sampras & Start of Agassi Sampras rivalry @ Grand Slams

 

Must confess that I have very-2 faded memory of 1990 championship as I was quite young then, thou, I remember a few shots of the Semi Final between Agassi and Becker.

 

Defending Champion Becker congratulating Agassi after losing to him in the Semi-Final at US OPEN 1990…

 

Also, 1990 US OPEN championships marked the starting of the most famous rivalry between ANDRE AGASSI & PETE SAMPRAS..

 

On 9 th September – 1990, Sampras defeated Agassi in an absolutely one sided final 6-4 6-3 6-2 … This was Sampras’s first grand slam title..

 

Young Pete Sampras & Young Andre Agassi after the US OPEN 1990 FINAL…..

 

Pete Sampras posing with his first Grand Slam after winning the US OPEN 1990…

 

Surely, Sampras proved this true by winning his first Grand Slam at the age of 19….  If this Illustrated magazine had any idea as to what Sampras was going to achieve in the next 12  years, they would have written a Super Star is Born 🙂 !!!!!!!!!

 

Also, 1990 US Open will be remembered because it was the only Singles Grand Slam title that Gabriela Sabatini managed to win..

 

The Young 20 year old Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina posing with her 1st and only grand slam Title after defeating Steffi Graf 6–2, 7–6 in the US OPEN final on 8th September 1990……….

 

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1991 ::  Most Remembered for Sampras’s comments & Jimmy Conors heroics

 

Unfortunately, this year Agassi lost in the 1st Round..

 

My memories of 1991 includes:

 

The most bizzare comment by Pete Sampras after losing to Jim Courier. After losing in the Quarter Final, Peter had famously or non famously said that he’s happy after losing the match as it was becoming difficult for him to handle the pressure of being the defending champion 🙂

 

Also, can never forget the heroics of Jimmy Connors. Then, he was aged 39 years old and got a wild card and still managed to reach the Semi Finals where in, he lost to Jim Courier.

 

The Legend Jimmy Connors reacts after winning his Quarter Final of US OPEN, 1991 at the age of 39

 

The Final was between STEFAN EDBERG from SWEDEN and JIM COURIER on 8th September, 1991..

 

Stefan Edberg won the US OPEN, 1991 title 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 by beating the young Jim Courier..

 

Stefan Edberg with the US OPEN 1991 trophy

 

Young Jim Courier congratulating the 1991 champion STEFAN EDBERG.

 

In another big result, Monica Seles won her 1st US open by defeating Martina Navratilova 7-6, 6-1 on 8th September, 1991

 

 

Seles with Navratilova at US OPEN FINAL, 1991

 

Also, Leander paes of India won the Boys Singles at the 1991 US OPEN…

 

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1992 ::  Continuation of the EDBERG domination

 

My memories of the 1992 US Open include the historic longest ever semi final played on 11th September 1992 between Edberg and Micheal Chang which Edberg won 6-7 , 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4….

 

Agassi unfortunately lost to Jim Courier in the Quarter Final..

 

The final of 1992 US Open was between Stefan Edberg and Pete Sampras played on September 13th, 1992…

 

Edberg defeated Sampras 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-2

 

The Legendary Stefan Edberg kisses the Trophy after defeating Pete Sampras to win the US OPEN, 1992…….

 

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1993 ::  Sampras the Star continues his Era


Agassi unfortunately lost in the Round-1 ………….

 

Pete Sampras won his second US OPEN on September 12 th, 1993…………

 

He defeated Cedric Pioline in the Final 6-4, 6-3, 6-3…………

 

Sampras posing after winning his second US Open title on 12 th September, 1993 ………..

 

 

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1994 ::  Agassi becomes the first unseeded Man in the Open Era to win US Open

 

Sampras lost in the 4th Round to Jaime Yzaga…….

 

Andre Agassi had a mediocre year & he wasn’t seeded in 1994….

 

Still, he displayed his best Tennis & went on to become the First Unseeded Man in the Open Era by defeating Michael Stich 6-1, 7-6 (5), 7-5 on September 11th, 1994………………

 

Agassi posing with his first US Open Championship Title on 11th September, 1994 …………….

 

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1995 ::   Year of Sampras Agassi Rivalry

 

1995 saw one of the most fantastic finals.. Sampras & Agassi both were in prime forms. If Sampras’s pistol speed service could destroy any defence, Agassi’s returns could virtually match any fast moving pistol…..

 

I still remember having seen the Final Match on 10th September, 1995….

 

It was an awesome match with both Players matching shot for shot…

 

Finally, Sampras won in the most intense battle defeating Agassi 6-4, 6-3, 4-6 , 7-5………………….

 

 

Agassi congratulating Sampras after Sampras defeated him to win the US OPEN, 1995……….

 

PETE SAMPRAS posing with the trophy After winning US OPEN 1995

 

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1996:   Year of Controversy in Seeding and Sampras continuing his Era

 

1996 will always be remembered for the controversial decision of USTA to give higher seeding to US players.

The 1996 US Open men’s singles draw had a highly controversial seeding dispute. There were accusations of American favouritism as world number 3, Michael Chang, and world number 8, Andre Agassi, were seeded above their world ranking at numbers 2 and 6 respectively. Other players seeded above their world ranking included world number 6, Goran IvaniÅ¡evi?, being seeded at number 4 and Richard Krajicek, the world number 7, being seeded at number 5.

Some other players were seeded below their world ranking, including world number 2, Thomas Muster, who was seeded at number 3, Boris Becker, the world number 5, seeded at number 6, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the world number 4, seeded at number 7. Becker pulled out of the tournament with an injury and Kafelnikov was so angry at his seeding demotion that he withdrew from the tournament in protest and flew home to Russia…

 

Sampras, Chang & Agassi & Ivanisevic reached the Semis…….

 

Agassi lost in the Semis to Michael Chang on 6th September, 1996 in straight sets…..

 

While Sampras defeated Ivanisevic in the other Semi Final in 4 sets…

 

In the Final played on 6th September, 1996 , Sampras defeated Michael Chang 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (3)……….

 

Sampras posing after winning the US OPEN 1996

 

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1997 ::  The year of Patrick Rafter

 

The Unseeded Agassi lost to Patrick rafter in Round 4th in 4 sets…

 

While  Sampras also lost in the 4th Round to Petr Korda in five intriguing sets…

 

The Final was between Patrick Rafter and Greg Rusedski on 7th September, 1997 and Rafter defeated  Rusedski 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5

 

Patrick rafter posing after winning his 1st US Open title in 1997..

 

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1998 ::  Another Year of Rafter magic

 

Agassi once again lost in the 4th Round, this time to K Kucera in 5 sets

 

While Sampras lost to Rafter in the Semis in 5 tough sets..

 

The final was between Patrick Rafter and his fellow countryman Mark Philippoussis on 13th September, 1998…..

 

 

Rafter defeated Mark Philippoussis 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 on 13th September  1998 to win his 2nd Consecutive US Open…

 

 

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1999::  The Year of Agassi :)))))))))))))

 

Sampras withdrew from this year championship because of Back Problems..

 

Agassi displayed some of the best Tennis to reach the Final where he played Todd Martin…

 

Agassi posing with the US OPEN trophy after winning his second US OPEN after defeating TODD MARTIN 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2 in 5 tough Sets on 12 th September, 1999.…………….

 

After winning the US OPEN title, Agassi became the Number 1 after 6 consecutive years of Sampras being the Number 1…….

 

The Indian express duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi reached their 1st US OPEN MENS DOUBLES FINAL where they lost, but won many hearts..

 

Also, Mahesh Bhupathi & his Japanese partner Sugiyama won the Mixed Doubles Title that year 🙂

 

Mahesh bhupathi & Ai Sugiyama posing after winning the US OPEN Mixed doubles championship on 12th September, 1999………….

 

 

It was an all American year as the Young Serena Williams also won the Ladies championship in US OPEN , 1999. So, the then US PRESIDENT CLINTON Meeting Agassi & Serena Williams in the WHITE HOUSE in September 1999…

 

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2000 :::::::::::   The Year of Marat Safin !!!!!!!

 

Agassi unfortunately lost in the 2nd Round to A. clement..

 

While Roger Federer playing his 1st US OPEN in 2000 lost in the 3rd Round to Juan Carlos Ferrero…

 

The Final was played between the Young Sensation Marat Safin and the Legendary Veteran Pete Sampras…

 

Twenty-year-old Russian Marat Safin defeated four-time champion Pete Sampras 6-4 6-3 6-3 to win the US Open men’s singles championship 2000 for his first Grand Slam title on 11th September-2000 …

 

Young Sensational Marat Safin posing with his 1st and only US OPEN TITLE on 11th September 2000

 

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2001 ::: The Year of Lleyton Hewitt & another Heart Break for Sampras

Roger federer lost to Andre Agassi in the 4th Round 6-1, 6-2, 6-4..

 

While Andre Agassi lost to Pete Sampras in 4 sets in the Quarter Final played on 5th September, 2001… The Beauty of this match was that all 4 sets went to Tie-Breakers and there were no Break of serves at all

 

The Young sensational Lleyton Hewitt displayed some awesome tennis and set up the Final clash with Sampras…

 

Lleyton Hewitt played an Awesome Final to Defeat Pete Sampras 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-1 to win hi first US Open Title on September 9th 2001 at the age of 20…

 


 

After winning the US OPEN , 2001 at the Age of 20, Lleyton Hewitt became the youngest man in the history of ATP rankings to be Number one…

 

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2002 ::   Last Hurray for the Great Sampras & Last Match of Sampras Agassi Rivalry  !!!!!!!!!!

 

Fedex lost in the Round 4th to Max Mirnyi….

 

Going into the 2002 US Open, Sampras was generally regarded as a spent force having crashed out of Wimbledon in Round Two to an unknown 145th-ranked Swiss.

 

Thou, Agassi was in fine form and Sampras stunned every one to reach the Final and set up a clash with his Arch rival Andre Agassi……

However, Sampras  thrilled the home crowds at Flushing Meadow by beating old adversary Andre Agassi in the final in what turned out to be his last-ever tournament…

 

Pete Sampras displayed awesome display of his prime form by Defeating Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 on 8th September, 2002 to win his 14th and his last Grand Slam……………..

 

Pete Sampras, the great champion kissing his last Grand Slam:)

 

 

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2003 :: The Year of Andy Roddick and the most emotional Retirement ceremony of Sampras!!!

 

Firstly, a few pics of his emotional retirement ceremony

 

 

 

SAMPRAS with Boris becker and Jim Courier

 

Crying Bridgette Wilson ( wife of Pete Sampras ) with their 1st Son named Christian Charles

 

Crying Bridgette Wilson ( wife of Pete Sampras ) with their 1st Son named Christian Charles

 

PETE SAMPRAS waving to the Crowd with his 8 month son Christian Charles

 

 

Roger federer lost to David Nalbandian in the 4th Round…

 

Rafael Nadal playing his first US Open lost in the 2nd Round…

 

Andre Agassi lost in the Semi Final to Juan Carlos Ferrero..

 

The Final was between the Young Sensation Andry Roddick and Juan Carlos Ferrero…

 

 

Andy roddick defeated J.C. FERRERO 6-3 , 7-6 (2), 6-3 on 7th September 2003 to win his first US open Title

 

This victory ensured that Roddick too reached the number 1 ATP ranking..

 

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2004 : Starting of Federer Era !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Rafael nadal again lost in the 2nd round…

 

The Match of the championship was the semi Final clash between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi on 10th September, 2004………………

 

Roger defeated Agassi in a tough 5 setter 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 ……….

 

The Final was between Roger federer and Hewitt…

 

KIng Roger federer defeated Hewitt 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-0 to win his first US OPEN TITLE in an one sided final played on 10th September 2004……..

 

 

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2005 ::  The Continuance Of Federer’s dominance

 

If Roger finesse was impressive this year, Agassi’s perseverance was equally impressive. Agassi battled severe pain and had to take injection virtually before every match.

 

The great veteran battled extreme pain and won 3 consecutive matches ( 4th Round, Quarter final, Semi Final of US OPEN , 2005) in tough 5 setters beating Malisse, Blake & Ginepri…

 

Nadal for a change reached 3rd Round and lost to the Wild Card enterant James Blake who had a fabulous 2005 US OPEN….

 

Final was between Roger Federer & Andre Agassi

 

Federer & Agassi with their US Open, 2005 trophies

 

Roger Federer defeated Agassi 6–3, 2–6, 7–6(1), 6–1 on 11th September, 2005 to win his second consecutive US Open and this was to be last Grand Slam final for the Great Andre Agassi…………

 

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2006 :::: Federer’s dominance and the Last Sight of the Great Agassi at US OPEN

 

Andre Agassi had announced before the start of US Open that he will retire after US Open, 2006…………

 

Still, he some how managed to win the 1st two rounds in spite of extreme pain.. In the 2nd round, he defeated Baghdatis in tough 5 sets…

 

His last match happened to be against the German qualifier Becker..

 

Agassi lost 5-7, 7-6, 4-6, 5-7 on 3rd September, 2006

 

It was one of the most emotional matches that US Open has ever been privileged to see…

 

Some of the rare pics of that emotional day :::

 

 

 

 

It was so emotional to see Agassi calling it a day after almost 20 years of dominance of fans hearts,…

 

Andre  Agassi & Steffi Graf on Agassi’s retirement day..

 

In other results, the 2nd seeded Nadal reached the Quarter Finals where he lost to Mikhail Youzhny in 4 sets………….

 

Federer continued his fine form and reached finals yet again and set up the title clash with Andy Roddick….

 

 

 

Roger federer defeated Andy Roddick 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on 10th September, 2006 to win his third straight US Open title

 

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2007 ::  Federer’s dominance continues & Rise of Djokovic

 

Rafa lost in the 4th Round to David Ferrer……

 

En route to the Final, Federer had dropped just one set and was in the pinnacle of his forms….

 

Djokovic had a tougher 3rd and 4th round but still was looking in prime form

 

Federer’s reaction after beating Djokovic in the US Open Final, 2007

 

 

Roger Federer won the US OPEN 2007  final 7–6(4), 7–6(2), 6–4, against Novak Djokovic on 9th September, 2007….. This was his fourth successive US OPEN TITLE……..

 

King Roger Federer displaying his US OPEN TROPHY to the crowd @ Times square on 10th September, 2007..

 

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2008 :::::::::: Another year of Federer’s dominance & rise of Andy Murray

 

 

Also, for the first time, Rafael Nadal reached the Semi Finals at US Open where he lost to Andy Murray on 7th September, 2008…….

 

Djokovic lost in the Semi Finals to Roger Federer……

 

The Final was between Andy Murray and Roger Federer

 

Roger Federer was the defending champion, and won  the US OPEN 2008 final 6–2, 7–5, 6–2, against Andy Murray on 8th September, 2008..

 

This was Federer’s fifth consecutive US OPEN TITLE……..

 

 

Roger Federer kissing the US OPEN trophy after winning it for the fourth consecutive time in 2008…….

 

 

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2009 :: The Flawless Del Potro & Federer’s tweeners  & Mom’s day out 🙂

 

 

2009 was the year of Rains.. The entire schedule was badly disrupted due to rains..

 

Also, in the mens draw, Federer , Nadal, Del Potro & Djokovic reached the semi finals.

 

While Murray lost in the 4th Round…

 

Also, I will remember 2009 US Open for Federer’s 2 tweeners :)… The shot between the Legs, one that he played in the 2nd Round & one that he played against Djokovic in the semi final 🙂

 

Roger federer most famous tweener in the 2nd round of US OPEN, 2009 played on 31-AUGUST-2009

 

Federer’s tweener played against NOVAK DJOKOVIC in the US Open Semi Final on 13th September-2009… He won that s/f match 7-6, 7-5, 7-5..

 

Del Potro showing some awesome tennis defeated NADAL 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in an one sided semi final played on 13th September, 2009…………….

 

The Final was set up between ROGER FEDERER and Juan Martín del Potro

 

Because of rains , the Final match scheduled on Sunday 13th September, 2009 had to be played on Monday the 14th September, 2009

Federer had won the FRENCH open and wimbledon that year and had reached the Australian open Final

 

While Del Potro was raw , young & in fine form

 

Federer won the first set 6-3..

 

But Del Potro won the 2nd set tie-breaker 7-5

 

Third set federer won 6-4

 

Del Porto won the fourth set tie breaker 7-4

 

and in the 5th Set, he proved too fit for Federer winning 6-2

 

 

Juan Martín del Potro reacts after defeating Roger Federer in the US OPEN 2009 final, 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–4, 6–7(4), 2–6 on 14th September, 2009.

 

 

 

For a change, Federer didn’t have tears after a final loss as 2009 was the happiest year of his life both personally and Professionally. His wife gave birth to his twin Daughters in July, 2009 🙂

 

In a dramatic result in the Women’s draw, the Mom Kim Clijsters defeated Serena Williams in the semi final on 12th september, 2009…

 

Clijsters won in the final on 13th September 2009 , defeating Caroline Wozniacki to win her 2nd US Open title. Clijsters also became the first unseeded player and wildcard to win the tournament, and the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.

 

Kim Clijsters with her daughter after winning the US OPEN 2009 title at Flushing Meadows ..

 

 

Caroline Wozniacki posing with a smile after losing to Clijsters in the US OPEN 2009 FINAL..

 

Kim Clijsters her daughter and her husband posing with the US OPEN trophy outside Nasdaq at Times Square………..

 

 

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2010::: Year of Rafeal Nadal & Another Mom’s day out 🙂

 

Del Potro withdrew due to an Injury….

 

RAFA, Mikhail Youzhny, FEDERER & Djokovic reached the semis…

 

Rafa had a very easy win over Mikhail Youzhny

 

While in a stunning display of Tennis , Nole defeated Roger in 5 sets on 12th September, 2010 in the semi final…

 

The final was set-up between RAFAEL NADAL & NOVAK DJOKOVIC on 13th September, 2010……………

 

 

 

RAFAEL NADAL posing with the US OPEN 2010 trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 to win his first career US Open title. It was his ninth career major and Nadal completed the Career Golden Slam with the win. Nadal became the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open all in the same calendar year, and became the first male player in history to win Grand Slams on clay, hard court and grass in the same calendar year.

 

 

RAFAEL NADAL & NOVAK DJOKOVIC posing with their trophies after Rafa deafeated Nole on 13th September 2010 to win his 1st US OPEN title in 2010..

 

 

In the ladies draw, Kim Clijsters defended her her 2009 title, after she won 6–2, 6–1, against Vera Zvonareva in the final. This match lasted only one hour on 12th September 2010 to become the champion of US OPEN 2010

 

 

kIM CIJSTERS posing with the US OPEN 2010 trophy with her daughter, yet another Moms day out at the US OPEN 🙂

 

What an accomplishment for Kim to win second consecutive US OPEN 🙂

 

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2011 :::  Please make your guesses 🙂

 

Thanks for reading, do comment which of these years & which amongst of all these great champs, you remember the most ??