In anticipation for the 2014 U.S. Open, MyTennisLessons gives you the top 14 moments in the Open’s history. It would have been an impossible task to rank these iconic moments so we listed them in chronological order instead. Each video shows the emotion that past and present tennis icons felt as they captured a title or made history, from Andre Agassi‘s retirement speech to Rafael Nadal’s Career Golden Slam. We hope you enjoy and are looking forward to many more spectacular moments at this year’s Open.
1. The Beginning of an Era, 1968
The year 1968 was not only historic because it marked the beginning of the Open era but also because amateur Arthur Ashe won the championship in five sets, becoming the first black male to win a singles title at any Grand Slam.
2. Young Blood, 1979
At 16, Tracy Austin became the youngest female to win a U.S. Open singles title, defeating the four-time defending champion Chris Evert.
3. The Sweetest Revenge, 1980
After losing to Bjorn Borg in five sets in the final of Wimbledon just a few months earlier, John McEnroe captured one of the greatest wins of his career, defeating Borg 7–6(4), 6–1, 6–7(5), 5–7, 6–4 for the U.S. Open men’s singles title.
4. Coming Up Connors, 1983
Jimmy Connors defeated Ivan Lendl in the men’s singles finals of the U.S. Open in 1982, but his 1983 victory over Lendl made him the first male in 59 years to win five U.S. titles.
5. A Star is Born, 1990
A 19-year-old Sampras became the youngest male to win the U.S. Open, defeating Andre Agassi and capturing his first Grand Slam after turning pro three years before.
6. Rivalry Revamped, 1995
It was the first Grand Slam Monica Seles entered after she was stabbed by a deranged Steffi Graf fan in 1993. After losing the first set in a tie-breaker, Seles crushed Graf 6-0 in the second, but Graf captured the final set, earning her fourth U.S. Open women’s singles title.
7. New Kid on the Block, 1997
In the youngest ever Grand Slam final, 16-year-old Martina Hingis beat 17-year-old Venus Williams in straight sets. Williams made history by becoming the first U.S. Open debut finalist in 19 years, the first African-American finalist in 25 years and the first unseeded finalist in 39 years.
8. An American’s Return to the Top, 1998
Lindsay Davenport won her first Grand Slam against Hingis, who was ranked no. 1 in the world at the time. In the process Davenport became the first American woman to win the women’s singles title since 1982.
9. Sister vs. Sister, 2001
More than 22 million television viewers watched Venus beat younger sister Serena 6-2, 6-4 in the women’s final, their first of many U.S. Open meetings.
10. Andy’s Grand Slam, 2003
At 21, Andy Roddick earned his first and only Grand Slam, clinching the win with three consecutive aces against Juan Carlos Ferrero. He remains the last American male to win a Grand Slam singles title.
11. Clijsters’ Comeback, 2005
After four Grand Slam singles finals, Kim Clijsters won her first title against Mary Pierce, dropping just three games.
12. Agassi Says “Adieu”
Agassi’s heartfelt goodbye to the U.S. Open crowd after his last ever match is one tennis fans remember fondly.
13. Federer’s Fifth, 2008
Roger Federer broke the record for most consecutive men’s singles Open titles, earning his fifth with a win over Andy Murray.
14. Nadal Gives His All, 2010
Rafael Nadal made history with his five set triumph over Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles finals. With the win, Nadal became the third player to win all four Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic medal as well as the first male player to win Grand Slams on all three surfaces within the same year.
