Beyond The Baseline: The US Open Moments That Stuck With Us
As we enter the second half of the US Open, we're looking back at some of our favourite moments from years gone by.
The U.S. Open.
The final Grand Slam of the year.
All eyes are on New York as players return to the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. Scores will be settled; comebacks will be made. But like any slam, it’s still all to play for. Hardcourts often mean a more strategic game, it’s faster than playing on clay, and without the challenges grass throws. Tensions are high, which makes it one of the most exciting tournaments in tennis, and the history of the tournament is just as exciting.
In 1881, the U.S. National Championship began. This was pre-Open Era, meaning all Grand Slams were amateur only, which is how the tournament ran until 1968, when the Open Era began and the U.S. Open as we know it was born. Although not quite as we know it today because until 1974 it was played on grass, then from 1975 to 1977 it was played on clay, and in 1978, it became the hard courts we know and love today. Only one player has won on all three of the tournament’s surfaces, Jimmy Connors. The unique stories like that are the things that truly make the U.S. Open magnificent, so we wanted to share some of our favourite moments.
Andy Murray’s historic 2012 Win
The year is 2012. It’s the summer of British sport. Andy Murray has just won Olympic gold in the men’s singles at London 2012. There’s a quiet intensity heading into the U.S. Open. It’s the first Grand Slam since Murray’s victory at the games, but he’s also not had a great start to the hardcourt season with an injury in Toronto and an early loss in Cincinnati.
The U.S. Open was different though, and Murray found himself in the final of his second grand slam of the year. This time, he was facing Djokovic. It was a dramatic five-set match, the kind of final viewers dream of, and Andy Murray came out of it victorious. Creating a huge moment for British Tennis as Murray became the first British man to win a major since Fred Perry in 1936, and the first British Grand Slam singles champion since Virginia Wade in 1977. This victory also cemented him as part of the “Big Four” in men’s tennis, according to Djokovic and tennis pundits.
Emma Raducanu’s 2021 Win
Nine years later, the U.S. Open was home to another iconic moment in British tennis history. This time in the form of a teenager who was new to professional tennis. Emma Raducanu’s Grand Slam win was nothing short of unexpected. She started the summer ranked 366th, with the U.S. Open being only her fourth tour level event. Yet, she took New York by storm, not dropping a set in three rounds of qualifying and six main-draw matches. In the final she faced fellow teenager, Leylah Annie Fernandez, making history as the first Grand Slam final between teenagers in 22 years. Fernandez had a more challenging ride to the final, winning four three-setters against Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina, and Aryna Sabalenka. However, Raducanu’s straight set streak continued into the final when she won 6-4, 6-3.
This was a monumental victory in women’s tennis as Raducanu shattered records. She became the only woman to win a Grand Slam after two appearances. Raducanu is the first qualifier, man or woman, to win a Grand Slam title, and at 18, she was the youngest Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004. She also became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade in 1977. Emma Raducanu’s U.S. Open story might just be the best underdog story in British sporting history.
Arthur Ashe’s 1968 Win
The 1968 U.S. Open was a historic moment before it even began. It was the first time the tournament was open to both amateurs and professionals, and the first time prize money was on offer. So, when amateur, Arther Ashe, met professional, Tom Okker, in the final the true excitement of Open Era tennis was already captured. Ashe was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, who allowed him to pursue his tennis at full force, even with the ongoing Vietnam War. Between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open that year, Ashe won 27 consecutive matches, so despite his amateur status, he was a player to watch going into the tournament. Arthur Ashe ultimately won the tournament with a 14-12, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory. However, due to his amateur status, Ashe was unable to accept the $14,000 prize money. Although, this was still a landmark moment, not only because it showcased all the Open Era was about, but because Arthur Ashe became the first African-American man to win a major singles title. It was a historic moment in the fight for racial equality in sports, but also in the broader context of the Civil Rights Movement.
As we enter the second week of the tournament, we’re already thinking about what this year’s final could bring. Will there be a straight set win? Will another underdog shock us all? Will it be a historical moment for the game? It’s all up for grabs. One thing we do know is that whatever happens in that final, we’re going to want to get on court.