The US Open is one of the four and the final Grand Slam of the tennis calendar played at the Flushing Meadows. The event has seen the rise of some of the sport’s all-time greats, leaving their mark on the iconic hard courts. The Grand Slam has witnessed legends like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Rod Laver, Serena Williams and many more leave their everlasting legacy and motivate the modern era of tennis with their resilience and determination.
Let us take a look at the players with the most Men’s US Open title wins.
6. Novak Djokovic – 4 titles
Novak Djokovic has established himself as one of the greats of tennis. Hailing from a background not traditionally known for tennis, the Serb’s mentality and strategic brilliance prompted him to the highs of sport. Djokovic won a record 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles including 4 US Open titles.
His first US Open title came in 2011 when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the final. In the 2015 final, he defeated Roger Federer to lift the title, and in the 2018 US Open final, Djokovic beat Juan Martín del Potro. The 37-year-old is also the defending champion at Flushing Meadows having won the US Open last year defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final.
5. John McEnroe – 4 titles
John McEnroe was one of the most famous and talked about tennis players in the 1970s and early 1980s thanks to his aggression on the court. He changed the landscape of tennis in the 1970s due to his serve and volley which went on to become one of the most efficient tools in tennis.
McEnroe won 7 Grand Slams in his career including 4 US Open titles. Out of the 4 US Opens, he won 3 of those consecutively in 1979,1980 and 1981 before regaining the title back in 1984. The American’s dominance in his home Grand Slam established his name as one of the tennis all-time greats.
4. Rafael Nadal – 4 titles
Rafael Nadal is the name that turned tennis from being just a sport to one of the most loved sports around the globe. Stepping onto the court in his sleeveless shirt and short pants, Nadal made fans fall in love with his ruthless playing style and never-dying charisma. He unsurprisingly became one of the most successful tennis players in history winning 22 Grand Slams in his career.
The Spaniard won 4 US Open titles in his career. The first two of those came in 2010 and 2013 when he beat Novak Djokovic in both finals followed by US Open 2017 where he defeated Kevin Anderson. He last won at the Flushing Meadows in 2019 beating Daniil Medvedev in the final.
3. Jimmy Connors – 5 titles
Jimmy Connors is another well-celebrated tennis icon in tennis. Connor enjoyed a brilliant tennis career winning 8 Grand Slams in his career. He was widely known for his powerful two-handed backhand which was his signature move throughout his career. Out of his 8 Grand Slams, 5 of those came at his home Grand Slam of Flushing Meadows which was a testament to his domination on the hard court.
Connors’ career was also full of controversy as he was banned from participating in the French Open during his peak years due to his association with World Team Tennis (WTT). Given the form Connors showed on various ATP tournaments on clay courts, he was destined to taste success on Rolland Garros which would have further cemented his legacy as one of the tennis greats.
2. Pete Sampras – 5 titles
Pete Sampras was known as the “Pistol Pete” during his playing days and earned the name for himself thanks to the blistering serves he made. His work ethic and mental toughness helped him to dominate tennis in the 1990s and was one of the most feared opponents on any court. In his career, Sampras won 14 Grand Slams which was a record at the time of his retirement in 2002. His record stood for 9 years until Roger Federer won his 15 Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2009.
Sampras won the US Open five times in his career. He claimed his maiden US Open title at just 19 years old, becoming the youngest men’s champion in the US Open history. He then went on the win his home Grand Slam again in 1993, 1995-96, and 2002.
1. Roger Federer – 5 titles
Roger Federer is arguably the greatest ever player to ever play tennis. He was regarded as the poet of tennis during his playing days thanks to his ability of technical perfection, decision-making, pinpoint serve, and sportsmanship on and off the court. Federer won a total of 20 Grand Slams in his career producing some of the most magical moments and epic battles in the process.
The Swiss legend won 5 US titles in his career which astonishingly came in five consecutive years from 2004 to 2008. Apart from his on-court success, Federer has been equally impressive off it as he became the global ambassador for tennis, inspiring countless young players to take up tennis as their career.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
