The US Open finals have seen some epic battles over the years. Each year, Flushing Meadows witnesses some intense showdowns, with players pushing their limits to achieve their dream of a Grand Slam glory.
From marathon matches to nail-biting finishes, the US Open brings out the best out of the players, capturing the hearts of millions of fans watching worldwide.
Let us take a look at the top 5 US Open finals listed by USOTC
5. Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka – 2012
The 2012 edition of the US Open saw World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka do battle against World No. 5 and America’s very own Serena Williams. The American took early command of the match, breaking Azarenka’s very first game to take the first set comfortably 6-2. The Belarusian replied in a fascinating style, hitting some breathtaking winners and eventually taking the 2nd set 6-2 to set up a 3rd set showdown.
In the final set, Azarenka was on the brink of victory as she led the set by 5-3 while on serve but somehow managed to bottle her lead, handing American the win by 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. This was Williams’ fourth US Open singles title and her 15th major singles title overall.
4. Martina Navratilova vs Chris Evert – 1984
The Navratilova-Evert rivalry in the 1970s and 1980s is regarded as the most fierce rivalry in women’s tennis. After meeting in three Grand Slam finals in 1978, 1981, and 1982, the pair met again at the US Open 1984 final at the Flushing Meadows. Coming into the final Navratilova was on a 54-match winning streak, one shy of Evert’s then Open Era record 55-match winning streak.
It was Evert who took the first set comfortably by 6-4 and led the second set 4-2. But Navratilova rallied back, breaking the opponent’s serve twice in a row to win the second set 6-4.
In the final set, Evert looked set to take home the Championship, leading Navratilova by 5-3 but a late rally from the defending champion which saw her win four consecutive games, made sure that she levelled her opponent’s record of winning 55 matches in a row and taking US Open 1984 title in the process.
3. Andy Murray vs Novak Djokovic – 2012
Andy Murray was regarded as one of the most skillful players in the early 2010s. The Britt won an Olympic gold for his country in 2012 and reached the US Open final in the same year where he went face to face with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.
It was the Britt who took the first set in a tiebreaker that lasted for a record 24 minutes. The rollercoaster second set saw Murray take a 5-2 lead but Djokovic came back by winning 3 games in a row to level the set 5-5. However, Britt held his nerve to hold his server and then break the Serbian to take the set 7-5.
Djokovic came roaring back in the third and fourth set winning 6-2 and 6-3 respectively to set up a fascinating 5th set showdown. Murray started strong in the final set breaking Djokovic twice in a row to take a 5-2 lead and eventually take the set 6-2 and win the final 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2.
The match lasted for 4 hours and 54 minutes which is a joint record for the longest US Open men’s final in history along with the 1988 US Open final played by Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander.
2. Steffi Graf vs Monica Seles – 1995
The 1995 US Open women’s final saw Steffi Graf face Monica Sales in the final. Graf came into the final with an injured foot suffered in the build-up to the final. The pair matched each other in the first set and it was the German who took the set courtesy of a tie-break win.
Graf was a pretty much spectator in the second set with Seles not giving her an inch, taking the set 6-0. But the German regained her composure in the final set, taking a 3-1 lead and holding on to win her third Grand Slam title in a row. The final score read 7–6, 0–6, 6–3.
1. John McEnroe vs Björn Borg – 1981
McEnroe-Borg rivalry was one of the biggest rivalries in tennis in the 1970s and 1980s. The two finest players of their generation met at the 1981 US Open final much to the delight of the fans worldwide. Borg got off to a brilliant start in the final, breaking his opponent early to take the first set 4-6.
Borg’s game dropped significantly from the second set with continuous unforced errors and double faults. McEnroe capitalized on the mistakes and took the second set 6-2. Borg tried to fight back in the 3rd and 4th set but it wasn’t enough to deny the American his 3rd US Open title. The match ended 4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–3.
Borg ended up retiring after this defeat, leaving the court before the trophy ceremony.
Read More: Most US Open Titles in Women’s Singles
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.
