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The Sunday following Labor Day has earned a special place on the American sports calendar. The US Open men's singles final, held annually on that day, marks the culmination of a two-week test of athletic skill, stamina and nerves.
Last year's men's final was reminiscent of previous years, with Roger Federer winning once again, this time defeating American Andy Roddick, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Federer is the only man to win both Wimbledon and the US Open three times consecutively. He will attempt to extend this record to four times at the 2007 US Open.
The 2006 Open marked the end of Andre Agassi's storied tennis career. With his 21st and final consecutive appearance at the tournament, Agassi made a miracle run to the third round, only to lose to Benjamin Becker, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5.
As one of only five male players to have won all of the Grand Slam tournaments in his career, eight-time Grand Slam singles title winner Agassi successfully earned himself a place to sit among the elite tennis players of the world. After the final match of his career against Becker, Agassi, overwhelmed with tears, bid his fans adieu with his signature kisses to the crowd.
Over the year's, the men's final has featured some of the biggest names in tennis: Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Agassi, to name a few champions from the Open Era. Spanning the 20th century are winners, like Fred Perry, Don Budge, Jack Kramer, Bill Tilden and Bill Larned. Tilden and Larned still share the record for most men's singles victories (7) with Richard Sears, the first U.S. National Champion.
It also is a day when new stars emerge and past heroes turn back the clock. No two players exemplified that more than Sampras and Agassi, who both gave us their fair share of thrills during their careers. Back in 1990, Pete became the youngest US Open titlist ever, when at just age 19, he beat Agassi, the rising superstar. Then, in 2002, they came full circle, when Pete, at age 32, became the second oldest player to win the title, again upsetting the higher-seeded Andre, his long-time rival.
Thanks to Sampras (five crowns) and Agassi (two titles), the United States dominated the the US Open for several years. Four of Sampras' victories came at the hands of Agassi, while the fifth came over fellow American Michael Chang in a 1996 final that displayed the heart and courage of a true champion, as Pete was dealing with the recent loss of coach and good friend Tim Gullickson. Agassi's second victory in '99 marked one the most entertaining and longest men's finals ever, as he held off a spirited challenge by another American, Todd Martin, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2.
These champions occupy a special place in US Open history, but they are just a part of the roll call of great players who have provided so many memorable moments during the men's singles championship.
Here are just two memorable moments in men's final's history:
- Sept. 7, 1980 - 21-year-old John McEnroe fends off Bjorn Borg to win his second consecutive title by a 7-6, 6-1, 6-7, 5-7, 6-4 margin.
- Sept. 5, 1949 - 21-year-old Pancho Gonzalez needs 67 games - the most ever in a U.S. final - to defeat Ted Schroeder, 16-18, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, for his second straight title.
Of course, not all the memorable moments occur on that certain Sunday in September during the final. Who can forget:
- Sept. 8, 1984 - when the two men's singles semifinals, along with the men's 35 and women's final, go the distance and ~Super Saturday~ is born. Ivan Lendl defeated Pat Cash, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6, in the first men's semifinal, while John McEnroe beat Jimmy Connors, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, in the second semifinal. Play began at 11:07 a.m. and ended at 11:16 p.m.
- August 28, 1991 - In the early hours of the morning (1:35 a.m. to be exact), Jimmy Connors defeated Patrick McEnroe, 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, in one of the most dramatic first-round matches ever at the US Open. Connors, ranked No. 174 and five days shy of his 39th birthday, trailed McEnroe, 4-6, 6-7, 0-3, 0-4, before rallying to victory.
- Sept. 3, 2002 - A record 103 matches were contested, the most ever in a single day at the US Open, including eight matches apiece on Courts 4 and 13.
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