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US Open - Flushing Meadows
The United States Open tennis tournament, commonly referred to as the U.S.
Open (or as simply the Open in the U.S. only), is the fourth and final event
of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments. It is held annually in August/September over
a period of two weeks (the weeks prior to and following Labor Day weekend).
US Open History
The U.S. Open originates from two separate tournaments: the men's tournament and
the women's tournament. The event was first held in August 1881 and staged at the
Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island (men's singles only). Only clubs that were
members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter.
The Open Era began in 1968 when all five events were merged into the newly named
"U.S. Open" at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens. Notably,
the 1968 combined tournament was opened to professionals; neither predecessor tournament
allowed professionals to compete. That year 96 men and 63 women entered the event
with prize money amounting to $100,000. In 1978, the event moved from Forest Hills
to its current home at Flushing Meadows.
The main court is located at the 23,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium, named after Arthur
Ashe, the great African American tennis player who won the inaugural men's final
of the U.S. Open in 1968. The surfaces of all its courts are hard, so the U.S. Open
always provides tennis at a very high speed.
The US Open is also unique in that it is the only Grand Slam event where most of
the courts are lit, meaning that TV coverage of the tournament can extend into prime-time
to attract more ratings.
In 2005, all US Open and US Open Series Tennis courts were given blue inner courts
and green outer courts to show uniformity, and to make it easier to see the ball.
This change has been met with mixed reactions from both players and fans, many players
saying that the ball is no easier to see with the blue courts.
The US Open was originally played on grass until Forest Hills switched to hardcourt
in the mid '70s.
List of US Open Men's Singles champions
Here the latest Flushing Meadows winners :
| Year |
Champion |
Runner-up |
Score |
| 1997 |
Patrick Rafter |
Greg Rusedski |
6-3 6-2 4-6 7-5 |
| 1998 |
Patrick Rafter |
Mark Philippoussis |
6-3 3-6 6-2 6-0 |
| 1999 |
Andre Agassi |
Todd Martin |
6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(2)
6-3 6-2 |
| 2000 |
Marat Safin |
Pete Sampras |
6-4 6-3 6-3 |
| 2001 |
Lleyton Hewitt |
Pete Sampras |
7-6(4) 6-1 6-1 |
| 2002 |
Pete Sampras |
Andre Agassi |
6-3 6-4 5-7 6-4 |
| 2003 |
Andy Roddick |
Juan Carlos Ferrero |
6-3 7-6(2) 6-3 |
| 2004 |
Roger Federer |
Lleyton Hewitt |
6-0 7-6(3) 6-0 |
| 2005 |
Roger Federer |
Andre Agassi |
6-3 2-6 7-6(1) 6-1 |
| 2006 |
Roger Federer |
Andy Roddick |
6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 |
| 2007 |
Roger Federer |
Novak Djokovic |
7-6(4) 7-6(2)
6-4 |
| 2008 |
Roger Federer |
Andy Murray |
6-2 7-5 6-2 |
... And don't forget, at the US Open, tennis is always amazing ! ;-)
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