US Open (tennis)
Background Information
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| US Open | |
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| Official website | |
| Location | Queens - New York City United States |
| Venue | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre |
| Surface | Grass - outdoors (1881–1974) Clay - outdoors (1975–1977) DecoTurf - outdoors (1978–present) |
| Men's draw | 128S / 128Q / 64D |
| Women's draw | 128S / 96Q / 64D |
| Prize money | US$ $21,016,000 |
| Grand Slam | |
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 2010 US Open (tennis) |
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The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a tennis tournament which is the modern incarnation of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, with the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881. Since 1987, the US Open has been chronologically the fourth and final tennis major comprising the Grand Slam tennis tournament each year. Rafael Nadal is the most recent men's single winner in 2010.
It is held annually in August and September over a two-week period (the weeks before and after Labor Day weekend). The main tournament consists of five different event championships: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, with additional tournaments for senior, junior, and wheelchair players. Since 1978, the tournament has been played on acrylic hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City.
The US Open is unique in that there are final-set tiebreaks; in the other three Grand Slam tournaments, the deciding set (fifth for men, third for women) continues until it is won by two games.
History
The US Open has grown from an exclusive entertainment event for high society to a championship for more than 600 male and female professional players who, as of 2008, compete for total prize money of over US$21 million, with $1.5 million for each winner of the singles tournaments.
In the first few years of the United States National Championship, only men competed, and only in singles competition. The tournament was first held in August 1881 at the Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island and in that first year only clubs that were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter. From 1884 through 1911, the tournament used a challenge system whereby the defending champion automatically qualified for the next year's final. In 1915, the tournament moved to the West Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills, New York. From 1921 through 1923, it was played at the Germantown Cricket Club in Philadelphia and returned to Forest Hills in 1924.
Six years after the men's nationals were first held, the first official U.S. Women's National Singles Championship was held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in 1887, followed by the U.S. Women's National Doubles Championship in 1889. The first U.S. Mixed Doubles Championship was held alongside the women's singles and doubles. The first U.S. National Men's Doubles Championship was held in 1900. Tournaments were held in the east and the west of the country to determine the best two teams, which competed in a play-off to see who would play the defending champions in the challenge round.
The open era began in 1968 when all five events were merged into the US Open, held at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York. The 1968 combined tournament was open to professionals for the first time. That year, 96 men and 63 women entered the event, and prize money totaled $100,000 ($668,325 in current dollar terms).
In 1970, the US Open became the first of the Grand Slam tournaments to use a tiebreak at the end of a set. The US Open is also the only Grand Slam that continues to use the tiebreak in the 5th set. All the other three grand slams play it out with service games in the 5th set.
Jimmy Connors is the only individual to have won US Open singles titles on all three surfaces, while Chris Evert is the only woman to win on two surfaces. The DecoTurf surface at the US Open is a fast surface, having slightly less friction and producing a lower bounce compared to other hard courts (most notably the Rebound Ace surface formerly used at the Australian Open). For this reason, many serve-and-volley players have found success at the US Open.
The main court is located at the 22,547-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium, opened in 1997. It is named after Arthur Ashe, the African American tennis player who won the men's final of the inaugural US Open in 1968. The next largest court is Louis Armstrong Stadium, opened in 1978, extensively renovated from the original Singer Bowl. It was the main stadium from 1978–96, and its peak capacity neared 18,000 seats, but was reduced to 5,500 after the opening of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The third largest court is the Grandstand Stadium, attached to the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Sidecourts 4, 7, and 11 each have a seating capacity of over 1,000.
All the courts used by the US Open are lighted, meaning that television coverage of the tournament can extend into prime time to attract higher ratings. This has recently been used to the advantage of the USA Network on cable and especially for CBS, the American broadcast television outlet for the tournament for many years, which used its influence to move the women's singles final to Saturday night to draw better television ratings.
In 2005, all US Open (and US Open Series) tennis courts were given blue inner courts to make it easier to see the ball on television; the outer courts remained green.
The USTA National Tennis Center was renamed in honour of four-time tournament champion and tennis pioneer Billie Jean King during the 2006 US Open.
Player challenges of line calls
In 2006, the US Open was changed to implement instant replay reviews of calls, using the Hawk-Eye computer system. Each player was allowed three challenges per set plus one additional challenge during a tiebreak. The player keeps all existing challenges if the challenge is successful. If the challenge is unsuccessful and the original ruling is upheld, the player loses a challenge. Instant replay was initially available only on the stadium courts (Ashe and Armstrong), until it became available on the Grandstand in 2009.
Once a challenge is made, the official review (a 3-D computer simulation based on multiple high-speed video cameras) is shown to the players, umpires, and audience on the stadium video boards and to the television audience at the same time. The system is said to be accurate to within five millimetres.
During the 2006 US Open, 30.5% of men's challenges and 35.85% of women's challenges were overturned. During the 2007 US Open, 95 challenges were overturned - or 30.6%.
In 2007, JP Morgan Chase renewed its sponsorship of the US Open. As part of its sponsorship arrangement, Chase renamed the tournament's replay system the "Chase Review" on in-stadium video and television.
Grounds
The DecoTurf surface at the US Open is a fast surface, having slightly less friction and producing a lower bounce compared to other hard courts (most notably the Rebound Ace surface formerly used at the Australian Open). For this reason, many serve-and-volley players have found success at the US Open.
The main court is located at the 22,547-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium, opened in 1997. It is named after Arthur Ashe, the African American tennis player who won the men's final of the inaugural US Open in 1968. The next largest court is Louis Armstrong Stadium, opened in 1978, extensively renovated from the original Singer Bowl. It was the main stadium from 1978–96, and its peak capacity neared 18,000 seats, but was reduced to 5,500 after the opening of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The third largest court is the Grandstand Stadium, attached to the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Sidecourts 4, 7, and 11 each have a seating capacity of over 1,000.
All the courts used by the US Open are lighted, meaning that television coverage of the tournament can extend into prime time to attract higher ratings. This has recently been used to the advantage of the USA Network on cable and especially for CBS, the American broadcast television outlet for the tournament for many years, which used its influence to move the women's singles final to Saturday night to draw better television ratings.
In 2005, all US Open (and US Open Series) tennis courts were given blue inner courts to make it easier to see the ball on television; the outer courts remained green.
The USTA National Tennis Center was renamed in honour of four-time tournament champion and tennis pioneer Billie Jean King during the 2006 US Open.
Prize money
The total prize money for the 2008 US Open (in US dollars) is divided as follows:
Singles (men & women - 128 player draws)
| Winners (2009) | $1,600,000 |
| Runners-up (2009) | $800,000 |
| Semifinalists (2009) | $400,000 |
| Quarterfinalists (2009) | $175,000 |
| Round of 16 | $80,000 |
| Third Round | $48,000 |
| Second Round | $31,000 |
| First Round | $19,000 |
| Total | $17,320,000 |
Doubles (Per Team, Men & Women - 64 Draws)
| Winners | $420,000 |
| Runners-Up | $210,000 |
| Semifinalists | $105,000 |
| Quarterfinalists | $50,000 |
| Round of 16 | $25,000 |
| Second Round | $15,000 |
| First Round | $10,000 |
| Total | $1,800,000 ($3,600,000) |
Mixed Doubles (Per Team - 32 Draws)
| Winners | $180,000 |
| Runners-Up | $90,000 |
| Semifinalists | $30,000 |
| Quarterfinalists | $15,000 |
| Second Round | $10,000 |
| First Round | $5,000 |
| Total | $500,000 |
Men's and Women's Qualifying (128 Draws)
| Third Round Losers (16) | $8,000 |
| Second Round Losers (32) | $5,625 |
| First Round Losers (64) | $3,000 |
| Total | $500,000 ($1,000,000) |
Totals
| Total Championship Events | $19,200,000 |
| Total for Champions Invitational | $385,000 |
| Player per diem | $1,072,000 |
| Total Player Compensation | $20,657,000 |
Champions
Past champions
- Men's Singles
- Women's Singles
- Men's Doubles
- Women's Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
- Singles Finals
Current champions
| Event | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Men's Singles |  Rafael Nadal |
 Novak Djokovic |
6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 2010 Women's Singles |  Kim Clijsters |
 Vera Zvonareva |
6–2, 6–1 |
| 2010 Men's Doubles | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan |
 Rohan Bopanna Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi |
7–6, 7–6 |
| 2010 Women's Doubles | Vania King Yaroslava Shvedova |
Liezel Huber Nadia Petrova |
2–6, 6–4, 7–6(4) |
| 2010 Mixed Doubles | Liezel Huber Bob Bryan |
 Květa Peschke Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi |
6–4, 6–4 |
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Rafael Nadal won the title over Novak Djokovic in 2010. It was his first US Open title, and ninth slam overall for his career. This win, along with Andre Agassi, made Nadal one of two players to complete a Golden Slam - all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic Gold Medal in singles play. Lastly, this win was his third slam of the year to go along with his French Open and Wimbledon triumphs.
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Kim Clijsters won the title over Vera Zvonareva in 2010. This is the third slam title of her career, and the third US Open Women's Singles title. Additionally, Clijsters became the first woman to repeat as champion since Venus Williams in 2001.
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Bob Bryan part of the winning men's doubles team in 2010. This is his ninth men's doubles slam title of his career, and third US Open Men's Doubles title. Also, the second men's doubles slam of the year with the Australian title.
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Mike Bryan part of the winning men's doubles team in 2010. This is his ninth men's doubles slam title of his career, and third US Open Men's Doubles title. Also, the second men's doubles slam of the year with the Australian title.
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Vania King part of the winning women's doubles team in 2010. This is her second women's doubles slam title of her career, and first US Open Women's Doubles title. Also, this is the second women's doubles slam title of the year, along with the Wimbledon title.
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Yaroslava Shvedova part of the winning women's doubles team in 2010. This is her second women's doubles slam title of her career, and first US Open Women's Doubles title. Also, this is the second women's doubles slam title of the year, along with Wimbledon title.
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Liezel Huber part of the winning mixed doubles team in 2010. This is her second mixed doubles slam title of her career. Also, this was her first mixed doubles title at the US Open.
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Bob Bryan part of the winning mixed doubles team in 2010. This is his seventh mixed doubles slam title of his career. Also, this title marked the fourth-time Bob won the mixed doubles at the US Open.
Records
| Record | Era | Player(s) | Count | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men since 1881 | ||||
| Winner of most Men's Singles titles |
Before 1968: | Richard Sears Bill Larned Bill Tilden |
7 | 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 1901, 1902, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1929 |
| After 1967: | Jimmy Connors Pete Sampras Roger Federer |
5 | 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
|
| Winner of most consecutive Men's Singles titles |
Before 1968: | Richard Sears |
7 | 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 |
| After 1967: | Roger Federer |
5 | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 | |
| Winner of most Men's Doubles titles |
Before 1968: | Richard Sears James Dwight |
6 | 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 |
| After 1967: | Bob Lutz Stan Smith John McEnroe |
4 | 1968, 1974, 1978, 1980 1968, 1974, 1978, 1980 1979, 1981, 1983, 1989 |
|
| Winner of most consecutive Men's Doubles titles |
Before 1968: | Richard Sears James Dwight |
6 | 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 |
| After 1967: |  Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
2 | 1995, 1996 1995, 1996 |
|
| Winner of most Mixed Doubles titles - Men |
Before 1968: | Bill Tilden Bill Talbert |
4 | 1913, 1914, 1922, 1923 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946 |
| After 1967: | Todd Woodbridge Bob Bryan |
3 | 1990, 1993, 2001 2003, 2004, 2006 |
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| Winner of most Championships (total: singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles) - Men |
Before 1968: | Bill Tilden |
16 | 1913–1929 (7 singles, 5 men's doubles, 4 mixed doubles) |
| After 1967: | John McEnroe |
8 | 1979–1989 (4 singles, 4 men's doubles) | |
| Women since 1887 | ||||
| Winner of most Women's Singles titles |
Before 1968: |  / Molla Bjurstedt Mallory |
8 | 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1926 |
| After 1967: | Chris Evert |
6 | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982 | |
| Winner of most consecutive Women's Singles titles |
Before 1968: | / Molla Bjurstedt Mallory Helen Jacobs |
4 | 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 |
| After 1967: | Chris Evert |
4 | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 | |
| Winner of most Women's Doubles titles |
Before 1968: | Margaret Osborne duPont |
13 | 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1957 |
| After 1967: | Martina Navrátilová |
9 | 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 | |
| Winner of most consecutive Women's Doubles titles |
Before 1968: | Margaret Osborne duPont |
10 | 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 |
| After 1967: | Virginia Ruano Pascual Paola Suárez |
3 | 2002, 2003, 2004 2002, 2003, 2004 |
|
| Winner of most Mixed Doubles titles - Women |
All-time: | Margaret Osborne duPont Margaret Court |
8 | 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1958, 1959, 1960 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972 |
| Before 1968: | Margaret Osborne duPont |
8 | 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1958, 1959, 1960 | |
| After 1967: | Margaret Court Billie Jean King Martina Navrátilová |
3 | 1969, 1970, 1972 1971, 1973, 1976 1985, 1987, 2006 |
|
| Winner of most Championships (total: singles, women's doubles, mixed doubles) - women |
All-time: | Margaret Osborne duPont Margaret Court |
25 18 |
1941–1960 (3 singles, 13 women's doubles, 9 mixed doubles) 1961-1975 (5 singles, 5 women's doubles, 8 mixed doubles) |
| Before 1968: | Margaret Osborne duPont |
25 | 1941–1960 (3 singles, 13 women's doubles, 9 mixed doubles) | |
| After 1967: | Martina Navrátilová |
16 | 1977–2006 (4 singles, 9 women's doubles, 3 mixed doubles) | |
| Miscellaneous | ||||
| Youngest winner(single) | Men: | Pete Sampras |
19 years and 1 month | |
| Women: | Tracy Austin |
16 years and 8 months | ||
Men's singles
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1926 |  René Lacoste |
Jean Borotra |
| 1933 |  Fred Perry |
Jack Crawford |
| 1956 | Ken Rosewall |
Lew Hoad |
| 1957 | Mal Anderson |
Ashley Cooper |
| 1958 | Ashley Cooper |
Mal Anderson |
| 1959 | Neale Fraser |
 Alex Olmedo |
| 1960 | Neale Fraser |
Rod Laver |
| 1961 | Roy Emerson |
Rod Laver |
| 1962 | Rod Laver |
Roy Emerson |
| 1963 |  Rafael Osuna |
Frank Froehling |
| 1964 | Roy Emerson |
Fred Stolle |
| 1965 | Manuel Santana |
 Cliff Drysdale |
| 1966 | Fred Stolle |
John Newcombe |
| 1969 | Rod Laver |
Tony Roche |
| 1970 | Ken Rosewall |
Tony Roche |
| 1972 |  Ilie Năstase |
Arthur Ashe |
| 1973 | John Newcombe |
Jan Kodeš |
| 1974 | Jimmy Connors |
Ken Rosewall |
| 1975 | Manuel Orantes |
Jimmy Connors |
| 1976 | Jimmy Connors |
 Björn Borg |
| 1977 | Guillermo Vilas |
Jimmy Connors |
| 1978 | Jimmy Connors |
Björn Borg |
| 1979 | John McEnroe |
Vitas Gerulaitis |
| 1980 | John McEnroe |
Björn Borg |
| 1981 | John McEnroe |
Björn Borg |
| 1982 | Jimmy Connors |
Ivan Lendl |
| 1983 | Jimmy Connors |
Ivan Lendl |
| 1984 | John McEnroe |
Ivan Lendl |
| 1985 | Ivan Lendl |
John McEnroe |
| 1986 | Ivan Lendl |
Miloslav Mečíř |
| 1987 | Ivan Lendl |
Mats Wilander |
| 1988 | Mats Wilander |
Ivan Lendl |
| 1989 |  Boris Becker |
Ivan Lendl |
| 1990 | Pete Sampras |
Andre Agassi |
| 1991 | Stefan Edberg |
Jim Courier |
| 1992 | Stefan Edberg |
Pete Sampras |
| 1993 | Pete Sampras |
Cédric Pioline |
| 1994 | Andre Agassi |
Michael Stich |
| 1995 | Pete Sampras |
Andre Agassi |
| 1996 | Pete Sampras |
Michael Chang |
| 1997 | Patrick Rafter |
Greg Rusedski |
| 1998 | Patrick Rafter |
Mark Philippoussis |
| 1999 | Andre Agassi |
Todd Martin |
| 2000 | Marat Safin |
Pete Sampras |
| 2001 | Lleyton Hewitt |
Pete Sampras |
| 2002 | Pete Sampras |
Andre Agassi |
| 2003 | Andy Roddick |
Juan Carlos Ferrero |
| 2004 | Roger Federer |
Lleyton Hewitt |
| 2005 | Roger Federer |
Andre Agassi |
| 2006 | Roger Federer |
Andy Roddick |
| 2007 | Roger Federer |
Novak Djokovic |
| 2008 | Roger Federer |
Andy Murray |
| 2009 | Juan Martin Del Potro |
Roger Federer |
| 2010 | Rafael Nadal |
Novak Djokovic |
Women's singles
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 |  Anita Lizana |
 Jadwiga Jędrzejowska |
| 1959 |  Maria Bueno |
Christine Truman Janes |
| 1963 | Maria Bueno |
Margaret Court |
| 1969 | Margaret Court |
Nancy Richey |
| 1970 | Margaret Court |
Rosemary Casals |
| 1971 | Billie Jean King |
Rosemary Casals |
| 1972 | Billie Jean King |
Kerry Melville |
| 1973 | Margaret Court |
Evonne Goolagong Cawley |
| 1974 | Billie Jean King |
Evonne Goolagong Cawley |
| 1975 | Chris Evert |
Evonne Goolagong Cawley |
| 1976 | Chris Evert |
Evonne Goolagong Cawley |
| 1977 | Chris Evert |
Wendy Turnbull |
| 1978 | Chris Evert |
Pam Shriver |
| 1979 | Tracy Austin |
Chris Evert |
| 1980 | Chris Evert |
Hana Mandlikova |
| 1981 | Tracy Austin |
Martina Navratilova |
| 1982 | Chris Evert |
Hana Mandlikova |
| 1983 | Martina Navratilova |
Chris Evert |
| 1984 | Martina Navratilova |
Chris Evert |
| 1985 | Hana Mandlíková |
Martina Navratilova |
| 1986 | Martina Navratilova |
Helena Suková |
| 1987 | Martina Navratilova |
Steffi Graf |
| 1988 | Steffi Graf |
Gabriela Sabatini |
| 1989 | Steffi Graf |
Martina Navratilova |
| 1990 | Gabriela Sabatini |
Steffi Graf |
| 1991 |  Monica Seles |
Martina Navratilova |
| 1992 | Monica Seles |
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
| 1993 | Steffi Graf |
Helena Suková |
| 1994 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
Steffi Graf |
| 1995 | Steffi Graf |
Monica Seles |
| 1996 | Steffi Graf |
Monica Seles |
| 1997 | Martina Hingis |
Venus Williams |
| 1998 | Lindsay Davenport |
Martina Hingis |
| 1999 | Serena Williams |
Martina Hingis |
| 2000 | Venus Williams |
Lindsay Davenport |
| 2001 | Venus Williams |
Serena Williams |
| 2002 | Serena Williams |
Venus Williams |
| 2003 | Justine Henin |
Kim Clijsters |
| 2004 | Svetlana Kuznetsova |
Elena Dementieva |
| 2005 | Kim Clijsters |
Mary Pierce |
| 2006 | Maria Sharapova |
Justine Henin |
| 2007 | Justine Henin |
Svetlana Kuznetsova |
| 2008 | Serena Williams |
Jelena Janković |
| 2009 | Kim Clijsters |
 Caroline Wozniacki |
| 2010 | Kim Clijsters |
Vera Zvonareva |
Sponsors
2010
- CBS Sports
- ESPN2
- Tennis Channel
- Chase
- Citizen
- IBM
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Mercedes Benz
- Olympus
- American Express
- Continental Airlines
- Heineken
- Polo Ralph Lauren
- Canon
- Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
- Esurance
- Evian
- Panasonic
- The New York Times
- Tiffany & Co.
- Westin Hotels & Resorts
- Wilson
- Ticketmaster
- Grey Goose
- Kraft Foods
- Stonyfield Farm
- Nike
