U.S. Open championship: Ranking the top two finals over the last twenty five years
The last couple of years at the United States Open tennis tournament have provided tennis enthusiasts with sensational moments along with some seismic shifts of power, as far as the men’s game of tennis is concerned.
Over the past twenty five years, there have been very few five-set title battles at the Flushing Meadows. A total of nine final matches have been extended to four sets, while thirteen finals have been concluded in straight sets.
Let us have a look at the top two men’s final in New York over the last twenty five years. The rankings are based on the entertainment quality of the clash, as well as its overall importance in the career of the contender and in the United States Open championship itself.
2. Wilander knocks down Lendl 1988
The Flushing Meadows has never been a kind venue for the Swedish tennis players. The greatest-ever Swede in the history of the game of tennis Bjorn Borg took part in a total of four finals and triumphed in none of them. Mats Wilander appeared in the U.S Open on a total of six years in a row in his career.
In 1987, Mat made it into the finals, however, lost to Ivan Lendl in a total of four sets in the end. The following year, the Swedish tennis star shocked everyone by winning the United States Open title after outlasting the world number one player, Lendl in New York.
Mat won the title battle in an epic five-set clash after a time period of four hours and fifty four minutes at the Flushing Meadows. The fans all over the world experienced some exciting and thrilling display of tennis that was tight until the end. Both the players rose and fell down during the course of the battle, however, Mat was the one who proved to be stronger of the two in the end.
His decision to volley and serve rather attempting to overpower Ivan from the baseline was the deciding factor in this final, as Lendl failed to find his passing shots.
Wilander triumphed 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and improved his ranking to as high as number one in the world by the Association of tennis professionals. However, he couldn’t stay there for longer and sadly never made it to any other Grand Slam final ever again in his career.
The act of triumphing, taking that last step was the beginning of the end for Mat as the world number one player.
1. Del Potro dismisses Roger Federer 2009
There have been lots of dramatic and sensational finals in New York; however, nothing at the Flushing Meadows levelled this final in terms of intensity and swing of emotions.
In 2009, the Argentinean tennis player Juan Martin del Potro and the legendary winner of the United States Open tennis tournament, Roger Federer came face to face for the title battle.
Del Potro managed to beat the Swiss tennis maestro in the end in five mesmerizing sets in New York.
This defeat shows that nothing lasts forever, and so was the case with Roger Federer who looked to own the United States Open title.
The Argentinean tennis ace had to battle for his life in this clash, however he didn’t give up till the end and never for a second doubted his own ability against Fed Express.
Federer was in the final on the sixth occasion in a row and was all book-makers favourite to once again win the title. However, the 20-year-old youngster, Del Potro stunned the entire world by overcoming the tennis master on the Arthur Ashe stadium in New York.
Besides the reigning U.S Open champion Rafael Nadal, Del Potro became only the second man in the history of game to beat Roger in a major final. After winning the year’s final title, Potro also registered his name as the second tennis player from his country to capture the U.S Open trophy.
Roger held the match points on various occasions during the final battle, but Potro fought back well on every single occasion in New York, and as a result ended Federer’s dominance on the hard courts at the Flushing Meadows.
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