US Open: Top four matches at Flushing Meadows
With the Final Grand Slam of the season, the United States Open tennis tournament, about to start from Monday, let us look back at some of the best US Open matches ever played at Flushing Meadows over the last twenty five years.
1. Pete Sampras versus Andre Agassi in 2002
Sampras won the title battle in a total of four sets in the end. The final match score was 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
It was undoubtedly one of the best clashes ever contested at the US Open. Two great rivals of the game of tennis faced each other in the final of one of the four Grand Slam events. In the end, Pete outlasted Agassi in a total of four sets to grab his fourteenth major title. The thirty-one year old Sampras fought against the thirty-two year old Andre to register his name as the oldest US Open winner since Ken Rosewall captured the title back in 1970. It was his final appearance at Flushing Meadows as he officially announced his retirement from the professional game of tennis prior to the start of the 2003 tournament.
2. Henin-Hardenne versus Jennifer Capriati in 2003
Henin-Hardenne got the better of Capriati in a three setter clash in the semi final round of the US Open back in 2003. The final match score was 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4).
Jennifer Capriati as well as Justine Henin-Hardenne, were two of the most brutal rivals in the history of women’s game without any question.
The semi final match that took a time period of almost three hours is still considered as one of the greatest matches ever played at Flushing Meadows. The American tennis ace, Jennifer Capriati had a total of eleven opportunities to outlast Henin. However, she couldn’t grab either of them. As a result, Henin-Hardenne toppled Capriati, and made her way into the final of the US Open 2003 where she got the better of her Belgian tennis opponent, Kim Clijsters to win the title. As far as Jennifer Capriati is concerned, the defeat came as yet another disappointment in her already disturbed life.
3. Aaron Krickstein versus Jimmy Connors in 1991
The quarter final match of the 1991 US Open was won by Connors, who thrashed out Krickstein in a total of five sets. The final match score was 3-6, 7-6 (8), 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
The American tennis ace, Jimmy Connors is a legend of the game of tennis without any doubt. During the declining period of his career, the ever-green tennis star celebrated his thirty-ninth birthday in a strange fashion, coming from a 2-5 deficit, during the fifth set of the match to surpass his twenty-four year old opponent Aaron Krickstein in a time period of four hours and forty-one minutes.
Just as impressive was his round 1 victory over Patrick McEnroe, also coming back from behind, and also triumphing in a five set thrilling contest. His US Open journey back in 1991 was ended by Jim Courier during the semi final round of the competition. However, Jimmy Connors will still be remembered as a champion in the hearts of many for years.
4. Serena Williams versus Kim Clijsters in 2009
The Belgian tennis ace, Kim Clijsters hammered down Serena Williams in a total of two sets. The final match score was 6-4, 7-5.
Kim Clijsters faced Serena Williams in the semi final of the US Open back in 2009 where the Champion was heavily favoured to capture the crown. Clearly, no one expected the Belgian to win the semi final clash, not even Kim herself. However, she did well in the end to beat Williams in a two setter clash. Clijsters went on to win the title after a comprehensive victory over Caroline Wozniacki in the final round at Flushing Meadows last year.
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