The US Open was given its current name in 1968 and has taken place every year since. Powerhouse representatives from both men's and women's tennis have won the prestigious major, along with some less familiar names who found ways to break through.
He, we chronicle every US Open singles winner in both men's and women's tennis since 1968.
Wawrinka defeated defending champ Novak Djokovic in four sets to win his first US Open.
Kerber overcame a final challenge from Karolina Pliskova in three sets to win her first US Open.
The 2015 edition of the US Open cemented Novak Djokovic's legacy even further on the men's side, while Flavia Pennetta took home the crown after Serena Williams was upset by Roberta Vinci in the semis. Djokovic took down the 2014 winner Marin Cilic in the semis and took care of Roger Federer in four sets to win his second US Open.
The 2014 US Open showcased a classic champion on the women’s side and a surprise winner on the men’s side. Serena Williams won her third straight and sixth overall US Open championship, while little-known Marin Čilić from Croatia defeated both Roger Federer and Kei Nishikori on his way to his first Grand Slam win.
In 2013, Serena Williams made it back-to-back US Open titles, while Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal won his second US Open. Nadal and Williams defeated Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka in the finals respectively.
Andy Murray upset defending US Open champion Novak Djokovic in five sets to be crowned US Open champion in 2012. On the women’s side, Serena Williams won her first US Open title since 2008 and fourth overall.
In 2011, Novak Djokovic and Samantha Stosur each took home their first US Open titles, defeating Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams in the finals respectively.
Rafael Nadal completed the career Grand Slam in 2010 with his US Open victory over Novak Djokovic in the final. On the women’s side, Kim Clijsters won back-to-back titles, defeating Vera Zvonareva in straight sets.
The 2009 US Open saw Roger Federer’s era of dominance finally come to an end, as Argentinian Juan Martin del Porto defeated Federer in five sets in the final to win his first and only Grand Slam title. Kim Clijsters defeated Caroline Wozniacki to win her second US Open title on the women’s side.
Perhaps the two greatest competitors ever in men's and women’s tennis, Roger Federer and Serena Williams each won the 2008 US Open in dominating fashion. For Federer it was his fifth straight US Open championship, a feat that may never be repeated again in tennis history.
Roger Federer won his fourth straight US Open in 2007, while Justine Henin won here second career US Open title on the women’s side. Each player steamrolled through the competition, winning their final three matches all in straight sets.
It was another year and another US Open championship for Roger Federer in 2006. American Andy Roddick gave Federer a run for his money in the final, but Federer managed pull off the victory in four sets. On the women’s side, Russian Maria Sharapova won her first US Open title, defeating Justine Henin in the final.
The 2005 US Open represented a passing of the torch in tennis, as Roger Federer won back-to-back US Open titles, defeating American legend Andre Agassi in the final. On the women’s side, Belgian-born Kim Clijsters won her first of three career US Open titles.
The 2004 edition of the US Open saw Swiss-born Roger Federer win his first of an incredible five straight US Open championships. Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia won her first and only US Open crown in the women’s bracket.
Justine Henin won her first of two US Open titles in 2003, defeating fellow Belgian-born player Kim Clijsters in straight sets in the final. On the men’s side, Andy Roddick won his first US Open title on his home turf, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets in the final.
In a classic matchup the tennis world had witnessed for the past decade, Pete Sampras defeated rival Andre Agassi in his final career match in the 2002 US Open final. It was Sampras's fifth US Open title and 14th career Grand Slam win. Meanwhile on the women’s side, Serena Williams defeated her big sister and two-time defending champion Venus to win her second US Open crown.
The 2001 US Open saw an epic battle between sisters Venus and Serena Williams, in which big sister Venus came out on top to win her second straight US Open championship. While the Williams sisters dominated the women’s bracket, Australian Lleyton Hewitt defeated Pete Sampras in straight sets to win his first Grand Slam event.
Venus Williams won her first US Open title in 2000, defeating fellow American Lindsay Davenport in straight sets in the final. On the men’s side, Russian Marat Safin upset Pete Sampras in the final to claim his first Grand Slam title victory.
Representatives of the old guard and new guard won in the finals of the 1999 US Open. Andre Agassi won his second title, while a 17-year-old Serena Williams won her fist Grand Slam title and began an era of dominance over the women’s division of tennis that continues to this day. With her win, Williams also became the first African-American woman to win a Grand Slam event.
Patrick Rafter successfully defended his US Open crown in 1998, defeating Pete Sampras in the semifinals and Mark Philippoussis in the final of the competition. American Lindsay Davenport won her first and only US Open title on the women’s side, defeating defending champ Martina Hingis in the final.
Ranked No. 1 in the world, Martina Hingis cruised through the competition on her way to winning the 1997 US Open title. The men’s bracket saw a surprise winner in Australian Patrick Rafter, who defeated Greg Rusedski in the final.
The 1996 US Open gave us repeat champions on both the men’s and women’s sides of the bracket. Pete Sampras took home his fourth overall US Open crown, while Steffi Graf defeated Monica Seles in the final to defend her title.
Steffi Graf won her second of three US Open championships in 1995, while Pete Sampras won his third career US Open title on the men’s side. Sampras defeated rival and defending champion Andre Agassi in the final to claim the title.
One of the most popular tennis players in the world, Andre Agassi finally broke through at the Open, winning his first of two US Open titles. On the women's side, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario upset defending champion Steffi Graf in three sets.
The 1993 US Open represented the first of three times Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf took home the title in the same year. Coincidentally, it was also the second US Open championship for both Sampras and Graf in their careers.
In 1992, the US Open saw reigning champions defend their thrones. Stefan Edberg made it back-to-back US Open victories by delaying Pete Sampras's US Open title run, defeating Sampras in four sets. For Seles, she defeated Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final to win her second straight US Open.
Before both winning the US Open in 1992, Stefan Edberg and Monica Seles took down legends to take home their first Open titles. Edberg defeated Jim Courier in straight sets in the final to win his first US Open, while Seles took down Marina Navratilova in straight sets as well to claim her first US Open win.
Sampras won his first of five US Opens with a win over Andre Agassi in 1990.
Sabatini won the US Open in 1990 after losing in the final in 1988.
Becker defeated three-time champ and eight-year finalist Ivan Lendl to win the US Open.
Graf won her second consecutive US Open, defeating four-time champ Martina Navratilova.
After losing in the 1987 final, Wilander returned to win over three-time defending champ Ivan Lendl.
Graf won her first US Open after getting to the final the year prior.
Lendl won his third straight US Open, beating Mats Wilander in four sets.
Navratilova won her second straight US Open and fourth overall, beating future star Steffi Graf in the final.
Lendl won his second straight US Open and participated in his fifth straight final.
Navratilova rebounded to win the Open for the third time in 1986.
After three straight losses in the final, Lendl finally won with a three-set win over John McEnroe.
Mandlíková defeated two-time defending champ Martina Navratilova to win the US Open.
McEnroe won his fourth US Open with a win over Ivan Lendl, who lost in the final for the third straight year.
Navratilova won her second consecutive US Open, beating Chris Evert in the final for the second year.
Connors was able to win his second consecutive US Open and his fifth overall, defeating Ivan Lendl for the second straight year.
Navratilova won her first US Open after getting to the final two years earlier.
Connors defeated Ivan Lendl in four sets, winning his fourth US Open.
Evert claimed title No. 6 with a win over Hana Mandlikova in the final.
McEnroe had a rematch in the final vs. Bjorn Borg, defeating him in four sets.
Austin won her second US Open in three years, beating future star Martina Navratilova in the final.
McEnroe claimed his second consecutive US Open, starting a rivalry after beating Bjorn Borg in an epic five-set final.
After falling to Tracy Austin in 1979, Evert got back to the final and won her fifth US Open.
McEnroe won his first US Open, defeating fellow American Vitas Gerulaitis.
Austin was able to beat four-time defending champ Chris Evert in the final to win the title.
Connors won for the third time after participating in his fifth straight final.
Evert won her fourth straight US Open, defeating Pam Shriver.
Vilas beat Jimmy Connors in the final, denying Connors his third US Open championship.
Evert won her third straight US Open, defeating Wendy Turnbull.
After losing in the 1975 final, Connors claimed his second US Open in three years by defeating Bjorn Borg.
Evert won her second consecutive US Open, as Evonne Goolagong Cawley fell short in the final for the fourth consecutive year.
Orantes defeated defending champ Jimmy Connors to win his only US Open.
Evert won her first of six US Opens, as Evonne Goolagong Cawley lost in the final for the third straight year.
Connors won his first of five US Opens, defeating 1970 winner Ken Rosewall in the final.
King won her fourth US Open, as Evonne Goolagong Cawley lost her second consecutive final.
Newcombe won the US Open in 1973, as Jan Kodes lost in the final for the second time in three years.
Court won her fifth US Open and third in five years.
Năstase defeated 1968 winner Arthur Ashe in five sets to win.
King won her second straight US Open and third overall in 1972.
Smith defeated Jan Kodes in four sets in win in 1971.
King won the tournament for a second time, the first officially known as the US Open, while Rosemary Casals fell short in the final for the second straight year.
Tony Roche came up short in the final for the second straight year, this time to fellow Aussie Rosewall in four sets.
Court won her second straight US Open and fourth overall, beating Rosemary Casals in three sets.
Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications
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