Most memorable US Open moments of all time

The US Open begins at the end of August, and we're sure to be in for some indelible moments. With that in mind, we put together the 25 best US Open moments of all time. From scintillating finals to stunning underdogs, sad circumstances and groundbreaking performances, we've got the most memorable moments of professional tennis covered. 

1 of 25

1968: Arthur Ashe becomes first African-American to win US Open

New York Times Co. / Archive Photos

Ashe won the first US Open of the open era and became the first black male to win the tournament. The US Open's primary venue, Arthur Ashe Stadium, was named in his honor in 1997.

2 of 25

1969: Rod Laver wins second Grand Slam

Pictorial Parade / Archive Photos

Laver capped his incredible year at the 1969 US Open, winning all four Grand Slams in the same calendar year for the second time.

3 of 25

1977: Spectator shot

Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

An unfortunate incident occurred in 1977 when a spectator was shot in the leg during a match between John McEnroe and Eddie Dibbs. The stray bullet came from outside the stadium.

4 of 25

1979: Tracy Austin becomes youngest woman to win at 16

Focus on Sport / Getty Images

Austin defeated Chris Evert to become the youngest woman ever to win the US Open while also preventing Evert from winning her fifth consecutive title.

5 of 25

1980: John McEnroe vs. Jimmy Connors semifinal

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John McEnroe defeated Jimmy Connors in an epic duel over five sets. The match is still known as one of the best in US Open history, with McEnroe winning the fifth set 7-6.

6 of 25

1981: Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe final

Michael Brennan / Hulton Archive

The two biggest names in tennis at the time, John McEnroe defeated Bjorn Borg in a Grand Slam final for the second time of 1981. He won in four sets.

7 of 25

1988: Steffi Graf completes Grand Slam

Images Press / Archive Photos

Graf capped off her incredible year by becoming the third woman to complete the Grand Slam. She's the only woman to ever complete the Grand Slam on three different surfaces.

8 of 25

1990: Pete Sampras becomes youngest man to win at 19

Rick Stewart / Getty Images

The greatest male tennis player of his era, Sampras won his first Grand Slam at the US Open in 1990.

9 of 25

1992: Longest match

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The longest match in US Open history took place in 1992 between Michael Chang and Stefan Edberg. It only took five hours and 26 minutes to complete, with Edberg claiming victory.

10 of 25

1994: Andre Agassi becomes first unseeded player to win US Open

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Andre Agassi had a great resurgence in 1994, eventually winning the US Open as an unseeded player. He defeated Michael Stich in the final.

11 of 25

1995: Monica Seles vs. Steffi Graf

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The Monica Seles vs. Steffi Graf rivalry resumed for the first time in more than two years, with Graf defeating Seles in the US Open final. The pair would face off again in the final the following year.

12 of 25

1997: Arthur Ashe Stadium opens

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Arthur Ashe Stadium opened in 1997 and is still the largest tennis-specific stadium in the world. The stadium cost $254 million to construct.

13 of 25

2001: Williams sisters face off

Jamie Squire / Getty Images

The US Open final was the sixth official match between the Williams sisters and the first in a Grand Slam final. Venus defeated Serena in straight sets.

14 of 25

2001: Lleyton Hewitt causes a stir

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Hewitt eventually grabbed his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2001, but his tournament was memorable for the wrong reasons. Hewitt was accused of making racist comments to opponent James Blake.

15 of 25

2005: Andre Agassi vs. James Blake

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images

Andre Agassi and James Blake had an epic five-set match in the quarterfinals, with the final set ending 7-6 in favor of Agassi.

16 of 25

2005: Roger Federer vs. Andre Agassi final

Al Bello / Getty Images

Andre Agassi had his second tremendous match in the 2005 US Open, facing Roger Federer in the final. Federer won his sixth career Grand Slam title by defeating Agassi in four sets.

17 of 25

2006: Andre Agassi retires

Timothy A. Clary / AFP

Agassi finished his swan song at the 2006 US Open. He made a tearful goodbye after losing to Benjamin Becker.

18 of 25

2006: National Tennis Center named after Billie Jean King

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

Opening in 1978, the National Tennis Center was rededicated to Billie Jean King on Aug. 28, 2006.

19 of 25

2008: Williams sisters rematch

Timothy A. Clary / AFP

One of the great women's matches of the last 10 years, Serena defeated Venus Williams 7-6, 7-6 in the quarterfinals of the US Open. Serena would go on to win the tournament.

20 of 25

2012: Andy Murray finally wins major title

Chris Trotman / Getty Images

Appearing in his fifth Grand Slam final, Murray finally won his first Grand Slam at the US Open. He defeated Novak Djokovic in five sets.

21 of 25

2013: Serena Williams breaks her own record

Susan Mullane / USA TODAY Sports

From the second set of her fourth-round match to second set in the semis, Serena Williams won 24 consecutive games, breaking her record of 23 straight games won at the US Open that she set in 2012. Serena defended her title, cruising through the tournament.

22 of 25

2013: Rafael Nadal outlasts Novak Djokovic

Susan Mullane / USA TODAY Sports

The No. 1 and 2 seeds collided in the 2013 men’s final, with second-ranked Nadal outlasting top-ranked Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. It was Rafa’s 13th career Grand Slam, topping a very game Djokovic.

23 of 25

2014: Serena Williams makes history in a three-peat

Al Bello / Getty Images

Serena made it three US Open titles in a row, bringing her total US Open championships to six, which tied Chris Evert for the most ever. It was also Williams’s 18th Grand Slam title, again tying the American record held by Evert and Martina Navratilova.

24 of 25

2015: Roberta Vinci stuns Serena Williams

Robert Deutsch / USA TODAY Sports

Serena Williams entered the 2015 US Open as the overwhelming favorite. No one expected the three-time defending champion to lose at all, let alone before even reaching the final. Yet little-known Roberta Vinci stunned the world, defeating the No. 1 player on the planet 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals. While Vinci lost to Flavia Pennetta in the final, her come-from-behind victory against Williams will live on.

25 of 25

2015: Novak Djokovic tops Roger Federer in final

Robert Deutsch / USA TODAY Sports

On his way to his second career US Open title, Novak Djokovic defeated 2014 champion Marin Cilic in the semifinals, then outlasted legend Roger Federer in the final, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. The final matchup was a grueling four-set match that captivated audiences.

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