The 9 US players to win the Australian Open men’s singles title: ft Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier

Nine American men have lifted the Australian Open title in the Open Era, with Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and Jim Courier the three men to win the title on multiple occasions.
Arthur Ashe – 1970
The first US champion of the Open Era was tennis icon Ashe, who lifted the second of his three Grand Slam singles titles at the tournament in 1970.
After sixth seed Dennis Ralston retired injured in their semi-final, fourth seed Ashe beat home favourite Dick Crealy 6-4, 9-7, 6-2 to claim the title.
Ashe almost defended his title in 1971, though was beaten by Ken Rosewall in the final.
Jimmy Connors – 1974
Connors played the Australian Open just twice and reached the final both times, winning the title on his tournament debut in 1974.
The second seed beat third seed John Alexander to make his first Grand Slam final, where he defeated ninth seed Phil Dent 7-6(7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to win the first of eight major titles.
Connors almost sealed back-to-back triumphs in 1975, though was beaten in the final that year by John Newcombe.
Roscoe Tanner – 1977 (Jan)
Former world No 4 Tanner won his only Grand Slam singles title at the 1977 (Jan) Australian Open – the first of two editions of the event held that year.
Tanner, the second seed, saw off fourth seed and Aussie icon Ken Rosewall in a four-set semi-final, before breezing past future champion Guillermo Vilas 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in the final.
The American would make unfortunate history later that year when he became the first defending champion to lose in round one.
Vitas Gerulaitis – 1977 (Dec)
One of the most popular players of his generation, former world No 3 Gerulaitis won his sole Grand Slam singles title at the December 1977 event.
The top seed beat home favourite Alexander in the semi-final, before a battling 6-3, 7-6(4), 5-7, 3-6, 6-2 victory in the final over surprise runner-up John Lloyd.
Gerulaitis only played three more times in Australia, though was a beaten US Open finalist in 1979 and French Open finalist in 1980.
Brian Teacher – 1980
Former world No 7 Teacher won his sole Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in 1980, defeating three home players in a row to lift the title.
After beating Paul McNamee and Peter McNamara in the quarter-final and semi-finals respectively, eighth seed Teacher defeated 14th seed Kim Warwick 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 to lift the title.
It was the only time the American ever made it past the quarter-final of a Grand Slam.
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Johan Kriek – 1982
In 1981, South Africa’s Kriek lifted his first Australian Open title, defeating America’s Steve Denton in four sets to lift the title.
Twelve months later, Kriek returned to Melbourne as a US citizen, having switched nationalities – and he successfully defended his crown.
Once again facing Denton, the former world No 7 claimed a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 victory to capture his final major.
Jim Courier – 1992-93
Kickstarting a period of US dominance Down Under was Courier, who claimed back-to-back titles at the event in 1992 and 1993.
After receiving a walkover from Richard Krajicek in the 1992 semi-final, Courier defeated two-time champion and top seed Stefan Edberg 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to win what was his second major overall.
Twelve months later, the US star was the top seed and – having not dropped a set on his way to the final – again beat Edberg to win his fourth and final Slam, prevailing 6-2, 6-1, 2-5, 7-5.
Pete Sampras – 1994, 1997
Sampras is probably best remembered for his seven Wimbledon titles and his five US Open titles, but he was also twice a champion in Melbourne.
‘Pistol Pete’ captured his first title in 1994, beating compatriot and two-time defending champion Courier in the semi-final before a 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Todd Martin in the final.
He would then triumph for a second time in 1997, downing Thomas Muster in the last four before beating surprise finalist Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.
Andre Agassi – 1995, 2000-01, 2003
The most successful American man at the Australian Open in the Open Era, Agassi is also the last US man to triumph Down Under.
Agassi famously skipped the event throughout the early years of his career, but sensationally beat Sampras 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(6), 6-4 to triumph on his tournament debut in 1995.
The former world No 1 then defeated reigning champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to claim the title for a second time in 2000.
Agassi then defended his crown in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Arnaud Clement in the 2001 final, before winning his eighth and final Slam in 2003 with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 victory against Rainer Schuttler.
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