The 5 longest US Open men’s winning streaks: Roger Federer No 1 with 40 wins, John McEnroe 3rd

Ewan West 02 Sep 2024 3:02 PM

Roger Federer and John McEnroe celebrate winning the US Open

Roger Federer holds the record for the longest winning streak at the US Open in the Open Era and is one of three men to compile over 20 straight victories at the event.

Seven players have successfully defended the US Open men’s singles crown in the Open Era, with Federer the only man to achieve this since Patrick Rafter in 1998.

Here, we look at the five longest winning streaks at the US Open in men’s singles in the Open Era.

5. Pete Sampras – 17 matches (1995-1997)

Pete Sampras won 17 successive matches at the US Open between 1995 and 1997 and claimed two of his three titles at Flushing Meadows during this stretch.

The American defeated Andre Agassi in four sets in the 1995 title match, before earning a straight-set win against Michael Chang to defend his crown in 1996.

In 1997, Sampras extended his winning streak at the US Open to 17 matches by reaching the fourth round, where he fell in five sets to Petr Korda.

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4. Jimmy Connors – 19 matches (1982-1984)

Jimmy Connors amassed a 19-match winning streak at the US Open across a three-year period from 1982 to 1984.

The American collected two of his five US Open trophies during the run, with four-set triumphs over Ivan Lendl in the 1982 and 1983 championship matches.

Connors progressed to the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows in 1984 and saw his unbeaten run at the tournament end with a five-set loss to John McEnroe.

3. John McEnroe – 26 matches (1979-1982)

John McEnroe earned 26 successive victories at the US Open between 1979 and 1982 in a run that included three of his four titles at Flushing Meadows.

The American saw off Vitas Gerulaitis in straight sets in the 1979 US Open final to win the hard-court major for the first time.

McEnroe then overcame his great rival Bjorn Borg in back-to-back title matches at his home Grand Slam in 1980 (in five sets) and 1981 (in four sets).

In 1982, McEnroe extended his US Open winning streak to 26 matches by advancing to the semi-finals, where he lost in straight sets to Lendl.

2. Ivan Lendl – 27 matches (1985-1988)

Ivan Lendl won 27 matches in a row at the US Open between 1985 and 1988 and claimed all three of his US Open titles during this stretch.

The Czech saw off McEnroe in straight sets in the 1985 US Open final to secure his maiden crown at Flushing Meadows and crushed Miroslav Mecir for the loss of just six games to defend his title in 1986.

Lendl completed a hattrick of titles at the New York Grand Slam with a four-set victory over Mats Wilander in the 1987 championship match.

In 1988, Lendl reached a fourth straight US Open final and was beaten in five sets by Wilander in a rematch of the previous title match.

1. Roger Federer – 40 matches (2004-2009)

Between 2004 and 2009, Federer set the Open Era records for most consecutive matches and titles won at the US Open.

The Swiss secured all five of his US Open crowns during the run — starting with a demolition of Lleyton Hewitt in the 2004 final at Flushing Meadows.

Federer earned four-set triumphs over Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick in the 2005 and 2006 US Open championship matches respectively.

He then downed Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in straight sets in the 2007 and 2008 title matches at the hard-court major.

Federer reached a sixth successive US Open final in 2009 and his astonishing 40-match winning streak at the event ended with a five-set defeat to Juan Martin del Potro.