The 7 American men to win US Open in Open Era – as current crop look to end 21-year wait
The US Open is one of the most prestigious titles up for grabs in tennis – and there have been a fair few home champions in the men’s singles over the years.
However, there has been a lull in recent years, with no American man winning the US Open singles title – or any major singles title – since 2003.
There is a strong crop heading into Flushing Meadows this year, with the likes of Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda, and Frances Tiafoe all inside the top 20.
With a week to go until action begins, we look at the seven Open Era champions those five are looking to emulate.
Arthur Ashe – 1968
The first year of the Open Era produced the first US champion of the Open Era, with the trailblazing Ashe picking up the first of his three Grand Slam singles titles.
Ashe was still searching for his first Slam after Australian Championship losses in 1966 and 1967, but the fifth seed defeated Cliff Drysdale and Clark Graebner in the final.
Up against Dutchman Tom Okker, the American prevailed in an epic five-set final to lift the title at Forest Hills.
Ashe reached a second US Open final in 1972, losing to Ilie Nastase.
Stan Smith – 1971
Smith won two Grand Slam singles titles, and the first came at his home major in 1971.
The 24-year-old was the second seed in the draw, having reached the Wimbledon final earlier that summer, and defeated Okker in the last four to reach the final.
He was up against two-time reigning French Open champion Jan Kodes in the final, but battled from a set down to beat the Czech great in four sets.
It was the only final he reached in New York, but he did reach the last four in 1973.
Jimmy Connors – 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982-83
Connors won five of his eight Grand Slam singles titles at the US Open, making him the joint-most successful men’s champion of the Open Era at the tournament.
He dropped just two games to Ken Rosewall in the 1974 final to pick up his first title and then downed Bjorn Borg in the 1976 final for his second title.
Connors beat the Swede again for his third triumph in 1978 and then defeated Ivan Lendl in back-to-back finals in 1982 and 1983 for his final victories.
Alongside his five wins, he was the runner-up in 1975 and 1977.
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John McEnroe – 1979-81, 1984
McEnroe is perhaps best remembered for his Wimbledon exploits, but his three SW19 titles are bettered by his four titles in New York – including three straight victories at one stage.
Aged 20, the former world No 1 won his first singles major at the tournament in 1979, defeating friend and compatriot Vitas Gerulaitis in straight sets.
He then added to that victory with consecutive triumphs in 1980 and 1981, beating famed rival Borg in both finals.
McEnroe defeated Lendl for his fourth and final title in 1984 – and would lose to the Czech in 1985.
Pete Sampras – 1990, 1993, 1995-96, 2002
The dominant force of the 1990s, Sampras joins fellow American great Connors in winning five US Open titles in the Open Era.
In 1990, less than a month after his 19th birthday, Sampras defeated main rival Andre Agassi to lift his first major title and become the youngest man to ever lift the US Open title – a record he still holds.
He then regained the title with a victory over Cedric Pioline in 1993, before beating Agassi and Michael Chang to claim the title in 1995 and 1996 respectively.
Sampras again beat Agassi to claim his final major in 2002 and reached further finals in 1992, 2000, and 2001.
Andre Agassi – 1994, 1999
Perhaps the biggest star of his era, Agassi won eight Grand Slam titles – and two came at his home major.
He won his first US Open title, and second Slam overall, in 1994, defeating Michael Stich to lift the title 30 years ago.
Five years later he would claim the title for a second time, battling from two sets to one down to beat Todd Martin in five sets.
Alongside his three final losses to Sampras, he also reached a further final in 2005.
Andy Roddick – 2003
The last American man to win the title was Roddick, who lifted his first and only Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows just over two decades ago.
Roddick came into New York as the form player, having picked up victories at the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open that summer.
After battling past David Nalbandian in the last four to reach the final, the fourth seed breezed past former No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets to lift the title.
Roddick again reached the final in 2006, also making him the last US man to reach the final.
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