The 4 unseeded players to win US Open title in the Open Era – ft. Andre Agassi, Emma Raducanu
The US Open has produced one or two surprise champions over the years – though a select few have perhaps defied more odds than the rest in New York.
With the tournament underway, we look back at the select group of four unseeded players who have lifted the US Open title since 1968.
1994: Andre Agassi
The only unseeded man to lift the title in the Open Era, a ranking of 20th would see Agassi seeded today – but there were still only 16 seeds at Grand Slam events throughout the 1990s.
The American had been on the comeback trail post-wrist surgery throughout 1994 and sparked into life in New York by beating 12th seed Wayne Ferreira in round three.
That was followed by an epic five-set victory over sixth seed Michael Chang in round four, before a comfortable win over 13th seed Thomas Muster fired him into the last four.
Agassi defeated ninth seed Todd Martin to reach a second US Open final, after his previous run in 1990 and lifted the title for the first time with a 6-1, 7-6(5), 7-5 over fourth seed Michael Stich.
It was the first of two US Open titles for the American and the second of his eight Grand Slam victories, and it fired him back into the top 10.
2009: Kim Clijsters
A truly memorable triumph saw Clijsters – a wildcard into the draw – capture the second of her three US Open in 2009 and become the first mum in almost three decades to win a major.
WTA rules in 2009 meant that, despite playing two tournaments in her comeback from retirement, the Belgian was unranked heading into Flushing Meadows.
After beating 14th seed Marion Bartoli in round two, Clijsters then battled past third seed Venus Williams in the round of 16 to reach the quarter-final, where she saw off 18th seed Li Na.
In a controversial semi-final, she beat second seed Serena Williams to reach the final, where she overcame ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3 to lift the title.
It was a second title for Clijsters, having previously won the event in 2005, and she would defend her crown the following year.
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2017: Sloane Stephens
On the comeback from injury, Stephens was down at 83rd in the WTA Rankings heading into her home major in 2017 – and had to use her protected ranking to enter the draw.
The American did not have a kind draw but defeated Roberta Vinci in round one, before victories over 11th seed Dominika Cibulkova and future No 1 Ashleigh Barty powered her into the second week.
Stephens then battled past 30th seed Julia Goerges in round four and 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova in the last eight to become part of an all-American semi-final line-up.
She prevailed in a topsy-turvy semi-final against Venus Williams, before dropping just three games against Madison Keys in the final to lift her only major.
Stephens was the first – and currently only – player to win a Slam using a protected ranking.
2021: Emma Raducanu
Much like Stephens is the only protected ranking player to win a major, Raducanu remains the only player to win a Grand Slam after coming through qualifying – an achievement unlikely to be matched.
Ranked 150th in the world, the Brit defeated Bibiane Schoofs, Mariam Bolkvadze, and Mayar Sherif to qualify for the main draw, weeks after making her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon.
Having not dropped a set in qualifying, Raducanu stormed into the second week in a similarly emphatic fashion, and then downed Shelby Rogers and 11th Belinda Bencic to reach the last four.
Raducanu’s epic run continued with a 6-1, 6-4 win over 17th seed Maria Sakkari to reach the final, where she downed Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 to lift the title as an 18-year-old.
To date, it remains the only title of Raducanu’s career.
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