The US Open Tennis Championships has electrified New York City for over a century with its thrilling atmosphere and many of the greatest battles in the sport’s history. This year’s tournament did not fall short of any expectations, producing exhilarating matches and unforgettable moments. 

Much of the tournament’s excitement arose from shocking upsets in both the women’s and men’s singles draws. In the fourth round of the women’s singles draw, defending champion Coco Gauff exited the tournament with a shocking 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 loss to compatriot Emma Navarro. She served 19 double faults and finished with 60 unforced errors. This year has challenged Gauff with disappointing results, mental struggles, and conflicts within her team. Arriving in New York, she had yet to reach the finals of any WTA 1000 or Grand Slam tournament in 2024, and her lack of confidence manifested throughout the match. On the other hand, Navarro enjoyed numerous successes before the US Open, capturing her first WTA Tour title at the Hobart International and reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon. On top of demonstrating her resilience and maintaining a calm demeanor, the underdog employed her baseline consistency and defense skills to extend rallies, which often ended with an unforced error by Gauff. 

 In the third round of the men’s singles draw, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic crashed out of the tournament to Alexei Popyrin, with an unexpected score of 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Despite claiming the men’s singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Djokovic admitted that he felt mentally and physically unrested during the tournament. The legend committed fourteen double faults and repeatedly failed to convert break points. However, this upset holds a greater significance in men’s tennis, marking the first year that no member of the Big 3, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, won a major singles title since 2002. Are tennis fans witnessing the beginning of a new generation of dominance in this sport?

The tournament’s greatest upset undoubtedly occurred in the second round of the men’s singles draw. Carlos Alcaraz’s 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 defeat to Botic van De Zandschulp left New York astounded. Van De Zandschulp arrived at the event with an 11-18 win-to-loss record and had yet to win consecutive matches at a tour-level event in 2024. During the match, the Dutchman rattled his opponent with a combination of powerful forehands and serves, which reached up to 132 mph. He also dominated the net, winning 28 out of 35 net points. On the other hand, the 21-year-old sensation had produced spectacular results over the summer. He was crowned champion at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and also garnered the silver medal at the Paris Olympics. In his post-match press conference, Alcaraz described his emotions during the match: “It was a fight against myself. … It was a roller coaster, let’s say, in my mind.” He attributed the poor performance to his mental and emotional exhaustion from previous majors and the Olympics. 

In addition, the spectacular performances from champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner further amazed the audience. World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka powered through Jessica Pegula in the finals to claim her first US Open title and third Grand Slam. Throughout the tournament, Sabalenka dominated her opponents with power and precision, attacking them with her aggressive groundstrokes and powerful serves. Her topspin forehand averaged a mind-blowing 129 km/h, making it the fastest of the entire tournament. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner also lifted his first US Open trophy, toppling American Taylor Fritz in straight sets with his accurate groundstrokes, relentless baseline game, and an impressive 88% first-serve win percentage. Interestingly, Sabalenka and Sinner have achieved similar results throughout the entire season, both capturing titles at the Australian Open and Cincinnati Open before arriving in New York. 

The US Open has entertained and inspired Upper School students as well. Ninth-grader Christina Oh shared her excitement from a major upset: “My friend and I rooted for Popyrin every time he won a point against Djokovic. My friend had gotten tickets as my birthday present, and the match was a super memorable and fun experience.” Ninth-grader Madison Chambers also expressed her “motivation from watching Daniil Medvedev move on the court with such ease and flow.” In addition, junior Avery Metz described her experience at the US Open: “I enjoyed watching and supporting American players battling out their matches on the court, whether it be Frances Tiafoe pushing through his soreness or Coco Gauff’s early upset.” 

If you are a sports fanatic, the US Open is the place for you!