With its rumbling subway line and massive complex, shining lights and fervent crowd the city that never sleeps is the place to be for any tennis fan come late summer. The heat and humidity may dwindle ever so slightly, but it just makes way for hotter, inspired tennis. Records were made and some hearts were broken. The noise, the crowd, the celebrities in the stands – welcome to New York.
The 2016 US Open will be remembered for many reasons. New York has joined its Anglo cousins by finally debuting a roof over its main stand, the Arthur Ashe stadium, leaving the French Open as the only Grand Slam to remain truly at the mercy of the elements. It is also the site where Angelique Kerber emulated her idol and compatriot and reached the summit of the WTA rankings for the first time, and where Stan Wawrinka pulled off a famour victory to keep alive his electric unbeaten record in Grand Slam finals.
On The Rise
Dominic Thiem has grown in leaps and bound this year. Displaying amazing tennis, he has gone up the rankings and has put Austrian tennis back on the map. His run was cut short as he was forced to retire to Juan Martín del Potro in their Round of 16 clash. This is a player who is certain to make more ground though.
Karolina Pliskova has slowly risen up the rankings with minor, yet consistent results. Her shock defeat of Kerber in the Cincinnati final surprised many. Her dismissal of both Williams sisters in the Open, her smooth and stoic style of play as well as her big shots have made her a force to be reckoned with. The first Czech player to reach the US Open final since Helena Sukova in 1993, Pliskova strengthens her position as national #1 ahead of the Fed Cup final later this year.
Gael Monfils seemed to have left some of his showmanship antics in France. This new-found seriousness seems to have helped the Frenchman, as his semi-final showing demonstrates. Always a favourite with fans, there were still some moments of fun on-court. However, perhaps this great semi-final appearance could be a well-timed boost to the confidence of a player who has long been sitting on so much potential.
Revelations
New up and comers were the talk of Flushing Meadows during the first few days. Fiery 18-year-old American Frances Tiafoe took his countryman John Isner to the brink in the first round. Up two sets to love, the match came down to a fifth set tie-break. Isner saved a match point in the tie-break and sealed victory after the gruelling match. Local fans were more than pleased with a local having won, and perhaps with the fact that US men’s tennis has a budding star.
Another notable mention is Britain’s Kyle Edmund. He took out Richard Gasquet and John Isner before falling to Novak Djokovic in the Round of 16. The 21-year-old might be the next big hope for British tennis with his fearless attitude and never-say-die spirit.
Former European Junior Champion Ana Konjuh; strong, fast and focused at 18 years of age, made people take notice after her Round of 16 of third seed Agnieszka Radwanska. The Croatian player is a the current Australian Open Junior Girls’ champion and has clearly signalled that she is ready for the big time.
Don’t call it a comeback
A dramatic drop in the rankings due to a combination of injuries and bad form have perhaps helped Caroline Wozniacki get her focus back. Twice a finalist in recent years, New York has been her happiest Grand Slam hunting ground. Although not able to match her best previous performance of reaching the final, her semi-final showing was still a remarkable result for a player who had slipped out of the Top 70 after a poor run of form this year.
Last year’s finalist seems to shine on these courts. Roberta Vinci has not been a real force to reckon with since last year’s open, but managed to reach the quarters once again, giving the eventual champion a fright in their first set. Her favourite hang-outs in Little Italy certainly inspire her in the Big Apple.
Out for months on end due to a wrist injury, and boosted by his recent Olympic silver medal, Juan Martín Del Potro also made a great run to the quarters. With an adapted slice backhand to ease the strain on his arm, the 2009 champion could only be stopped by the eventual champion.
Records
Having managed to reach the semi-finals, Serena Williams has amassed a record 309 Grand Slam match wins in singles in her career, overtaking Roger Federer's mark of 306 career match wins. Unfortunately for Serena, she was not able to surpass two of Steffi Graf’s records; ironically Graf’s countrywoman and part-time pupil will become the new women’s #1 and leave Serena on 186 consecutive weeks at number and 22 grand slams - both records tied with Graf.
Lucas Pouille upset Rafael Nadal in the fourth round, taking the match in a dramatic fifth set tie-break. He thus joined two other French players - Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils in the quarter finals, and in fact faced Monfils. This was the first time that three Frenchmen had made it to the last 8 in a grand slam event since 1947.
The Winners
Almost 20 years after Steffi Graf ceded her number one ranking, another German player has taken the spot, by virtue of an amazing tennis year and victory in the US Open final. Avenging her defeat from a fortnight previously in the Cincinnati final, there was to be no denying Angelique Kerber this time. This is a title and an accolade worthy of a player who, apart from a clay court season blip, has been the most dominant and consistent on-court all year. The final was a tough scramble for both players. One break of serve to love at the end of the third set was all it took for Kerber to seize the title after Karolina pushed a forehand long. Kerber fell to the ground in tears as the reality of the situation sunk in - she is the US Open champion and the best player in the world.
Stanislas Wawrinka is the eternal underdog on big occasions. Usually because he is the lower ranked player on such occasions, but it is a role that he seems to revel in, quietly progressing through the draws with no fuss, no nonsense and no dramas. Through to his third grand slam final against Novak Djokovic, Wawrinka showed once more that tennis commentators need to revise the “Big Four” moniker to “Big Five”. The two friends played a match in good spirit, as a close first set went to the world #1 in a tie-break. From thereon in, it was virtually all Stan as he took the second and third sets breaking Djokovic’s serve in each and, strangely, perhaps also his resolve. Djokovic, usually in control of his feelings on court, showed signs of anger and frustration as Wawrinka piled on the pressure as well as the winners. Djokovic halted the match for an injury time-out to have a foot attended to, but the Swiss maintained his focus and ran the world #1 around the court. As his opponent’s backhand sailed over the baseline, Wawrinka raised his arms in celebration of a four-set victory, and the pair shared a warm embrace at the net. Ominously for his opponents, Wawrinka remains unbeaten in Grand Slam finals, this being his third win from as many finals. A Wimbledon title is now all he needs to complete his own career grand slam.
In the doubles arena, more good news for the Murray family, as Jamie Murray teamed with Brazil’s Bruno Soares to win the men’s doubles title. They easily defeated surprise Spanish finalists Pablo Carreño Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. American Bethanie Mattek-Sands gave locals a reason to cheer as she lifted the doubles trophy along with her partner Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic. They overcame French players Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic in a tight three-set match. The mixed doubles title went to Laura Siegemund of Germany and Mate Pavic of Croatia, a first major title of any kind for both players.
In the junior events, Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime defeated Miomir Kecmanovic on the singles final. The doubles trophy went to Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves & Juan Carlos Miguel Aguilar. Meanwhile, in the girls’ draw Slovakian Viktoria Kuzmova went down to American Kayla Day, while the spoils in the doubles went to Jada Myii Hart & Ena Shibahara of the USA.
Roll of Honour
Men’s Singles
Stanisla Wawrinka d Noval Djokovic
6-7(1) 6-4 7-5 6-3
Women’s Singles
Angelique Kerber d Karolina Pliskova
6-3 4-6 6-4
Men’s Doubles
Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares d Pablo Carreño Busta/Guillermo Garcia-Lopez
6-2 6-3
Women’s Doubles
Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Lucie Safarova d Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic
2-6 7-6(5) 6-4
Mixed Doubles
Laura Siegemund/Mate Pavic d Coco Vandeweghe/Rajeev Ram
6-4 6-4
Boys’ Singles
Felix Auger Aliassime d Miomir Kecmanovic
6-3 6-0
Girls’ Singles
Kayla Day d Viktoria Kuzmova
6-3 6-3
Boys’ Doubles
Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves/Juan Carlos Miguel Aguilar d Felix Auger Aliassime/Benjamin Sigouin
6-3 7-6(4)
Girls’ Doubles
Jada Myii Hart/ Ena Shibahara d Kayla Day/Caroline Dolehide
4-6 6-2 13-11