MEN’S
Dominic Thiem: (Ranking: 3 à 3)
After an epic US Open final, Thiem became the first 1990’s born man to win a major and the first maiden men’s champion since 2014. With victories over young guns Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur, as well as defeating what appeared his most likely contender Daniil Medvedev, the 27-year-old progressed to the final dropping just one set. This led to a five-set battle against Alexander Zverev, where Thiem looked down and out on multiple occasions, rallying from two sets to love down, as well as a 5-3 deficit in the decider, to claim his first Grand Slam title. Quite clearly, the biggest winner from the US Open.
Borna Coric: (32 à 26)
Coric did not appear to be in great form ahead of the US Open, but grinded his way to a maiden Grand Slam quarter final. He caused the biggest upset on the men’s side when he defeated 4th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 3rd round, overcoming a twosets to one lead and saving 6 match points. The 23-year-old spent almost 17 hours on court during his five matches, before eventually falling to runner-up Alexander Zverev.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: (99 à 70)
Prior to the tournament, the 21-year-old had won just one grand slam match and had never played at the US Open. The Spaniard advanced to the 4thround defeating three players ranked above himself, including 24th seed Hubert Hurkacz. He ultimately fell to finalist Alexander Zverev in the last 16, but looms as a player to watch in the coming years.
Pablo Carreño Busta: (27 à 18)
Seeded 20th in the tournament, the Spaniard once again defied expectations in New York to reach his second US Open semi-final. His run included two five set wins, one coming against Denis Shapovalov in the last 8, as well as a victory by-way-of default against Novak Djokovic, though his level of tennis triggered the incident. Carreño Busta had quite the unusual path to the final four, where he fell to Alexander Zverev after taking the first two sets.
Jordan Thompson: (63 à 53)
Before this week, Thompson had made the 3rd round of a major just once from 19 attempts and had never passed the 2nd round in his 11 main-draw Grand Slam appearances on hard-court. Over the past fortnight in New York, the Aussie had a breakthrough run and achieved a maiden 4th round berth at a slam,after recording three strong wins over top-100 opponents.
Honourable Mentions:
Vasek Pospisil (94 à 73) – Came in ranked 97 in the world, having not passed the 2nd round at his last 14 majors. Beat Milos Raonic (seeded 25) and Roberto Bautista Agut (seeded 8) who were both coming off successful runs in the US Open lead-up event.
Alex de Minaur (28 à 27) – Defending a 4th round appearance from the 2019 US Open, the Aussie managed to improve on that, and reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time. His run involved wins over 11th seed Karen Khachanov, Richard Gasquet and big serving Canadian, Vasek Pospisil.
Alexander Zverev (7 à 7) – Reached his first Grand Slam final and came agonisingly close to lifting the title. He will be devastated for at least the next week,but there is no doubt the 23-year-old will be back stronger, and this experience will serve him well in the future.
WOMEN’S
Naomi Osaka: (Ranking: 9 à 3)
Osaka came into the US Open as the favourite to claim the women’s title, due to the absences of world number 1, Ash Barty, 2, Simona Halep, and defending champion Amanda Anisimova. The 22-year-old overcame in-form Americans Shelby Rogers and Jennifer Brady, before rallying from a set and a break down against Victoria Azarenka, to win her third Grand Slam title. Despite a few absentees, Osaka still had to overcome an extremely talented field, and was made to earn each of her seven wins.
Victoria Azarenka: (27 à 14)
Before the tournament, Azarenka’s chances of winning another major seemed quite improbable, having not reached a Grand Slam final in 7 years and won just 9 matches at 8 majors since the birth of her son in 2016. In inspirational fashion, the former world number one took out her half of the draw, with victories over 5th seed Aryna Sabalenka, 16thseed Elise Mertens, and a come from behind win over 3rd seed Serena Williams. In the final, she fell just short of a third Grand Slam, losing to Naomi Osaka in a tight, three set encounter.
Tsvetana Pironkova: (Unranked à 156)
Before this year’s US Open, Pironkova had not played a professional tennis match since Wimbledon in 2017. The 33-year-old came into the tournamentunranked, after becoming a mother in 2018 and stepping away from the sport. Surprising everyone including herself, Pironkova progressed to the quarterfinals, dropping just one set on the way and beating 18th seed Donna Vekic and Australian Open finalist Garbiñe Muguruza. In the final 8, her run came to an end at the hands of Serena Williams, despite winning the first set.
Jennifer Brady: (41 à 25)
After making the 4th round twice at majors during 2017, Brady had failed to advance past the 2nd round in her last 8 Grand Slams. Playing the best tennis of her career, the American won 10 straight sets on her way to the semi-finals, where she fell in a hard fought, three set battle against eventual champion Naomi Osaka.
Shelby Rogers: (93 à 55)
Rogers began the US Open ranked 93 in the worldand managed to reach her second major quarter final. Having won just one Grand Slam match since 2017, Rogers upset 11th seed Elena Rybakina and 6thseed Petra Kvitova, before bowing out to champion Naomi Osaka in the last 8.
Honourable Mentions:
Ann Li (128 à 109) - In her US Open debut, the 20-year-old American defeated 13th seed Alison Riske 6-0 6-3, on her way to a 3rd round appearance.
Marta Kostyuk (137 à 119) – Also in her US Open debut, the 18-year-old from Ukraine had two convincing victories before falling to Naomi Osaka in a two-and-a-half hour, three set contest.