The 2023 US Open is upon us and ahead of this Grand Slam we wanted to take a closer look at the tournament including its rich history, its previous champions and what we can all expect in this year’s edition from the players and talent on display.
The US Open Tennis Championship is the fourth and final Grand Slam event in the annual tennis calendar, meaning it is one of the most important annual professional tennis tournaments on the circuit. It is a highly regarded event, not just for fans but also for the players wanting to compete in it, exuding talent and drama in this incredible tennis extravaganza. In 2023 the US Open will take place from 28 August to 10 September 2023.
Played on a hard-court surface, this major tennis event takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in New York, America. The US Open consists of five primary championships including men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles events, as well as senior, junior, and wheelchair tournaments.
History of the Tournament
The inaugural Open began in 1881 and was won by American Richard Sears (who went on to win for six consecutive years after that) and has evolved from being a men’s only tournament to a men’s and women’s event. As one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, it was originally played on grass courts, then clay, and now hard-court as we know it today, on the famous blue surface that sets the stage under the dramatic lights of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Facts about the US Open
The US Open became the first Grand Slam to feature night matches in 1975.
It was the first Grand Slam to offer equal prize money to men and women, coming into force after Billie Jean King brought attention to the issue in 1973 and threatened to boycott the event.
Arthur Ashe (whom the stadium was named after) was the only male African American to win the tournament in 1968.
The Arthur Ashe stadium is the largest tennis stadium in the world, with a total capacity of 23,771 – that’s a lot of tennis fans under one roof!
The youngest men’s singles US Open champion was Pete Sampras at 19 years old and Tracy Austin at 16 years old in the women’s singles history.
The official cocktail of the US Open is called the Honey Deuce, made from Vodka, lemonade, Black Raspberry liqueur and ice with four honeydew melon balls as garnish
The record for the highest number of US Open men’s singles titles is jointly held by Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Feder winning the tournament 5 times in their careers, and by Chris Evert and Serena Williams six times in the women’s era.
Previous Champions from the past 10 years
2022 – Carlos Alcaraz
2021 – Daniil Medvedev
2020 – Dominic Thiem
2019 – Rafael Nadal
2018 – Novak Djokovic
2017 - Rafael Nadal
2016 – Stan Wawrinka
2015 - Novak Djokovic
2014 – Marin Cilic
2013 - Rafael Nadal
2012 – Andy Murray
What to expect in 2023
Big names will be heading to New York for this year’s tournament, where we will be treated to more nail-biting, jaw-dropping and thrilling action on court. But who will be making an appearance in the last Grand Slam of the year? Let’s take a look…
The Men’s Singles
In the men’s draw, record breaking 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will be sure to lead the field, alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune, and many more.
Full of energy, drive and power, defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz is set to return in the bid to claim a second title in this major after winning his first Grand Slam title in Flushing Meadows in 2022. The Spaniard has since added another Grand Slam to his name, becoming 2023 Wimbledon champion by defeating all-time great, Djokovic, in a five-set thriller, shortly after claiming the 2023 cinch Championships title at the Queen’s Club in London. He certainly is one of tennis’s brightest young talents who is an exciting and dynamic player to watch, and one to watch out for in years to come!
The Women’s Singles
The women’s main draw will see the return of defending champion and current World No.1 Iga Swiatek, who will be looking to achieve her second Grand Slam title in 2023 and third in her career. Finishing in at least the semi-finals in all seven hard-court tournaments she’s played this year, there are high hopes for the 22-year-old Polish player.
2023 Australian Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka, has the chance to overtake Swiatek for the No.1 spot in New York, but to do so she must at least match the former champion’s result. Can she get a second Grand Slam under her belt this year?
Joining the line-up are Elena Rybakina, Wimbledon 2023 runner up Ons Jabeur, American Coco Gauff, Maria Sakkari and former World No.1s and US Open 2023 wildcards, Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, all of which will be looking to make their mark.
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