The US Open has a long and distinguished history, with the first ever tournament contested in 1881 in what was then known as the US National Championship. However, it was only in 1987 that the dates changed to make it the fourth and final major on the calendar. An interesting development in US Open history came in 1978, when the organisers reverted to the acrylic hard court surface at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Cente at Flushing Meadows, which is still used to this day.

US Open Champions

Men’s Champions

There are 3 male players tied at the top of the US Open winners list - William Larned, Richard Sears and Bill Tilden. Each of them won the tournament 7 times in the amateur era, though the last of these wins was by Tilden in 1929. In the Open era, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer lead the way with 5 wins each. No other currently active player has won more than 1 singles title at Flushing Meadows. However, Rafael Nadal could change that in 2011 and the Spaniard is at the forefront of this year’s US Open betting market.

Women’s Champions

An amazing fact about US Open women’s finals is that every single one has been settled in straight sets since 1995! However, you have to go a lot further back to find the leading US Open women’s champion – that honour belongs to Molla Bjurstedt Mallory, who won 8 titles between 1915 and 1926. The leading Open Era woman by is Chris Evert, who won 6 championships, while of the currently active players Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams both have 3 wins apiece.