Who Is the Youngest and Oldest Player Ever to Win US Open?

Every year, the top crop of men and women tennis players arrive in New York for the US Open. Since it is the fourth and final annual Grand Slam, the anticipation is always high. This year, it will be the 141st edition of the effervescent American Grand Slam.

So, it is fair to say that the US Open has birthed more than a hundred champions in its almost century and a half legacy. Hence, before this year’s event gets underway, we take a look at the youngest and oldest men’s and women’s singles champions of the US Open.

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US Open: Youngest men’s and women’s singles winners

One of America’s greatest tennis players, Pete Sampras, is the youngest winner of the US Open men’s singles title to date. Notably, he is also the youngest-ever winner of the American Grand Slam.

Sampras made this record at 19 years, 0 months, 28 days old at the 1990 US Open Tennis Championships. He then went on to win four more Grand Slams at home in his career.

Moreover, in the Open Era, Australian Lleyton Hewitt is second to Sampras, completing the feat aged 20 years, six months, 13 days in 2001. Then, Hewitt had surpassed American John McEnroe, who had won it 11 days older than him in 1979.

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On the women’s side, American Tracy Austin has the unsurpassed record for the youngest winner in New York. She accomplished the same at only 16 years, eight months, 28 days old. Two players who came close to her record were Martina Hingis and Monica Seles. While Hingis did it at 16 years, 11 months, eight days old in 1997, Seles won at 17 years, nine months, five days in 1991.

Oldest men’s and women’s singles winners in US Slam

Ken Rosewall remains the oldest US Open champion. At 35 years, ten months, 11 days, the Australian tasted glory in 1970.

After Rosewall, with a four-year gap, 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and three majors champion Stan Wawrinka take second and third place in the Open Era, respectively. The Spaniard did it at the age of 33 in 2019, whereas the Swiss professional was 31 years, five months, 14 days old.

In 2015, Flavia Pennetta crossed tennis queen Serena Williams (32 years, 11 months, 11 days – 2014) as the oldest winner of the American Slam. She was 33 years, six months, 18 days.

Also, the third in the list is 24-time Grand Slam champion Margaret Court, who won it in 1973 at 31 years, one month, 23 days. It sums up our list. Do you think these records will break at US Open 2021?

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