US Open (tennis)
| File:US Open.svg | |
| Official website | |
| Location | New York City - Queens United States |
|---|---|
| Venue | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center |
| Surface | Grass - outdoors (1881–1974) Clay - outdoors (1975–1977) DecoTurf - outdoors (1978–present) |
| Prize money | US$22,063,000 (2011) |
| Men's | |
| Draw | 128S / 128Q / 64D |
| Women's | |
| Draw | 128S / 96Q / 64D |
| Grand Slam | |
| Ongoing | |
 [[2012 US Open (tennis)|]] | |
The United States Open Tennis Championships, often referred to as Flushing Meadows, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881. Since 1987, the US Open has been chronologically the fourth and final tennis major comprising the Grand Slam each year; the other three are the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. It is held annually in late August and early September over a two-week period (the weeks before and after Labor Day weekend). The main tournament consists of five different event championships: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, with additional tournaments for senior, junior, and wheelchair players. Since 1978, the tournament has been played on acrylic hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City. The US Open is owned and organized by the USTA. Although substantial, net proceeds from high ticket prices are used to promote the development of Tennis in the United States as the USTA is a not for profit organization.
The US Open has tiebreaks in every set, including the last set. The other three Grand Slam tournaments have tiebreaks in every set other than the last set (i.e. the fifth set for men and third set for women), and therefore their last set continues indefinitely until a two-game lead is reached.
History
The tournament was first held in August 1881 on the grass courts at the Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island and in that first year only clubs that were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) were permitted to enter.[1] The first edition was won by Richard Sears who went on to win seven consecutive singles titles.[2] From 1884 through 1911, the tournament used a challenge system whereby the defending champion automatically qualified for the next year's final in which he would play the winner of the all-comers tournament. In 1915 the national championship was relocated from Newport, Rhode Island to the West Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills, New York. Already in 1911 an effort was made by a group of tennis players, headed by Karl H. Behr from New York, to relocate the tournament to New York but by a vote of 95 to 60 it was decided to remain in Newport.[3] In early 1915 the issue resurfaced when a group of about 100 tennis players signed a petition in favor of the move, arguing that most tennis clubs, players and fans were located in the New York area and that it would therefore be beneficial for the development of the sport to host the national championship there.[4] This view was opposed by another group of players which included eight former national singles champions.[5][6] The contentious issue was brought to a vote at the annual USNLTA meeting on Feb 5, 1915 and with 128 votes in favor and 119 against it was decided to relocate.[7][8][9] From 1921 through 1923, the tournament was played at the Germantown Cricket Club in Philadelphia and it returned to Forest Hills in 1924.[10]
In the first few years of the United States National Championship only men competed and the tournament was known as the US National Singles Championships for Men. Six years after the men's nationals were first held, the first official U.S. Women's National Singles Championship was held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in 1887, won by 17-year-old Philadelphian Ellen Hansell, accompanied by the U.S. Women's National Doubles Championship (not held for the next two years) and U.S. Mixed Doubles Championship (not held in 1899). The women's tournament used a challenge system from 1888 through 1918, except in 1917. Between 1890 and 1906 sectional tournaments were held in the east and the west of the country to determine the best two doubles teams, which competed in a play-off to see who would play the defending champions in the challenge round.[10]
The open era began in 1968 when all five events were merged into the US Open, held at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills. The 1968 combined tournament was open to professionals for the first time. That year, 96 men and 63 women entered the event, and prize money totaled $100,000.
In 1970, the US Open became the first Grand Slam tournament to use a tiebreak to decide a set that reached a 6–6 score in games and is the only major to use a tiebreak in the deciding set; the other three grand slams play out the deciding set until a two-game margin is achieved. From 1970 to 1974 the US Open used a best-of-nine point, sudden death tiebreaker before moving to the ITF best-of-twelve point system.[2]
In 1973 the US Open became the first Grand Slam tournament to award equal prize money to men and women with that year's singles champions John Newcombe and Margaret Court both receiving $25,000.[2] Another US Open innovation came in 1975 when floodlights enabled night play for the first time. In 1978 the tournament moved from the West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills, Queens to the larger USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, in the process switching the surface from clay, used in the last three years at Forest Hills, to hard courts. Jimmy Connors is the only individual to have won US Open singles titles on all three surfaces (grass, clay, hardcourt), while Chris Evert is the only woman to win on two surfaces (clay, hardcourt).[2]
The US Open is the only Grand Slam tournament that has been played every year since its inception.[11]
Player challenges of line calls
In 2006, the US Open introduced instant replay reviews of calls, using the Hawk-Eye computer system. Each player is allowed three challenges per set plus one additional challenge during a tiebreak. The player keeps all existing challenges if the challenge is successful. If the challenge is unsuccessful and the original ruling is upheld, the player loses a challenge. Instant replay was initially available only on the stadium courts (Ashe and Armstrong), until 2009 when it became available on the Grandstand as well.
Once a challenge is made, the official review (a 3-D computer simulation based on multiple high-speed video cameras) is shown to the players, umpires, and audience on the stadium video boards and to the television audience at the same time. During the 2011 US Open, 29.78% of men's challenges and 30.2% of women's challenges were correct.[12]
In 2007, JP Morgan Chase renewed its sponsorship of the US Open. As part of its sponsorship arrangement, Chase renamed the tournament's replay system the "Chase Review" on in-stadium video and television.[13]
Grounds
The DecoTurf surface at the US Open is a fast surface, having slightly less friction and producing a lower bounce compared to other hard courts (most notably the Rebound Ace surface formerly used at the Australian Open). For this reason, many serve-and-volley players have found success at the US Open.
The main court is located at the 22,547-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium, opened in 1997. It is named after Arthur Ashe, the African American tennis player who won the men's final of the inaugural US Open in 1968. The next largest court is Louis Armstrong Stadium, opened in 1978, extensively renovated from the original Singer Bowl. It was the main stadium from 1978 to 1996, and its peak capacity neared 18,000 seats, but was reduced to 10,200 after the opening of Arthur Ashe Stadium.[14] The third largest court is the 6,000-seat Grandstand Stadium, attached to the Louis Armstrong Stadium. In 2011, Court 17 was opened as a fourth show court, with large television screens and electronic line calling which allows player challenges. Sunken into the ground, it has been nicknamed "The Pit". It initially held 2,500 with temporary stands, but will allow over 3,000 fans after its completion in 2012. It is located in the southwest corner of the grounds.[15] Sidecourts 4, 7, and 11 each have a seating capacity of over 1,000.
All the courts used by the US Open are illuminated, meaning that television coverage of the tournament can extend into prime time to attract higher ratings. This has recently been used to the advantage of USA Network—and now, ESPN2—on cable and especially for CBS, the American broadcast television outlet for the tournament for many years, which used its influence to move the women's singles final to Saturday night to draw better television ratings.[citation needed]
In 2005, all US Open (and US Open Series) tennis courts were given blue inner courts to make it easier to see the ball on television; the outer courts remained green.[16]
The USTA National Tennis Center was renamed in honor of four-time tournament champion and tennis pioneer Billie Jean King during the 2006 US Open.
Prize money
The total prize money for the 2012 US Open championships is $24,054,000 (in US dollars) which represents an increase of more than two million dollars compared to the 2011 edition.[17] The prize money is divided as follows[18] :
| Event | W | F | SF | QF | 4R | 3R | 2R | 1R | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | Total | |
| Singles | 128 Draw | $1,900,000 | $950,000 | $475,000 | $237,500 | $120,000 | $65,000 | $37,000 | $23,000 | $8,638 | $5,775 | $3,000 | $9,406,000 |
| Doubles* | 64 Draw | $420,000 | $210,000 | $105,000 | $50,000 | - | $26,000 | $16,000 | $11,000 | - | - | - | $3,712,000 |
| Mixed Doubles* | 32 Draw | $150,000 | $70,000 | $30,000 | $15,000 | - | - | $10,000 | $5,000 | - | - | - | $500,000 |
* per team
In addition to the championship prize money an amount of $410,000 was available for the Champions Invitational and $1,272,000 for player per diem bringing the total player compensation to $25,526,000.[18]
Ranking points
Ranking points for the ATP and WTA have varied at the US Open through the years but presently singles players receive the following points:
| Event | W | F | SF | QF | 4R | 3R | 2R | 1R | |
| Singles | Men (ATP) | 2000 | 1200 | 720 | 360 | 180 | 90 | 45 | 10 |
| Women (WTA) | 2000 | 1400 | 900 | 500 | 280 | 160 | 100 | 5 | |
Champions
Past champions
Current champions
| Event | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Men's Singles |  Andy Murray |
 Novak Djokovic |
7–6(12–10), 7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6-2 |
| 2012 Women's Singles | Serena Williams |
 Victoria Azarenka |
6–2, 2–6, 7–5 |
| 2012 Men's Doubles | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan |
 Leander Paes Radek Štepánek |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 2012 Women's Doubles |  Sara Errani Roberta Vinci |
Andrea Hlaváčková Lucie Hradecká |
6–4, 6–2 |
| 2012 Mixed Doubles |  Ekaterina Makarova Bruno Soares |
Květa Peschke Marcin Matkowski |
6–7(8–10), 6–1, [12–10] |
-
Andy Murray won the title over Novak Djokovic in 2012. It was his first US Open title, and first slam overall for his career. -
Serena Williams won the title over Victoria Azarenka in 2012. This is the fifteenth slam title of her career, and the fourth US Open Women's Singles title. -
Bob Bryan part of the winning men's doubles team in 2012. This is his twelfth men's doubles slam title of his career, and fourth US Open Men's Doubles title. -
Mike Bryan part of the winning men's doubles team in 2012. This is his twelfth men's doubles slam title of his career, and fourth US Open Men's Doubles title. -
Sara Errani part of the winning women's doubles team in 2012. This is her second women's doubles slam title of her career, and first US Open Women's Doubles title. -
Roberta Vinci part of the winning women's doubles team in 2012. This is her second women's doubles slam title of her career, and first US Open Women's Doubles title. -
Ekaterina Makarova part of the winning mixed doubles team in 2012. This is her first mixed doubles slam title of her career. Also, this was her first mixed doubles title at the US Open. -
Bruno Soares part of the winning mixed doubles team in 2012. This is his first mixed doubles slam title of his career. Also, this was his first mixed doubles title at the US Open.
Records
| Record | Era | Player(s) | Count | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men since 1881 | ||||
| Winner of most Men's Singles titles |
Before 1968: | Richard Sears Bill Larned Bill Tilden
|
7 | 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 1901, 1902, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1929 |
| After 1967: | Jimmy Connors Pete Sampras  Roger Federer
|
5 | 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 | |
| Winner of most consecutive Men's Singles titles |
Before 1968: | Richard Sears
|
7 | 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 |
| After 1967: | Roger Federer
|
5 | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 | |
| Winner of most Men's Doubles titles |
Before 1968: | Richard Sears James Dwight Holcombe Ward
|
6 | 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 1899, 1900, 1901, 1904, 1905, 1906 |
| After 1967: | Bob Lutz Stan Smith John McEnroe Bob Bryan Mike Bryan
|
4 | 1968, 1974, 1978, 1980 1968, 1974, 1978, 1980 1979, 1981, 1983, 1989 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012 | |
| Winner of most consecutive Men's Doubles titles |
Before 1968: | Richard Sears James Dwight
|
6 | 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 |
| After 1967: |  Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde
|
2 | 1995, 1996 1995, 1996 | |
| Winner of most Mixed Doubles titles - Men |
Before 1968: | Bill Tilden Bill Talbert
|
4 | 1913, 1914, 1922, 1923 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946 |
| After 1967: | Bob Bryan
|
4 | 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010 | |
| Winner of most Championships (total: singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles) - Men |
Before 1968: | Bill Tilden
|
16 | 1913–1929 (7 singles, 5 men's doubles, 4 mixed doubles) |
| After 1967: | John McEnroe
|
8 | 1979–1989 (4 singles, 4 men's doubles) | |
| Women since 1887 | ||||
| Winner of most Women's Singles titles |
Before 1968: |  / Molla Bjurstedt Mallory
|
8 | 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1926 |
| After 1967: | Chris Evert
|
6 | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982 | |
| Winner of most consecutive Women's Singles titles |
Before 1968: | / Molla Bjurstedt Mallory Helen Jacobs
|
4 | 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 |
| After 1967: | Chris Evert
|
4 | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 | |
| Winner of most Women's Doubles titles |
Before 1968: | Margaret Osborne duPont
|
13 | 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1957 |
| After 1967: | Martina Navratilova
|
9 | 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 | |
| Winner of most consecutive Women's Doubles titles |
Before 1968: | Margaret Osborne duPont
|
10 | 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 |
| After 1967: |  Virginia Ruano Pascual Paola Suárez
|
3 | 2002, 2003, 2004 2002, 2003, 2004 | |
| Winner of most Mixed Doubles titles - Women |
All-time: | Margaret Osborne duPont Margaret Court
|
8 | 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1958, 1959, 1960 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972 |
| Before 1968: | Margaret Osborne duPont
|
8 | 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1958, 1959, 1960 | |
| After 1967: | Margaret Court Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova
|
3 | 1969, 1970, 1972 1971, 1973, 1976 1985, 1987, 2006 | |
| Winner of most Championships (total: singles, women's doubles, mixed doubles) - women |
All-time: | Margaret Osborne duPont Margaret Court
|
25 18 |
1941–1960 (3 singles, 13 women's doubles, 9 mixed doubles) 1961-1975 (5 singles, 5 women's doubles, 8 mixed doubles) |
| Before 1968: | Margaret Osborne duPont
|
25 | 1941–1960 (3 singles, 13 women's doubles, 9 mixed doubles) | |
| After 1967: | Martina Navratilova
|
16 | 1977–2006 (4 singles, 9 women's doubles, 3 mixed doubles) | |
| Miscellaneous | ||||
| Youngest winner(single) | Men: | Pete Sampras
|
19 years and 1 month | |
| Women: | Tracy Austin
|
16 years and 8 months | ||
Media coverage
- The US Open is broadcast in the United States on CBS Sports, ESPN2, and Tennis Channel and in 3D on DirecTV's n3D
- The tournament is broadcast in Canada on TSN, TSN HD, and TSN2.
- The tournament is broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports and Eurosport.
- In the Netherlands and Germany the US Open is broadcast on Eurosport and Eurosport 2
- In Belgium, the US Open is broadcast on public broadcasters Eén, Canvas and on commercial channel Eurosport.
- In Spain, the tournament is broadcast on Digital Plus and Antena 3.
- In India and Pakistan, the US Open is broadcast on the channel Ten Sports.
- In Japan, the tournament has been broadcast on WOWOW since 1992.
- The US Open's website allows viewing of live streaming video, but unlike other major tournaments does not allow watching video on demand.
See also
References
- ^ "National Lawn-Tennis Tournament" (PDF). The New York Times. July 14, 1881. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed. ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 10, 452, 454. ISBN 978-0942257700.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ "Tennis Tournament at Newport Again" (PDF). The New York Times. February 4, 1911. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Newport May Lose Tennis Tourney" (PDF). The New York Times. January 17, 1915. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Want Newport for Tennis Tourney" (PDF). The New York Times. January 18, 1915. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "A Tennis "Solar Plexus`"" (PDF). The New York Times. January 23, 1915. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Tourney Goes to New York". Boston Evening Transcript. February 6, 1915. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "'All-Comers' Tourney to be Restricted" (PDF). The New York Times. February 7, 1915. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Newport Loses Tennis Tourney" (PDF). The New York Times. February 6, 1915. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^ a b Shannon, Bill (1981). United States Tennis Association Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (Centennial edition). NY: Harper & Row. p. 558. ISBN 0-06-014896-9.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); More than one of|pages=and|page=specified (help) - ^ "Grand Slams – US Open". ITF. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ^ "Player Challenges". US Open official website.
- ^ Kaplan, Daniel. "Chase signs mega renewal with Open." Sports Business Journal, August 20, 2007; retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ "Ashe & Armstrong Stadiums". USTA. May 25, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ Robson, Douglas. "New show court draws a crowd, quietly" USA Today (August 29, 2011)
- ^ "Courting Victory on Any Surface". USTA. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "US Open Prize Money Increases Announced". ATP Tour. July 12, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ^ a b "US Open Prize Money". USTA. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
External links
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