Five US Open final shocks

Finals weekend takes place at the US Open this weekend – and it’s always packed with plenty of drama.

There have been a few shock results over the years, so let’s take a look at the winners that really upset the apple cart to claim one of the most prestigious titles on the tennis circuit.

Argentinian Del Potro knocked the reigning champion off his pedestal in 2009 with a five-set victory over the Swiss. Federer had been victorious at Flushing Meadows for five years running before his winning streak ended in a match that lasted over four hours.

For the first time in 12 years, a non-American won the women’s singles title at the US Open in 1985. Czech Mandlíková denied Navrátilová a hat-trick of successive titles with a 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 win to secure her – and her country’s – only ever success at the US Open in the women’s tournament.

Safin pulled off a memorable upset when he smashed the mighty Sampras into submission during a comprehensive win by three sets to love. Sampras had already bagged four US Open titles before 2000 and was expected to make it a nice round five, but Safin had other ideas.

The 2010 French Open finalist overcame the odds to defeat Williams in an exciting US Open final last year. Stosur was seeded ninth for the tournament, yet she quelled the challenges of Nadia Petrova, Maria Kirilenko and Vera Zvonareva and Williams to become the first Australian woman to win a grand slam title in over 30 years.

Lendl graced the men’s final for a remarkable eighth year in a row in 1989 – and his experience was expected to prove the difference. Becker, however, took centre stage and clinched his one and only US Open title, leaving the fresh-faced 21-year-old to bask in the “best moment in my tennis life.”