Tennis News: 5 oldest US Open winners in the Open Era 

    The US Open has not been often won by players exceeding 30, especially in the Open era. The tournament is challenging to win because it lies at the end of a demanding North American hardcourt season

    Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic oldest players who won US open title Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic oldest players who won US open title

    Interestingly, the roster of international tennis players is talented enough to have won the US Open, despite being over 30 years. Here's a look at the top five oldest players who won the title. 

    5. Rod Laver - 31 years, 31 days (1969)

    Rod Laver won the US Open in 1969, the same year he became the first male player in the Open Era to grab all four Majors in one season. No male player has managed to replicate the feat in the five decades since Laver's monumental win.

    In the summit clash against compatriot Tony Roche, Laver recovered from a first-set defeat to register a historic win. Laver also completed a calendar slam in the Amateur Era of tennis.

    4. Novak Djokovic - 31 years, 110 days (2018)

    Novak Djokovic is one of the few players to have won the US Open thrice. He entered as the sixth seed and won his last trophy at Flushing Meadows four years ago.

    The former world number one beat Roger Federer's conqueror John Millman to reach the semi-final, where he defeated Kei Nishikori. The 21-time Major winner thrashed 2009 champion Juan Martin Del Potro in straight sets to clinch his 14th Major.

    Djokovic entered the final in 2021, where he succumbed to Daniil Medvedev. He will likely skip the Grand Slam this year due to his unvaccinated status.

    3. Stan Wawrinka - 31 years, 167 days (2016)

    Stan Wawrinka's 2016 US Open campaign brought along his third Major title. He eased past the first two rounds without dropping a set but tackled a five-setter against Dan Evans in the third round. 

    Wawrinka defeated 2009 winner Del Potro in four sets to reach his third US Open semi-final and then beat 2014 runner-up Kei Nishikori. 

    In the final match against Djokovic, he lost the first set but won the following three sets to become the second oldest US Open champion in the Open Era. He skipped the last two seasons but is expected to compete this year.

    2. Rafael Nadal - 33 years, 97 days (2019)

    Rafael Nadal clinched his fourth US Open title in 2019, and the Spanish maestro went for another title three years later. He defeated Marin Cilic, Diego Schwartzman and Matteo Berrettini to reach his fifth US Open final.

    The Spaniard led by two sets and a break against Daniil Medvedev. However, the Russian took the following two sets to force a decider, where he finally went down after conceding two breaks.

    The then 33-year-old became the oldest player in almost five decades to win the US Open. The Spaniard has not competed since then, and his injury might also curb his plans to participate this year. 

    1. Ken Rosewall - 35 years, 315 days (1970)

    In his journey to the quarter-finals in the 1970 US Open in Forest Hills, Ken Rosewall dropped just one set.

    The Australian defeated Tony Roche in four sets to become the oldest US Open winner in the Open Era. At 39, he became a finalist

     

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