Memorable Matches At the U.S. Open

The U.S. Open has produced some of the most memorable matches in tennis history. On the men s side, there is the Sampras vs Agassi quarterfinal match in 2001, in which neither player had his serve broken through the four sets. The match ended after a fourth-set tie breaker and one key mistake. Or take the Djokovic vs Federer semifinal in 2011, during which Djokovic survived two match points, first with a swinging forehand volley and then with a forehand winner crosscourt that landed on the line. On the women s side there is the Graf vs Seles final in 1995, the first time that a woman finalist was able to win the Open despite losing a set at love. Or the magic of the all-Williams final in 2001 as Venus and Serena faced off as the first sisters to compete in a major final since 1884. The big crowds and the energy of New York City provide a backdrop that raises the play at the U.S. Open to the highest level. In this Tbook, chief sports correspondent Christopher Clarey identifies his choices for the top U.S. Open matches since 1981. These 33 New York Times articles bring to life those dramatic battles.