Some Moments To Remember from the 2009 US Open

The 2009 US Open has had its share of some magnificent moments, some poignant ones, and some embarrassing ones...as well as some extremely hilarious ones.

Right from the beginning, the US Open has made the headlines—be it for the way the women’s draw got decimated, or maybe for the unending rain or even for the numerous displays of temper and self-demolition that left us absolutely speechless or for the very surprising ending it had.

It was a completely eventful 15 days stippled with various such moments that left a lasting impression on our minds.

The US Open may have ended, but let's have a look back at those memorable moments in the singles draw which immediately captured our attention.

Here’s presenting a pictorial journey through those unforgettable 15 days and an opportunity to relive those particular scenes which we failed to miss at that time.

The Grand Kickoff

Amid pomp and grandeur, the 2009 US Open kicked off with a sparkling Opening Night extravaganza, which featured the evergreen Andre Agassi during "Athletes giving back."

Goodbye, eternal Racket-breaker

He came, he saw, he conquered the world at the revered Flushing Meadows in 2000. For the subsequent years, he became the darling of his fans.

Marat Safin and drama could not be separated from one another and the fans enjoyed every moment of it—be it his glory or his countless emotional outbursts.

Zillion hearts broke as the beloved Marat took his final bow at a Grand Slam tournament.

The Magician weaves his magic for the last time

The Magician completed his final Grand Slam act at the Flushing Meadows.

One of the most affable and admired players on the Tour known for his vast range of shots, the very accomplished Fabrice Santoro would never be seen again at a Slam after his record 69th appearance.

The first big upset on the women’s side

She returned empty-handed once again.

Two-time Grand Slam runner-up, Elena Dementieva had given birth to a million hopes before the Slam after playing some of the most inspiring tennis and winning the Olympus US Open Series.

All hopes were dashed by a spirited teenager, Melanie Oudin who caused the first big upset on the women’s side as early as the second round.

Taylor Dent: Delivering the unexpected

He was down and out with back surgery. Never thought he would hold the tennis racket again.

The pure serve-and-volleyer Taylor Dent qualified for his Home Slam and fought his way with a lot of grit and determination.

He survived two rounds playing some thrilling tennis in a four-setter win in the first round and a memorable five-setter victory in the second round before ultimately falling to Andy Murray.

The first big upset on the men’s side

He had produced arguably the best tennis of his life at the Wimbledon final. Hopes thus had risen high for the resurgent 2003 champion Andy Roddick but they were ruthlessly crushed by a little-known giant whom Roddick had once mentored.

John Isner ironically returned the favour by outclassing Roddick in a scorching third round match which turned out to be his first ever five-set win in a Grand Slam.

Setting a unique Tour record with 21 Double Faults

The 2006 champion, Maria Sharapova became the sole holder of an ignominious Tour record by dotting her third round match with as many as 21 Double Faults and 63 Unforced Errors.

The ordeal finally got over when the 6’2’’ Siberian comeback queen was shown the door by the precociously talented, diminutive Melanie Oudin in a see-saw battle.

End of agony

She had produced 35 Double Faults and 125 Unforced Errors in her first three rounds.

World No.1 Dinara Safina had barely managed to escape defeat in her first two rounds sparking off the debate over the legitimacy of her No. 1 ranking once again.

There was finally end of agony and distress for her and for the fans as she ran out of luck in the third round, surrendering to Petra Kvitova.

A bagel for a bagel

In a weird blockbuster fourth round match featuring former champions Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters, the two players each had a bagel in the first two sets.

Ultimately in the final set, both decided to compete together at the same time producing some high-intensity enthralling tennis.

The match ended with wildcard Clijsters claiming an upset victory over Venus.

The shocking meltdown

She slammed her taped knee, she screamed, she cried, she banged her head with the racket.

Vera Zvonareva squandered six golden opportunities to advance to the US Open quarterfinals when she shockingly imploded in a stunning display of temper, emotions and frustration, thus allowing Flavia Pennetta to win instead.

The Cinderella story at the Flushing Meadows

Melanie Oudin, a 17-year old from Georgia became the media magnet and earned numerous admirers around the world with her giant-killing run at the US Open that devoured four Russians.

The 5’6’’ Oudin not only resembled her idol, Justine Henin in terms of her height but also showed ample glimpses of the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s game that took her to the quarter-finals.

The last American falls

He was not Andy Roddick. He wasn’t Olympus US Open series winner Sam Querrey, nor was he even James Blake.

He was 55th-ranked 6'9" John Isner whom few would have bet in their wildest dreams, to enter the 4th round. He succumbed to Fernando Verdasco thus leaving the men’s draw bereft of even a single American.

It was the first time in the history of the US Open that began in 1881 that there was no American man in the quarterfinals.

The last Russian falls

Russia represents 40% of the top-10 rankings in WTA. The nation has had two champions in the women’s side in the last 5 years.

Russian women threatened everybody else this year too but their challenge fizzled out astonishingly even before the quarter-finals when former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was dumped out.

This was the first time the Open witnessed such a scene since 2001.

Britain’s Slam hunger remains unsatiated

Hopes had piled once again on the then No.2 Scot, Andy Murray.

He had been on a fine run winning at Canada and coming to the Slam where till date remains his best Grand Slam performance.

But the curse of the "favourite" tag seemed to haunt him yet again as he looked a pale shadow of himself, being defeated in straight sets in the fourth round by the 6'6" Marin Cilic.

"I love you, Rafa"

Err…it was not Xisca Perello speaking the above words, nor even any girl.

The above words were actually uttered by a guy who managed to sneak into the court and kissed Rafael Nadal following the completion of his fourth-round encounter against Gael Monfils. .

You are imitating me? You cannot be serious

The ever-entertaining Djoker once again indulged in some innocuous fun at the US Open but this time it compelled none other than John McEnroe to come down to the court from the commentary booth.

What followed was a priceless moment which saw Novak Djokovic impersonating McEnroe while tennis’ eternal bad boy imitating the other.

Rain—the villain

The second Friday was totally washed out, forcing a Super Saturday to become a Super Sunday and a Monday finish for the second straight year.

The US Open faced a worldwide criticism leading many to question its unique scheduling and the lack of roof at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

All Hell Broke Loose

It was bizarre. It was perhaps the worst-ever end to a tennis match in recent times.

Serena Williams, the 11-time Grand Slam champion let the world know of her weakest moment when she couldn’t control her sheer frustration.

Unable to find a footing in a semifinal, where nothing seemed to go her way, she first received a warning for racket abuse at the end of first set.

Worst was, when she was serving at two points away from defeat, she was called for a foot fault. Serena couldn’t hide her emotions anymore.

A physical threat to the lineswoman followed which subsequently led her to have a point penalty and thus straightaway lose the match, as she was already match point down, leaving the unlikely winner, Kim Clijsters and the world stunned.

Rafa’s Nightmare

Six-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal was handed his worst-ever defeat in a Grand Slam.

In a semifinal where his serve and movement were affected by a nagging abdominal strain, he was thoroughly outplayed as the eventual winner, Juan Martin Del Potro bludgeoned winner after winner to storm into his first ever Grand Slam final.

"The Greatest shot of his life"

Magic, sheer artistry, whatever you call it, the Swiss No.1 had always displayed it in immeasurable quantities. But at the Sunday semi, it was something special.

The Wilson of Roger Federer produced the "greatest shot of his life" that day, which was a between-the-legs, back-to-the-net, crosscourt winner right from the baseline leaving the unfortunate opponent, Novak Djokovic, and the entire world absolutely flabbergasted.

The Great Dane creates history

Caroline Wozniacki sent her nation, Denmark into a frenzy by becoming the first Dane—man or woman—to reach a Grand Slam final ever.

The ever-cheerful and amicable teen seemed to enjoy the biggest moment of her life by never allowing nerves to come into play and put in a thoroughly enjoyable performance which impressed many.

Supermom makes super comeback

It was a fairytale in real life with the sweetest ending ever!

Kim Clijsters defied every conventional belief and captivated the world by coming out of a 28-month retirement and taking New York by storm when she won her second Grand Slam title.

She became just the third mother to win a Slam and also just the third woman ever to beat both the Williams sisters in a Grand Slam—something very few expected her to achieve.

Jada Ellie Lynch: Star of the show

No, she didn’t win the Grand Slam nor was she the runner-up nor was she any established celeb.

She was eventual champion, Kim Clijster’s 19-month old daughter who became the cynosure of all eyes for the glittering night.

The excited curly-haired Jada couldn't stop prancing round the court and the shutterbugs couldn’t stop taking snaps of her.

Youth comes to haunt

A hot-headed teenager had turned into one of the most calm and composed Grand Slam champions ever.

But on Monday at the summit clash, that fiery youth came to haunt Roger Federer as he let an expletive fly while arguing with the umpire in a rare scene involving the Swiss Maestro.

Juan Martin Del Potro had indeed pushed him too hard!

The Tower of Tandil dwarfs the Swiss maestro

Perhaps nobody in their wildest imaginations had expected it to happen. But the 6'6" Juan Martin Del Potro’s destiny had a shocking surprise for everybody when he did the unbelievable.

The 20-year old made his place in everybody’s hearts by carving out a virtually unthinkable come-from-behind victory over the 15-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer.

Thus he remains the only man to achieve the rare feat of toppling the top two players, Federer and Nadal in the same Grand Slam tournament.

Well, 6-in-a-row thus indeed seems to remain a curse for the numero uno player!

I want to be like Roger

Humble and honest, innocent and down-to-earth, Juan Martin del Potro showed there perhaps couldn’t have been a better new champion at the Big Apple.

The new champion’s heartfelt, truthful statement, "I had two dreams—one was to win the US Open and the other was to be like Roger," shone like a bright star on a beautiful end to a brilliant tournament.