US Open 2015: Winners and Losers from Flushing Meadows
The 2015 U.S. Open will be best remembered for Serena Williams falling two matches short of a historic calendar-year Grand Slam.
But images of a bewildered Williams can't define this tournament. There were so many other surprises produced at Flushing Meadows this year.
There was the jubilant Roberta Vinci who upset Williams in the semifinals and smiled as she said "Sorry, guys," to the New York crowd for spoiling the fun. There was her compatriot and childhood friend, Flavia Pennetta, punctuating her win with a retirement announcement.
This year's tournament also featured throwback tennis. We saw a youthful-looking Roger Federer playing some of the best tennis in his career. But his best wasn't good enough to overtake Novak Djokovic.
Then we had other veterans such as Felicinano Lopez, 33, and Vinci, who brought serve and volley and one-handed backhand slices back en vogue.
Speaking of veterans, they outplayed the youngsters. Despite all the hype surrounding the WTA Tour's rising stars and the ATP World Tour's young guns, a bunch of 30-year-olds—Lopez, Vinci, Pennetta, Stan Wawrinka, Federer, Serena and Venus Williams—stole the show.
Now that the trophies have been hoisted, here's a look at the winners and losers at this year's U.S. Open.
Winner: Retirees
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Pennetta announcing her retirement during the trophy ceremony took many by surprise. It was among a few memorable curtain calls for players with long distinguished careers.
American Mardy Fish, playing in his final match, treated fans to a thrilling five-setter against Lopez, who went on to reach the quarterfinals.
Two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt, 34, who reportedly will retire after the Australian Open, bowed out in the second round against friend and fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic.
Lisa Raymond, 42, also played in her final U.S. Open. Raymond, who reached career highs of No. 15 in singles and No. 1 in doubles, is one of the greatest doubles players of all time. In 2011, Raymond, then 38, became the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam doubles title (with partner Liezel Huber). Raymond is also the oldest woman (39 and 30 days) to hold the No. 1 ranking in doubles (or singles).
Loser: The Youth Movement
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Last year's U.S. Open runner-up Kei Nishikori went down in the first round. So did Nick Kyrgios. Grigor Dimitrov and Garbine Muguruza were gone after the second round.
Meanwhile, Pennetta and Vinci represented the oldest and second-oldest first-time Grand Slam finalists in women's tennis. Serena and Venus Williams, 33 and 35, played in one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
Four of the eight men in the quarterfinals were in their 30s. Two others were 29. The youngest, Marin Cilic, turns 27 later this month.
Every year it seems a new name gets added to the list of up-and-coming rising stars or young guns. Yet veterans ruled this year's U.S. Open.
Winner: Paparazzi
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Celebrity sightings are nothing new at the U.S. Open. However, Serena Williams' historic run brought even more big names to Flushing Meadows. Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump made an appearance at the Williams sisters' quarterfinals match.
Of course there were the usual celebrity tennis groupies, Gladys Knight, Alec Baldwin and former New York Mayor David Dinkins.
Other notable stars included Kim Kardashian, Forest Whittaker, Derek Jeter, Katie Couric, Ben Stiller, Martha Stewart, Jamie Foxx, Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon and Tony Bennett.
Any fan with a camera could play paparazzi at the U.S. Open.
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Loser: Locker Rooms
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Eugenie Bouchard was finally climbing out of a year-long slump before she fell in the locker room and suffered a concussion that forced her to withdraw from the U.S. Open.
The next day, Donald Young discovered much of his gear missing from his locker. Just prior to his big fourth-round match against Stan Wawrinka, Young arrived at his locker and noticed all his shoes were gone.
According to Nick McCarvel of USA Today, someone took Young's shoes and potentially some shirts. Some locker-room attendants reportedly told Young that "it must have been the night crew."
Winner: Flabio!
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The entertainment world brought us cute names for celebrity couples such as Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie), Kimye (Kanye West and Kim Kardashian) and Bennifer (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez).
So why not Flabio, for Flavia Pennetta and fiancee Fabio Fognini?
The Italians both made headlines at the 2015 U.S. Open. Fognini came from two sets behind to upset Rafael Nadal in one of the best matches of the tournament. And of course Pennetta, playing in her first Grand Slam final, did her version of dropping the mic, by annoucing that she was saying goodbye to tennis.
Salute, Flabio!
Loser: Rumored Boyfriend Drake
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After Serena Williams lost to Vinci, many of her fans took to Twitter to blame Drake, the recording artist and rumored boyfriend. Similar to the Justin Bierber course, Drake, is often blamed for bringing bad luck. Canadian voodoo?
Despite the TMZ-fueled rumors, it's notable to point out, Williams has described Drake as only a family friend.
Winner: Sisterhood
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In years past, the relationship between the top players on the WTA Tour could best be described as acrimonious. However, this year sisterly love seemed to be on display.
Besides the obvious sisterly affection shared by Venus and Serena Williams, you had heartfelt embraces and mutual respect between Pennetta and Vinci.
Pennetta and Vinci, friends since childhood, were roommates for four years while in their teens. They were genuinely happy for each other.
On the heels of last year's U.S. Open final, in which Williams and BFF Caroline Wozniacki joked about sharing a drink after their U.S. Open final, the women's tour seems to be a kindler, more sisterly place to play.
Loser: Bryan Brothers
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Bob and Mike Bryan, five-time winners of men's doubles titles at the U.S. Open, loss their opening-round match against fellow Americans Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson.
But bigger than the loss at Flushing Meadows was the Bryan brothers ending 2015 without a Grand Slam title. It was the first time since 2004 that the Bryan brothers failed to win a major title.
Winner: Italian Women
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Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi flew to New York to watch the historic first live—an all-Italian women's final at the U.S. Open. This assured an Italian woman would win the U.S. Open.
It was a historic day for the fabulous tennis-playing ladies of Italy. Pennetta became only the second Italian woman to win a Grand Slam. Francesca Schiavone (winner of the 2010 French Open) was the first.
Loser: Serena Williams
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Serena Williams just secured the year-end No. 1 ranking. She also won three Grand Slams. For anyone not named Serena, that would make 2015 a fabulous year.
Yet, you can't ignore how close she came to making history. It wasn't just that she lost. It was how she lost that seemed so improbable. She caved under the pressure and fell to a woman she had never lost to before.
It was an epic upset.
Winner: Novak Djokovic
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Because of the buildup heading into the U.S. Open, few will remember 2015 as the year Djokovic nearly pulled of a calendar-year Slam. He actually came closer than Serena Williams, who lost in the semifinals. Williams fell two matches shy. Djokovic, who won the first set against Stan Wawrinka at the French Open, was only two sets away from a calendar Slam this year.
As painful as that loss was, Djokovic bounced back. He truly is the elastic man.
Rafael Nadal
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The fact that Rafael Nadal losing before the semifinals is no longer a shocker is the most shocking thing about this loss to Fognini in the third round.
Less than two years removed from being considered the greatest player in the game and mentioned among the greatest of all time, Nadal is no longer even considered the favorite going into tournaments. This year he never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam. The last time he did, was in the 2014 French Open, where he won his last Slam title.
He went up two sets on Fognini and allowed his opponent to claw back. That's so un-Nadal like. Or is it?
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