Winning a Grand Slam title is the ultimate achievement for any tennis player, with success at the majors allowing a standing among the immortals to be established. Victory on the most prestigious of courts means that a place in the history books will forever be occupied.
For those chasing down such honors, it really does not matter how the ultimate line is crossed – it is all about getting there by any means possible. To emerge triumphant with a touch of swagger would, however, be the preferred choice of many.
Style
In the modern era, plenty have perfected the art of mixing substance with style and US Open tennis odds in 2022 are littered with world-class performers that believe they have what it takes to go all the way. For example, the antagonistic Nick Kyrgios is hailed at odds of 13/8 to win for the men, meanwhile, Caroline Garcia is staked at odds of 4/1 to take the crown for the women. For them, tennis betting tips will forever be weighted in their favor as they prove to be a class above the rest.
There is a box, though, that even the very best in the business can find it difficult to tick. With competition so fierce at the top of a global game, faultless runs through any major event are notoriously difficult to achieve.
An incredible fortnight in New York is in the books.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/3oeryxlHiD
While Grand Slam champions occupy an elite talent pool, the most exclusive club is reserved for those that get their hands on silverware without dropping a set along the way. That really is a feat to behold, particularly when it comes to competitive action in New York.
In the men’s game, only eight players have claimed the US Open crown without suffering any kind of stumble along the way. That run stretches all the way back to the very first staging of the event back in 1881 – when the legendary Richard Sears won the first of seven successive titles at a canter.
A further seven stars have emulated that achievement, but none since 1960. Some 62 years have passed since Neale Fraser became the last man to emerge victorious at Flushing Meadows with all of his matches completed in just three sets.
The Australian is a member of the Hall of Fame, as the only man to have won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles at a single US Open – a feat he achieved in back-to-back tournaments. He was also Davis Cup captain of his country for 24 years – another record – and is one of only 20 male players to have won doubles titles at all four majors.
Davis Cup captains with at least 3 titles
➕ Neale Fraser
➕ Niki Pilic
➕ Yannick Noah
➕ Hans Olsson
➕ Shamil Tarpischev @DaniilMedwed | #DavisCupFinals #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/6zKzWkJZcL
Iconic
Fraser’s record in the Big Apple is likely to stand the test of time as anybody hoping to knock him from the loftiest of perches is going to have to enjoy a fortnight of form in which the stars align perfectly. Any US Open champion must come through seven matches unscathed, with 21 sets collected along the way.
The last man to manage that in the men’s game was Rafael Nadal at the French Open in 2020 – with the Spanish King of Clay the only man to have won four Slams without dropping a set. All of those successes came in Paris, though, with the courts of New York very much living up to their ‘hard’ billing.
