5 youngest US Open winners in Open Era ft Juan Martin Del Potro & Pete Sampras × Follow Us Create Notifications New User posted their first comment this is comment text Link Approve Reject & ban Delete Log in Manage your profile Editing Story Queue Video Queue Editing Stats Writer Home SEO Redirection Admin Gaming Wiki Edits Taxonomy Home Edit Site Menu Mapping Dashboard Tag Pages Community Social Feed Queue Feed Center Notification Center Affiliate Home Manage Pages Bottom Tagline Dash Timeless Stories Logout Tennis US Open 2022 Listicle 5 youngest US Open winners in Open Era ft Juan Martin Del Potro & Pete Sampras By Bhargav Modified 11 Aug 2022 Follow Us Comment Share Juan Martin Del Potro (left) and Pete Sampras are two of the youngest US Open winners. The US Open has had a plethora of relatively young champions. It remains a notoriously difficult tournament for older players to win despite four of its last six winners being over the age of 30. The last Grand Slam of the year poses unique challenges, as it comes at the fag end of a long North American hardcourt campaign. Thanks to the heat and humidity of the North American summer, younger players, who can recover faster and better tend to have an advantage over their older counterparts. On that note, here's a look at the five youngest US Open winners in the Open Era (since 1968): #5 Juan Martin Del Potro - 20 years 356 days 2009 US Open Champion Juan Martin Del Potro Tours New York City Juan Martin Del Potro scripted a fairy-tale triumph at the 2009 US Open. Despite making an unexpected run to the final that year - blitzing past Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the semifinals - Del Potro was an overwhelming underdog against Roger Federer. Federer was the indisputable king of New York, winning the last five titles at the US Open and standing a win away from an unprecedented sixth straight triumph. The Swiss legend made a characteristically bright start, pocketing the first set and arriving at 5-4, 30-30 on serve in the second - two points away from a two-sets-to-love lead. Del Potro broke back to level proceedings, but Federer took the third set. At 5-4 40-40 on the Argentine's serve in the fourth, Federer stood two points away from victory, but Del Potro slammed the door shut in emphatic fashion. The Argentine was unstoppable in the fifth, pounding vicious forehand winners to end Federer's five-year reign in New York. US Open Tennis@usopen11 years ago today, 20-year-old Juan Martin del Potro stopped Roger Federer's 5-year title streak and won his first Grand Slam @delpotrojuan I #USOpen 776188911 years ago today, 20-year-old Juan Martin del Potro stopped Roger Federer's 5-year title streak and won his first Grand Slam @delpotrojuan I #USOpen https://t.co/8e5otynDbT The Swiss star hasn't triumphed at Flushing Meadows since then, while Del Potro hasn't won another Major since that dreamy week in New York. #4 Marat Safin - 20 years 226 days 2000 Marat Safin won the US Open in 2000. Making only his third appearance at the US Open in 2000, Marat Safin unexpectedly went all the way, having only made the second round the previous year. The then 20-year-old Russian endured a torrid first three rounds, going the distance in the last two before beating future finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets to reach his first quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows. Safin dropped a set against Nicolas Keifer in the quarterfinals. He then beat Todd Martin to book a date with four-time winner Pete Sampras. He played lights-out tennis to stun the American in straight sets and lift his first Major title. US Open Tennis@usopen13 years ago, Marat Safin won the 2000 US Open, defeating Pete Sampras. Fave Safin memory? #ThrowbackThursday http://t.co/ILng0NEC07374913 years ago, Marat Safin won the 2000 US Open, defeating Pete Sampras. Fave Safin memory? #ThrowbackThursday http://t.co/ILng0NEC07 The tournament saw future five-time winner Roger Federer make his tournament debut, with the then 19-year-old reaching the third round. #3 John McEnroe - 20 years 205 days 1979 John McEnroe won the US Open in 1979. John McEnroe became one of the youngest winners at the US Open when the then 20-year-old made his Grand Slam breakthrough at Flushing Meadows. McEnroe had proved his mettle the previous year, reaching the semis. Proving that he was no flash in the pan, the third-seeded American dropped only one set in the first four rounds. He wouldn't drop another set that fortnight, ousting defending champion Jimmy Connors in the semis before beating another compatriot, Vitas Gerulaitis, in the final. Sporting Life Racing@SportingLife On this day......in 1979, John McEnroe wins the US Open, his first Grand Slam title; beating fellow American Vitas Gerulaitis 7-5, 6-3, 6-34 On this day......in 1979, John McEnroe wins the US Open, his first Grand Slam title; beating fellow American Vitas Gerulaitis 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 https://t.co/ywzWfLVczn McEnroe would go on to win the next two titles in New York as well and added a fourth in 1984. #2 Lleyton Hewitt - 20 years 197 days 2001 Lleyton Hewitt won the US Open in 2001. After making the semifinals the previous year, Lleyton Hewitt was on the money at the 2001 US Open, which used 32 seeds for the first time. The then 20-year-old Australian needed five sets in the second round and four in the fourth to reach the quarterfinals. Hewitt faced a tough test against future winner Andy Roddick in the last eight but survived to win in five sets to return to the Flushing Meadows semifinals. Hewitt was at his masterful best against Yevgeniy Kafelnikov, conceding only four games en route to his first Major final. In the other semifinal, Sampras avenged his loss in the previous year's final against defending champion Safin to set up a mouthwatering clash with Hewitt. However, for the second year running, Sampras fell short - well short - of his fifth US Open title, as he was beaten in straight sets. US Open Tennis@usopenOn this day in 2001, 20-year-old @lleytonhewitt became the youngest World No. 1 in the history of the @atptour rankings.Hewitt won six titles that season, including the US Open.38035On this day in 2001, 20-year-old @lleytonhewitt became the youngest World No. 1 in the history of the @atptour rankings.Hewitt won six titles that season, including the US Open. https://t.co/O65edVwM8r Three years later, Hewitt would return to the final in New York but endured two bagel sets in a three-set loss to Federer. #1 Pete Sampras - 19 years 28 days 1990 Pete Sampras won his first Major title at Flushing Meadows in 1990. Two years after his tournament debut, Pete Sampras stunned his higher-ranked compatriot Andre Agassi to make his Grand Slam breakthrough at the 1990 US Open. The then World No. 12 dropped only a set as he made the second week of a Major for the first time. Sampras faced a stern test against three-time winner Ivan Lendl, squadering a two-set lead before coming through in five to reach the last four. Sampras continued his giant-killing ways in the semifinals, ousting four-time winner John McEnroe. He then beat Agassi for the loss of just nine games to become the first teenager to win the New York Major. US Open Tennis@usopenOn this date in #usopen history, Pete #Sampras became the youngest men's champion at the age of 19 years, 28 days.467192On this date in #usopen history, Pete #Sampras became the youngest men's champion at the age of 19 years, 28 days. https://t.co/YQEW9jSqNr More than a decade later, Sampras would win his fifth title at Flushing Meadows, becoming one of a handful of players to win a Slam in their teens, twenties and thirties. It was also his last professional tournament, with the American retiring from the sport following the victory. Poll : 0 votes Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Keshav Gopalan × Feedback Thank You! Be the first one to comment Follow Us Share Show More Comments GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? No thanks Delete GIF Cancel Update GIF Cancel Reply ❮ ❯ GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? No thanks Delete GIF Cancel Update GIF Cancel Reply ❮ ❯ Be the first one to comment on this story More from Sportskeeda Fetching more content... 1 Manage your profile Editing Story Queue Video Queue Editing Stats Writer Home SEO Redirection Admin Gaming Wiki Edits Taxonomy Home Edit Site Menu Mapping Dashboard Tag Pages Community Social Feed Queue Feed Center Notification Center Affiliate Home Manage Pages Bottom Tagline Dash Timeless Stories Logout No Results Found Get the free App now Manage notifications Popular ‍ Sports (30+) CricketCricket HomeCricket NewsScheduleIND vs SAAUS vs WIENG vs PAKLegends LeagueECC T10County ChampionshipBukhatir LeagueNZ T20 Tri-SeriesWomen's Asia Cup 2022Japan Cricket LeagueWI-W vs NZ-WECT10T20 World Cup FootballFootball HomeNewslettersSK Experts ScheduleEPLNations LeagueLa LigaLigue 1Champions LeagueFIFA WCMLS Bundesliga Serie A WWEWWE HomeNewslettersRumor RoundupRAWSmackDownResultsRosterChampionsWWE Extreme Rules 2022PPV ScheduleAEW EsportsEsports HomeMinecraftOverwatch 2RobloxGenshin ImpactFortniteGTAStreamersFree FirePUBGValorantBGMIPop CultureAnimeGaming TechWiki Guides TennisTennis HomeTennis calendarChina OpenTennis Results TodayATP RankingsWTA RankingsRoger FedererRafael NadalNovak DjokovicSerena Williams MMAMMA HomeUFC NewsONE ChampionshipUFC Fight NightScheduleRankingsResultsUFC Fights TonightONE Championship ResultsONE Championship ScheduleONE Championship Rankings KabaddiKabaddi HomePKL 2022PKL SchedulePKL Points TableKabaddi Rules WikiWiki HomeMinecraft WikiNaruto WikiTikTok WikiYoutube WikiGTA WikiTerraria WikiOne Piece Wiki MoreSportsBasketballIndian FootballNFLMinecraftFormula 1NascarPop CultureCollege FootballHockeyGolfAthleticsBadmintonGymnasticsWrestlingSwimmingTennisShootingBoxingArcheryWinter SportsRobloxSkateboardingKho KhoLifestyle LINKS About Us Write For Us Policies Editorial Standards Journalism Awards Fact Check Affiliate Program Careers CSR Privacy Policy Contact Us Edition: English हिन्दी