10 times when Indians lifted the US Open title

Only three players so far have won the prestigious grand slam title for the country.

Winning a major Grand Slam title is every tennis player’s dream. When it comes to Grand Slams, we always hear about players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, but did you know that Indians have won the Grand Slams on multiple occasions? Today, it’s time to showcase to you all the US Open titles that Indians have won so far:

1999 Mixed Doubles: Mahesh Bhupathi and Ai Sugiyama

Mahesh Bhupathi is one of the legendary Indian tennis players to have ever played the game. He became victorious in 1999 along with his partner, Ai Sugiyama from Japan. The duo seeded No. 2, defeated the American pair of Kimberly Po and Donald Johnson 6-4, 6-4 in the championship match.

Bhupathi not only won India’s first-ever US Open title, but he was also the winner of the 1997 French Open mixed doubles, which was India’s first-ever Grand Slam, where he partnered with Rika Hiraki.

2002 Men’s Doubles: Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi

This was probably one of the toughest campaigns for the Indian legend. He partnered with Max Mirnyi of Belarus and achieved this historic feat. The duo edged past some of the quality opponents, including Kevin Ullyett and Wayne Black of Zimbabwe, in the quarters. Then, they stunned Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in the semifinals, who were the best in their business during that phase.

The finals against Jiri Novak and Radek Stepanek were a three-set affair, but Bhupathi and Max breezed through with 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to win the trophy.

2005 Mixed Doubles: Mahesh Bhupathi and Daniela Hantuchova

Once again, it was Mahesh Bhupathi who gave India its third US Open title. This time, his partner was Slovak star, Daniela Hantuchova.

After winning against Mike Bryan and Corina Morariu in the semifinals, Bhupathi and Hantuchova defeated the doubles stars Nenad Zimonjic and Katarina Srebotnik 6-4, 6-2 in the finals. This was Hantuchova’s first mixed doubles Grand Slam while Bhupathi already won the first one with Ai Sugiyama in 1999.

2006 Men’s Doubles: Leander Paes and Martin Damm

If Bhupathi was busy collecting US Open titles, Leander Paes was too busy winning the other majors. Paes, who already had six Grand Slam titles by then, won his first men’s doubles title at the US Open in 2006, along with the Czech Republic’s Martin Damm. They went past second seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Mirnyi 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the finals to lift the title.

Paes, one of the best tennis players for India, was in a different zone after this feat, as he collected four more US Open titles after this.

2008 Mixed Doubles: Leander Paes and Cara Black

This was Leander Paes’ second US Open title, and he won it with Zimbabwe’s Cara Black. The duo beat Liezel Huber of the United States and Jamie Murray of Great Britain 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in the final to grab the trophy. The final was held at the Arthuer Ashe Stadium.

2009 Men’s Doubles: Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy

Another year and another title for the Indian superstar. Paes, who missed out on a double in 2008 with the same partner, Lukas Dlouhy, made sure this time he had to win the men’s doubles title. Paes lifted the trophy at the 2009 US Open after beating Mahesh Bhupathi, his former partner, who was on the other side.

The duo, who were fourth seeds, defeated Bhupathi and Knowles 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to clinch the title. At the time, Bhupathi and Knowles were third seeds.

2013 Men’s Doubles: Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek

This was the same year when Paes turned 40, and there were no signs of slowing down as the legend went on to win another US Open title, this time alongside Radek Stepanek.

The Indo-Czech pair had to go through some tough games to clinch the title. They defeated fifth seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Aisam-ul-Qureshi in the quarterfinals and even beat the Bryan brothers in the semifinals. The championship match was way too easy for the pair as they defeated Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares 6-1, 6-3 to lift the trophy.

2014 Mixed Doubles: Sania Mirza and Bruno Soares

Sania Mirza is the finest female tennis player from India as she has been crowned with some terrific achievements throughout her career. The tennis star won her first US Open title in 2014 when she partnered with Bruno Soares. The pair defeated Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez 6-1, 2-6, (11-9) in the final to win the US Open mixed doubles title.

2015 Women’s Doubles: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis

This was undoubtedly the most special of all, as a player like Martina Hingis was involved in the match with an Indian tennis star. The experienced duo defeated Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-3 to clinch the title. The top seeds played like champions in the tournament as they won without dropping a set. This was the second major for them as a team, as the duo also won the Wimbledon title in the same year.

2015 Mixed Doubles: Leander Paes and Martina Hingis

Were Indians lucky for Martina Hingis? Well, Hingis was on cloud nine when she won the mixed doubles title with Paes in the same edition. This was Leander Paes’ ninth mixed doubles title overall.

Hingis and Paes defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sam Querrey 6-4, 3-6, (10-7) in the final to win the 2015 US Open title. This pair also won the Australian Open and Wimbledon in the year 2015, becoming the first mixed doubles team since 1969 to win three Grand Slam titles in the same year.

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