US Open: Top five youngest players to win men's singles title in Open Era ft. Pete Sampras, Carlos Alcaraz & more

Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Jimmy Connors have won the US Open five times.

Since 1987, the US Open has been chronologically the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year. Every year, new players come into the spotlight, assuring the world of tennis’s bright future. History is scripted with new records being made, and the forthcoming US Open 2024 promises nothing different.

The build-up to the event has already begun, with the Cincinnati Masters being the sole parameter for judging athletes. While the defending champion Novak Djokovic is still letting his latest triumph of winning the Olympic gold sink in, there have been a few surprises too. Reigning Wimbledon and Roland Garros winner Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated in the round of 32 clash, losing to Gael Monfils.

World No. #1 Jannik Sinner brushed aside the Canadian Open disappointment by advancing to the finals of the Cincinnati Open. Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev was jolted early in the competition, while Holger Rune was stunned by Francis Tiafoe to proceed to the finals despite the tough draw he had to contend with.

Young tennis stars are lighting up the show and will hope to do the same later this month in New York. Today, we will take a look at some of the history makers who became the youngest players to win men’s singles title at the US Open:

5. Marat Safin (20 years, 228 days)

Marat Safin held the No. #1 ATP ranking for nine weeks during 2000 when he won his first Grand Slam tournament at the US Open, becoming the first Russian in history to win this tournament in the men’s singles draw, by defeating the legendary Pete Sampras in straight sets.

Safin reached three more Grand Slam finals, all at the Australian Open (2002, 2004, and 2005). He defeated Lleyton Hewitt in the 2005 final to secure his second Grand Slam in five years. On his road to the final, the Russian defeated top seed Roger Federer in a five-set semifinal match and went on to beat Novak Djokovic, who was making his first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament

4. John McEnroe (20 years, 205 days)

John McEnroe defeated fellow American counterpart Vitas Gerulaitis in the final, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3 to win his first major singles title at the 1979 US Open. The American also beat the defending champion Jimmy Connors in the semifinals ending Connor’s record streak of five consecutive US Open finals.

In 1980, McEnroe became the top-ranked singles player in the world and spent a total of 170 weeks at the pinnacle of the rankings. The American won seven singles Grand Slams including four US Open and three Wimbledon titles.

3. Lleyton Hewitt (20 years, 198 days)

Lleyton Hewitt won the US Open doubles title in 2000 and repeated his heroics in 2001 in the singles event to become one of the youngest men’s singles players to ever do so.

He captured his first Grand Slam singles title in New York by comprehensively defeating former World No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the semifinals and four-time champion Pete Sampras in straight sets (7-6, 6-1, 6-1). The Australian won his second and final single’s Slam in 2002 at Wimbledon.

2. Carlos Alcaraz (19 years, 129 days)

Carlos Alcaraz won his first major singles title at the 2022 US Open, becoming the youngest man and the first male teenager in the Open Era to top the singles rankings at 19. Djokovic had opted out of the 2022 US Open after he was declined from entering the nation, courtesy of being unvaccinated.

Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinal, home-favorite Frances Tiafoe in the semis, and capped off the final with a comprehensive triumph victory over Casper Ruud. By doing so, the Alcaraz became the second youngest to ever win the US Open.

The 21-year-old went on to win three more Grand Slams in the next couple of years, including two Wimbledon and a French Open title. Alcaraz will hope to end the 2024 calendar year on a high by repeating his 2022 heroics and completing a hat-trick of Grand Slams.

1. Pete Sampras (19 years, 28 days)

The legendary Pete Sampras won his maiden Grand Slam at the age of 19 to become the youngest-ever tennis athlete to win a US Open title. The American defeated Andre Agassi in the final, 6–4, 6–3, 6–2 to win the men’s singles tennis title at the 1990 US Open, marking it the first of a then-record 14 men’s singles major titles overall.

Sampras also defeated Ivan Lendl in the quarterfinals, ending Lendl’s record streak of eight consecutive men’s final appearances at the US Open. The American legend won 14 Grand Slams and holds the joint record for the second-highest number of Wimbledon titles (alongside Djokovic), only behind Roger Federer who has 8.

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