Biggest Upsets in US Open History

The US Open has a long and storied past marked with great triumph and punishing defeats. As with any sport, there are few moments more painfully entertaining to watch then a favourite being upset by an unlikely opponent. The US Open has no shortage of these moments. Below are just three of the most recent upsets from the Open that stood out for us.
 

Julie Colin defeating Ana Ivanovic

In 2008, Ana Ivanovic was at the peak of your powers having won the French Open and secured the number one ranking. However, she was soon to go on a back-to-back losing streak that would see her question whether it was worth continuing.
 
She entered the 2008 Wimbledon tournament as the world’s number-one ranked female tennis player. After cruising through the first round, she faced Zheng Jie in the second round. Despite being ranked 133, Jie defeated Ivanovic.

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Shaken but still retaining her number one ranking, Ivanovic went into the US Open confident. After making it through the first round, she would again be upset in the second round, this time by the 188-ranked Julie Colin. Following the defeat, Ivanovic revealed that the loss had taken such a toll that she even considered quitting tennis.
 
Ivanovic retired in December 2016 with her 2008 French Open win as her one and only Grand Slam title.
 

Juan Martin Del Potro defeating Roger Federer

Roger Federer looked to be in supreme form in 2009 after winning the French Open and Wimbledon back to back. Coming into the US Open, Federer was the number one seed and was expected to win a third Grand Slam in a row.
 
Throughout the tournament, the Swiss Meastro would drop just two sets on his road to the final to meet an unlikely opponent in Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina. Del Potro had already stunned the US Open upsetting Rafael Nadal in the semis. However, Federer was nonetheless expected to win comfortably.
 

 
Federer had a strong start winning the first set 3-6. An uncharacteristically sloppy Federer would go on to make 12 double faults in the match turning the tide in Del Potro’s favour. The Argentinian seized the opportunity and won his first Grand Slam 3-6, 7-5(5), 4-6. 7-6(4), 6-2.
 
His loss at the 2009 US Open would be a blip on an otherwise legendary career. Federer has gone on to win an additional five Grand Slam titles. He has, however failed to win a US Open again after 2009 despite having won it every year from 2004 to 2008. Make of that what you will.
 

Bill Scanlon defeating John McEnroe

 
John McEnroe went into the 1983 US Open as the tournament favourite. He began his tournament campaign with a rocky start being tested by the unseeded Tery Waltke in a five-set match.
 
Despite the early jitters, McEnroe managed to make his way to the fourth round where you would face sixteenth-seed Bill Scanlon. McEnroe dominated the first two sets and looked to be cruising through to the next round. However, this was not to be. After losing the third set narrowly, McEnroe crumbled and lost the next two sets to get knocked out of the tournament.
 
McEnroe would make up for his loss in the singles tournament by winning the doubles title with fellow countryman Peter Fleming.
 

Bet on the US Open

 
The 2019 US Open is in full swing and is expected to run until September 8 concluding with the Men’s Final. You can bet on all of the 2019 US Open action at Betway. Simply log into your account and click on the tennis icon on the Sports page. If you’re new to Betway, register a new account today and you’ll get up to USh 200,000 in Free Bets that you can use to start betting on the US Open. And remember that you can experience the excitement of Live Tennis Betting with Betway Uganda. 



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