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US Open Men's Singles Champions - Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras & Roger Federer won 5 titles in the Open era

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The US Open began in 1881, Richard Sears winning the first seven titles
Connors, Sampras & Federer lead the Open Era with five titles each
Alexander Zverev is the defending champion, winning in 2026

Written by John Eastwood

Updated:

Roger Federer won five straight US Open titles from 2004-08 (Getty)

US Open Men's Singles Champions

The US Open was first held in 1881 with Richard Sears beating William Glyn in the final. Sears would go on to win the first seven titles, the same number as William Larned and Bill Tilden in the amateur era.

Three players have won five titles in the Open era - Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.

Novak Djokovic has won the US Open four times and Carlos Alcaraz has won twice in the previous five years.

Alexander Zverev is the defending champion after beating Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 in the 2026 final.

Year	Champion	Country	Runner-up	Country	Final Score
2026	Alexander Zverev	Germany	Ben Shelton	USA	6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2
2025	Carlos Alcaraz	Spain	Jannik Sinner	Italy	6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
2024	Jannik Sinner	Italy	Taylor Fritz	USA	6-3, 6-4, 7-5
2023	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	Daniil Medvedev	Russia	6-3, 7-6, 6-3
2022	Carlos Alcaraz	Spain	Casper Ruud	Norway	6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3
2021	Daniil Medvedev	Russia	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	6-4, 6-4, 6-4
2020	Dominic Thiem	Austria	Alexander Zverev	Germany	2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6
2019	Rafael Nadal	Spain	Daniil Medvedev	Russia	7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4
2018	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	Juan Martín del Potro	Argentina	6-3, 7-6, 6-3
2017	Rafael Nadal	Spain	Kevin Anderson	South Africa	6-3, 6-3, 6-4
2016	Stan Wawrinka	Switzerland	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
2015	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	Roger Federer	Switzerland	6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
2014	Marin Cilic	Croatia	Kei Nishikori	Japan	6-3, 6-3, 6-3
2013	Rafael Nadal	Spain	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
2012	Andy Murray	Great Britain	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2
2011	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	Rafael Nadal	Spain	6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1
2010	Rafael Nadal	Spain	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
2009	Juan Martín del Potro	Argentina	Roger Federer	Switzerland	3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2
2008	Roger Federer	Switzerland	Andy Murray	Great Britain	6-2, 7-5, 6-2
2007	Roger Federer	Switzerland	Novak Djokovic	Serbia	7-6, 7-6, 6-4
2006	Roger Federer	Switzerland	Andy Roddick	USA	6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
2005	Roger Federer	Switzerland	Andre Agassi	USA	6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 6-1
2004	Roger Federer	Switzerland	Lleyton Hewitt	Australia	6-0, 7-6, 6-0
2003	Andy Roddick	USA	Juan Carlos Ferrero	Spain	6-3, 7-6, 6-3
2002	Pete Sampras	USA	Andre Agassi	USA	6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
2001	Lleyton Hewitt	Australia	Pete Sampras	USA	7-6, 6-1, 6-1
2000	Marat Safin	Russia	Pete Sampras	USA	6-4, 6-3, 6-3
1999	Andre Agassi	USA	Todd Martin	USA	6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2
1998	Patrick Rafter	Australia	Mark Philippoussis	Australia	6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
1997	Patrick Rafter	Australia	Greg Rusedski	Great Britain	6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
1996	Pete Sampras	USA	Michael Chang	USA	6-1, 6-4, 7-6
1995	Pete Sampras	USA	Andre Agassi	USA	6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
1994	Andre Agassi	USA	Michael Stich	Germany	6-1, 7-6, 7-5
1993	Pete Sampras	USA	Cédric Pioline	France	6-4, 6-4, 6-3
1992	Stefan Edberg	Sweden	Pete Sampras	USA	3-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2
1991	Stefan Edberg	Sweden	Jim Courier	USA	6-2, 6-4, 6-0
1990	Pete Sampras	USA	Andre Agassi	USA	6-4, 6-3, 6-2
1989	Boris Becker	West Germany	Ivan Lendl	Czechoslovakia	7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6
1988	Mats Wilander	Sweden	Ivan Lendl	Czechoslovakia	6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
1987	Ivan Lendl	Czechoslovakia	Mats Wilander	Sweden	6-7, 6-0, 7-6, 6-4
1986	Ivan Lendl	Czechoslovakia	Miloslav Mečíř	Czechoslovakia	6-4, 6-2, 6-0
1985	Ivan Lendl	Czechoslovakia	John McEnroe	USA	7-6, 6-3, 6-4
1984	John McEnroe	USA	Ivan Lendl	Czechoslovakia	6-3, 6-4, 6-1
1983	Jimmy Connors	USA	Ivan Lendl	Czechoslovakia	6-3, 6-7, 7-5, 6-0
1982	Jimmy Connors	USA	Ivan Lendl	Czechoslovakia	6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
1981	John McEnroe	USA	Björn Borg	Sweden	4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
1980	John McEnroe	USA	Björn Borg	Sweden	7-6, 6-1, 6-7, 5-7, 6-4
1979	John McEnroe	USA	Vitas Gerulaitis	USA	7-5, 6-3, 6-3
1978	Jimmy Connors	USA	Björn Borg	Sweden	6-4, 6-2, 6-2
1977	Guillermo Vilas	Argentina	Jimmy Connors	USA	2-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-0
1976	Jimmy Connors	USA	Björn Borg	Sweden	6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4
1975	Manuel Orantes	Spain	Jimmy Connors	USA	6-4, 6-3, 6-3
1974	Jimmy Connors	USA	Ken Rosewall	Australia	6-1, 6-0, 6-1
1973	John Newcombe	Australia	Jan Kodeš	Czechoslovakia	6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
1972	Ilie Năstase	Romania	Arthur Ashe	USA	3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3
1971	Stan Smith	USA	Jan Kodeš	Czechoslovakia	3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6
1970	Ken Rosewall	Australia	Tony Roche	Australia	2-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-3
1969	Rod Laver	Australia	Tony Roche	Australia	7-9, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
1968	Arthur Ashe	USA	Tom Okker	Netherlands	14-12, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
1967	John Newcombe	Australia	Clark Graebner	USA	6-4, 6-4, 8-6
1966	Fred Stolle	Australia	John Newcombe	Australia	4-6, 12-10, 6-3, 6-4
1965	Manuel Santana	Spain	Cliff Drysdale	RSA	6-2, 7-9, 7-5, 6-1
1964	Roy Emerson	Australia	Fred Stolle	Australia	6-4, 6-2, 6-4
1963	Rafael Osuna	Mexico	Frank Froehling	USA	7-5, 6-4, 6-2
1962	Rod Laver	Australia	Roy Emerson	Australia	6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
1961	Roy Emerson	Australia	Rod Laver	Australia	7-5, 6-3, 6-2
1960	Neale Fraser	Australia	Rod Laver	Australia	6-4, 6-4, 9-7
1959	Neale Fraser	Australia	Alex Olmedo	Peru	6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
1958	Ashley Cooper	Australia	Malcolm Anderson	Australia	6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 10-8, 8-6
1957	Malcolm Anderson	Australia	Ashley Cooper	Australia	10-8, 7-5, 6-4
1956	Ken Rosewall	Australia	Lew Hoad	Australia	4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3
1955	Tony Trabert	USA	Ken Rosewall	Australia	9-7, 6-3, 6-3
1954	Vic Seixas	USA	Rex Hartwig	Australia	3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
1953	Tony Trabert	USA	Vic Seixas	USA	6-3, 6-2, 6-3
1952	Frank Sedgman	Australia	Gardnar Mulloy	USA	6-1, 6-2, 6-3
1951	Frank Sedgman	Australia	Vic Seixas	USA	6-4, 6-1, 6-1
1950	Arthur Larsen	USA	Herbert Flam	USA	6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
1949	Pancho Gonzales	USA	Ted Schroeder	USA	16-18, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
1948	Pancho Gonzales	USA	Eric Sturgess	South Africa	6-2, 6-3, 14-12
1947	Jack Kramer	USA	Frank Parker	USA	4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0, 6-3
1946	Jack Kramer	USA	Tom Brown	USA	9-7, 6-3, 6-0
1945	Frank Parker	USA	Bill Talbert	USA	14-12, 6-1, 6-2
1944	Frank Parker	USA	Bill Talbert	USA	6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
1943	Joseph Hunt	USA	Jack Kramer	USA	6-3, 6-8, 10-8, 6-0
1942	Ted Schroeder	USA	Frank Parker	USA	8-6, 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2
1941	Bobby Riggs	USA	Frank Kovacs	USA	5-7, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
1940	Don McNeill	USA	Bobby Riggs	USA	4-6, 6-8, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5
1939	Bobby Riggs	USA	Welby Van Horn	USA	6-4, 6-2, 6-4
1938	Don Budge	USA	Gene Mako	USA	6-3, 6-8, 6-2, 6-1
1937	Don Budge	USA	Gottfried von Cramm	Germany	6-1, 7-9, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
1936	Fred Perry	Great Britain	Don Budge	USA	2-6, 6-2, 8-6, 1-6, 10-8
1935	Wilmer Allison	USA	Sidney Wood	USA	6-2, 6-2, 6-3
1934	Fred Perry	Great Britain	Wilmer Allison	USA	6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 8-6
1933	Fred Perry	Great Britain	Jack Crawford	Australia	6-3, 11-13, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
1932	Ellsworth Vines	USA	Henri Cochet	France	6-4, 6-4, 6-4
1931	Ellsworth Vines	USA	George Lott	USA	7-9, 6-3, 9-7, 7-5
1930	John Doeg	USA	Frank Shields	USA	10-8, 1-6, 6-4, 16-14
1929	Bill Tilden	USA	Francis Hunter	USA	3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
1928	Henri Cochet	France	Francis Hunter	USA	4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
1927	René Lacoste	France	Bill Tilden	USA	11-9, 6-3, 11-9
1926	René Lacoste	France	Jean Borotra	France	6-4, 6-0, 6-4
1925	Bill Tilden	USA	Bill Johnston	USA	4-6, 11-9, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
1924	Bill Tilden	USA	Bill Johnston	USA	6-1, 9-7, 6-2
1923	Bill Tilden	USA	Bill Johnston	USA	6-4, 6-1, 6-4
1922	Bill Tilden	USA	Bill Johnston	USA	4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
1921	Bill Tilden	USA	Wallace Johnson	USA	6-1, 6-3, 6-1
1920	Bill Tilden	USA	Bill Johnston	USA	6-1, 1-6, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
1919	Bill Johnston	USA	Bill Tilden	USA	6-4, 6-4, 6-3
1918	Robert Lindley Murray	USA	Bill Tilden	USA	6-3, 6-1, 7-5
1917	Robert Lindley Murray	USA	Nathaniel Niles	USA	5-7, 8-6, 6-3, 6-3
1916	Richard Norris Williams	USA	Bill Johnston	USA	4-6, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2, 6-4
1915	Bill Johnston	USA	Maurice McLoughlin	USA	1-6, 6-0, 7-5, 10-8
1914	Richard Norris Williams	USA	Maurice McLoughlin	USA	6-3, 8-6, 10-8
1913	Maurice McLoughlin	USA	Richard Norris Williams	USA	6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
1912	Maurice McLoughlin	USA	Wallace Johnson	USA	3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
1911	William Larned	USA	Maurice McLoughlin	USA	6-4, 6-4, 6-2
1910	William Larned	USA	Tom Bundy	USA	6-1, 5-7, 6-0, 6-8, 6-1
1909	William Larned	USA	William Clothier	USA	6-1, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 6-1
1908	William Larned	USA	Beals Wright	USA	6-1, 6-2, 8-6
1907	William Larned	USA	Robert LeRoy	USA	6-2, 6-2, 6-4
1906	William Clothier	USA	Beals Wright	USA	6-3, 6-0, 6-4
1905	Beals Wright	USA	Holcombe Ward	USA	6-2, 6-1, 11-9
1904	Holcombe Ward	USA	William Clothier	USA	10-8, 6-4, 9-7
1903	Laurence Doherty	Great Britain	William Larned	USA	6-0, 6-3, 10-8
1902	William Larned	USA	Reginald Doherty	Great Britain	4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 8-6
1901	William Larned	USA	Beals Wright	USA	6-2, 6-8, 6-4, 6-4
1900	Malcolm Whitman	USA	William Larned	USA	6-4, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
1899	Malcolm Whitman	USA	Jahial Parmly Paret	USA	6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
1898	Malcolm Whitman	USA	Dwight Davis	USA	3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1
1897	Robert Wrenn	USA	Wilberforce Eaves	Great Britain	4-6, 8-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
1896	Robert Wrenn	USA	Frederick Hovey	USA	7-5, 3-6, 6-0, 1-6, 6-1
1895	Frederick Hovey	USA	Robert Wrenn	USA	6-3, 6-2, 6-4
1894	Robert Wrenn	USA	Manliffe Goodbody	Great Britain	6-8, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
1893	Robert Wrenn	USA	Frederick Hovey	USA	6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
1892	Oliver Campbell	USA	Frederick Hovey	USA	7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
1891	Oliver Campbell	USA	Clarence Hobart	USA	2-6, 7-5, 7-9, 6-1, 6-2
1890	Oliver Campbell	USA	Henry Slocum	USA	6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
1889	Henry Slocum	USA	Quincy Shaw	USA	6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
1888	Henry Slocum	USA	Howard Taylor	USA	6-4, 6-1, 6-0
1887	Richard Sears	USA	Henry Slocum	USA	6-1, 6-3, 6-2
1886	Richard Sears	USA	Robert Livingston Beeckman	USA	4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4
1885	Richard Sears	USA	Godfrey Brinley	USA	6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
1884	Richard Sears	USA	Howard Taylor	USA	6-0, 1-6, 6-0, 6-2
1883	Richard Sears	USA	James Dwight	USA	6-2, 6-0, 9-7
1882	Richard Sears	USA	Clarence Clark	USA	6-1, 6-4, 6-0
1881	Richard Sears	USA	William Glyn	Great Britain	6-0, 6-3, 6-2

Multiple Champions

The most successful players in the men’s tournament are Richard Sears, Bill Larned and Bill Tilden who each won seven US Open men’s titles in the amateur era.

In the professional open era since 1968 the most successful players include Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer who each won five titles.

Player	Amateur Era	Open Era	All-Time	Years
William Larned	7	0	7	1901, 1902, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911
Richard Sears	7	0	7	1881*, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887
Bill Tilden	7	0	7	1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1929
Jimmy Connors	0	5	5	1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983
Pete Sampras	0	5	5	1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002
Roger Federer	0	5	5	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Novak Djokovic	0	4	4	2011, 2015, 2018, 2023
Rafael Nadal	0	4	4	2010, 2013, 2017, 2019
John McEnroe	0	4	4	1979, 1980, 1981, 1984
Robert Wrenn	4	0	4	1893, 1894, 1896, 1897
Oliver Campbell	3	0	3	1890, 1891, 1892
Ivan Lendl	0	3	3	1985, 1986, 1987
Carlos Alcaraz	0	2	2	2022, 2025

Championships by country

Players from the United States have dominated US Open but haven't won since 2003. Players from Australia have won 18 men's singles titles.

Country	Amateur Era	Open Era	All-Time	First Title	Last Title
United States	6	19	85	1881	2003
Australia	12	6	18	1951	2001
Spain	1	7	8	1965	2025
Switzerland	0	6	6	2004	2016
Great Britain	4	1	5	1903	2012
Serbia	0	4	4	2011	2023
Czechoslovakia	0	3	3	1985	1987
France	3	0	3	1926	1928
Sweden	0	3	3	1988	1992
Germany	0	2	2	1989	2026
Argentina	0	2	2	1977	2009
Russia	0	2	2	2000	2021
Italy	0	1	1	2024	2024
Austria	0	1	1	2020	2020
Croatia	0	1	1	2014	2014
Mexico	1	0	1	1963	1963
Romania	0	1	1	1972	1972

History

The US Open is one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the world. The men's tournament began as the US National Championship in 1881 at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island.

Richard Sears won the first seven men's singles titles.

The International Lawn Tennis Federation officially designated the tournament as one of the world's major tournaments in 1924. The inaugural US Open occurred in 1968 with Arthur Ashe winning the men's singles title.

1968 marked the first time when professional tennis players were allowed to, previously the US National Championships had been limited to amateur players.

In 1973 the US Open became beat the Australian Open, French Open & Wimbledon to become the first Grand Slam to award equal prize money to men and women, winners John Newcombe and Margaret Court each awarded $25,000.

The US Open was played on grass courts until 1975 when the tournament switched to clay courts. In 1978 the tournament moved from the West Side Tennis Club to the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York City.

The US Open has been played on hard courts since 1978.

Jimmy Connors played through the 1970’s and remains the only player to win US Open singles titles on grass, clay and hard courts.

Carlos Alcaraz won the 2022 US Open, becoming the youngest major champion since Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open, the youngest US Open champion since Pete Sampras in 1990, and the youngest man to be ranked world No.1 in tennis history, surpassing Lleyton Hewitt's record.

US Open Men's Singles Champions FAQ

Who has won the most men's singles titles at the US Open?
William Larned, Richard Sears & Bill Tilden won seven US Open titles in the amateur era. Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras & Roger Federer won five titles in the Open era.
Who won the 2026 US Open?
Alexander Zverev won the 2026 US Open, beating Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 in the final.

John Eastwood

Graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2008 with a BA in English Literature before completing MA in Journalism. Began his career as a sports journalist in London before moving to the Middle East to work as a sports editor for national media companies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Favourite Sports: Tennis, Boxing, Golf.

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