The U.S. Open is the last of the 4 grand slams, the highest level of tennis tournaments, and the most watched tennis event in the world. This year, it was more than worth it to tune in. From seeing the cameras pan to celebrities like Justin Bieber in the stands to the internet forming a crush on 20-year-old Ben Shelton, this U.S. Open was a rollercoaster. From the new and exciting events that occurred this year to the reliable old forces, here is a recap of the 2023 U.S. Open.
After the blockbuster that was the Wimbledon final, many were anticipating the rematch between world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and the most decorated player of all time, Novak Djokovic. But really, Djokovic regained the No. 1 ranking by winning one match. And we didn’t get the rematch we were waiting for. Instead, we got a cute fan kid cheering on and coaching world No. 14 Tommy Paul. Paul was so empowered that he offered the kid box seats to his next match, but was gracefully declined as the kid moved to his better front-row seats. We watched Ben Shelton’s electric serves and hanging-up move at the end of each victory. We then watched Djokovic, 16 years older, mock that same victory move when he put on a cheeky smile and recreated it after beating Shelton in the semifinals. But the most shocking part of it all was when Alcaraz crashed out with an abundance of errors and lackluster play in the opposing semifinal. Many were baffled by his loss to Danill Medvedev but were hopeful that the Russian could stop Djokovic from adding another crown to his bounty. Unfortunately for them, Djokovic showed that once again, he is the best and won’t be leaving any time soon.
The real excitement came from the women’s side. Since the age of 14, Coco Gauff has stormed the women’s tennis tour with amazing tennis and similar potential to many previous greats. However, with a lack of a breakthrough and a heartbreaking loss in her only grand slam final, many started to doubt her future success. But deliver she did. Ramping up in the summer swing, Gauff quickly racked up 2 high-level tournament wins and a victory over the reigning world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Heading into her home grand slam, the pressure was high, and she started off with a controversial match against Laura Siegemund, who abused many break and time regulations. With the internet gaining interest in her run, the U.S. Open gained an uncanny amount of attention as Gauff continued to push through the draw. With favorites No. 1, No. 3, and No. 4, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula crashing out, Gauff was at the center of attention. But when she reached the final, she ran into her biggest test. Set to be No. 1 after the end of the U.S. Open, Aryna Sabalenka undoubtedly had the best year so far of any player and had silently crept through the draw. She showed her prowess by taking the first set of the final quickly. But with a tiny blip, she let Gauff back into the match. And from there, Gauff made no mistake. Playing the best tennis of her career, Gauff stormed back to take the final and brought America to its feet. Fans screamed with joy, and Gauff was brought to her knees overwhelmed with joy as she became a 19-year-old grand slam champion.
Coco Gauff has now risen to the No. 3 ranking and Novak Djokovic has reclaimed his No. 1 spot. While new talent takes over, old continues to reign on the other side. The U.S. Open was very telling as we saw the lack of stability in Carlos Alcaraz’s game, Djokovic’s surprising youth, and the rise of a new dominating player on the women’s side. Will Coco Gauff keep up with the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek? Will Alcaraz be able to get back on track and beat Djokovic once again? We will be back at the next grand slam – the Australian Open 2024.