The Men With the Most US Open Championship Titles

Serbian-born Novak Djokovic began his professional tennis career in 2003 and won his first Grand Slam title in 2008 at the Australian Open. Along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic is considered one of the “big three” currently dominating men’s tennis.

Czech-American Ivan Lendl won eight Grand Slam titles with an aggressive style of play that emphasized his forehand. Now retired, Lendl has coached several players, including former number one ranked player Andy Murray.

In 1936, Fred Perry became the last British player to win the men’s Wimbledon championship until Andy Murray did it in 2013. He was also the last Brit to win a Grand Slam tournament until Murray won the 2012 U.S. Open. In recognition of his achievements in British tennis, a statue of Perry stands outside of Wimbledon. He died in 1995.

At 19 years, six months, and nine days old, Oliver Campbell became the youngest U.S. National Men’s Singles Champion in history, winning the 1890 title. That distinction stood for a remarkable 100 years until Pete Sampras, the 19 years and 28 days old, won the U.S. Open over Andre Agassi in 1990. Two years after his death, Campbell was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.

In 1902, American Malcolm Whitman retired after winning three singles titles in a three-year period at the U.S. Open. He later attended Harvard University, earning a law degree, and was a member of the Executive Committee of the U.S. National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA). Whitman transferred his love of the sport to writing, publishing “Tennis Origins and Mysteries” in 1932.

A foot injury has forced Rafael Nadal to withdraw from this year’s U.S. Open as well as the rest of the tennis tour. So the Spanish-born star will have to wait for a possible fifth win at that arena. But his trophy cabinet is already stocked with 20 Grand Slam wins.

Perhaps better-known for on-court arguments with umpires, John McEnroe nevertheless vaulted to number one status during his career, winning 77 singles and 78 double titles. Today, McEnroe participates in senior tournaments and offers commentary during major matches on television.

One of the first inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Illinois-born Robert Wrenn achieved success as a left-handed player. He served as president of the U.S. Tennis Association from 1912 to 1915. Off the court, he was an aviator in World War I.

Swiss-born Roger Federer had to bow out of this year’s U.S. Open due to knee problems, stoking fears the 40-year-old may soon retire. If he does, Federer will have made his mark in the sport after winning 20 Grand Slam titles, a record he shares with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

During the 1990s, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi dueled for the top spot in men’s tennis in a notable rivalry. In fact, he ended his career in 2002 after defeating Agassi at the U.S. Open. Known for his powerful serve, Sampras was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007.

Like his rival John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors was famous for his combative style on the court. Yet it’s hard to argue with his long and successful career, as he continues to hold three Open Era men’s single records: 109 titles, 1,557 matches played, and 1,274 match wins. He famously had an on- and off-again relationship with fellow tennis champion Chris Evert.

William Tilden, nicknamed “Big Bill,” ranked as the number one tennis player from 1920 to 1925. He won 10 Grand Slam events, including becoming the first American to win Wimbledon in 1920.

An all-around athlete, William Larned also played hockey, and was an avid golfer and horseman. In 1922, he invented the steel-framed racquet and founded the company to manufacture it. While serving with Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War, Larned caught rheumatism, which later progressed to rheumatoid arthritis that forced him to retire in 1912.

Richard Sears dominated the first seven years of the U.S. National Championships, winning all seven titles. But he may have had an advantage: In the early days the previous year’s winner was slotted automatically into the finals. He retired in 1887 after his final win at the tournament. Sears was the first 19-year-old to win the U.S. event. He was only slightly older than Oliver Campbell in 1890 and the youngest ever, Pete Sampras, in 1990.