Reaching the finish line at the US Open: how do players stack up?

Reliving the journey of going past it all over again

Martina Hingis (right) and Leander Paes with their 3rd Grand Slam Mixed Doubles title for the year

Martina Hingis has been on a great winning streak since the beginning of this season. After winning a Mixed Doubles title alongside partner Leander Paes at the Australian Open in January, Hingis had a memorable campaign at Wimbledon. She won both the Women’s Doubles and the Mixed Doubles with Sania Mirza and Leander Paes respectively. Martina Hingis repeated the Doubles sweep at the US Open by winning the Women’s Doubles with Sania Mirza and the Mixed Doubles with Leander Paes.

Martina Hingis retired in 2001 when the Williams sisters had begun to dominate the scene. Though she returned in 2005, her run was not a successful one as she faced a 2 year suspension on account of testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine in 2007.

Her second comeback has already seen her win 5 Grand Slam Doubles titles in 2015. Hingis’ career has been nothing short of stellar this year. Over time, her on-court chemistry with Paes and Mirza has blossomed to help build formidable teams. Her winning streak will be even more impressive as the season goes by.

For some there is just no finish line

At 42 Leander Paes shows no sign of stopping. With his Mixed Doubles title haul at the US Open 2015, he went past countryman Mahesh Bhupathi’s tally of 8 Doubles Grand Slam titles and is just one behind the legendary Martina Navratilova. Ageless and charming, this veteran Indian tennis star has 17 Doubles Grand Slam title under his belt.

Paes has as many Grand Slam titles as the iconic Roger Federer. Federer, at 34, had a phenomenal run at the US Open 2015. Blazing his way through to the Finals without dropping a single set, Federer had yet another opportunity to win the elusive 18th Grand Slam. But the quest for 18 was never going to be easy with the reigning World No.1 Novak Djokovic on the other side of the net.

Roger Federer wears a forlorn look after missing out on yet another opportunity to win his 18th Grand Slam title

Though Federer had a 5-1 record in the US Open Finals, he had fallen short of coming up with the goods against Djokovic in their last two meetings in Grand Slam finals. With a 21-20 head to head in Federer’s favor, he again failed to crack the Djokovic code when it mattered the most. In their much anticipated 42nd meeting the rain delay also played its part by bringing about cooler conditions and slowing down the court that seemed to suit Djokovic more than Federer.

Novak Djokovic with his 2nd US Open trophy and 10th Grand Slam title

Fighting a partisan crowd, Djokovic thrived on a healthy break point conversion and held his nerve to win his 2nd US Open title. Federer looked gutted and rued another wasted opportunity. In the presentation ceremony the Swiss Maestro was all praise for the Serbinator and said that it was always tough while facing Djokovic. Federer added,” I think we both walk away from it knowing more about our games and more about each other. I'm pleased with where my game is at.” The crowd went berserk when Federer finished his speech by saying, “One last thing. I’ll see you guys next year”.

In his autobiography, Open, Agassi captures the essence of the Finish Line beautifully.

“The finish line at the end of a career is no different from the finish line at the end of a match. The objective is to get within reach of that finish line, because then it gives off a magnetic force. When you’re close, you can feel that force pulling you, and you can use that force to get across. But just before you come within range, or just after, you feel another force, equally strong, pushing you away. It’s inexplicable, mystical, these twin forces, these contradictory energies, but they both exist. I know, because I’ve spent so much of my life seeking the one, fighting the other, and sometimes I’ve been stuck, suspended, bounced like a tennis ball between the two.” – Andre Agassi, Open

While Williams and Federer could not get past the finish line to capture their 22nd and 18th Grand Slams respectively, Italy’s Flavia Penneta drew her finish line after winning her first ever US Open. Herbert and Mahut became the first all French team to win at the US Open. Hingis and Paes became the first pair to win 3 Grand Slam Mixed Double titles in a year since 1969. Winning his 2nd US Open title and 10th overall, Djokovic now ties with Bill Tilden in the list of all-time Greats.

Though history created may not have been along expected lines, it was definitely exhilarating and highlighted the vagaries of the Sport. Keeping the finish line in perspective, the US Open 2015 delivered more than promised and will remain etched in the memories of tennis fans for a long time to come.