US Open: A look at the last 5 players to win their maiden Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows

#2 Andy Roddick (2003)

Andy Roddick poses with his 2003 US Open trophy

Two-time US Open quarter-finalist Andy Roddick, in his fourth appearance at Flushing Meadows, opened his campaign with a straight-set first-round win over Tim Henman before downing Ivan Ljubicic in a fourth set tie-break in the second round.

In the subsequent rounds, the American beat Flavio Saretta, Xavier Malisse and Sjeng Schalken without dropping a set to reach his first semi-final at the US Open where Wimbledon champion Roger Federer's conqueror David Nalbandian awaited.

Roddick had his sternest test of the tournament against the Argentinian, where he was a point away from a straight-set exit in the third set tie-break which he trailed 2-4 at one point. But the American fought back to take the tie-break and the next two sets, as Nalbandian's challenge disintegrated, to seal a place in his first Grand Slam final.

After Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Agassi in the other semi-final to thwart an all-American US Open final, the onus was on the shoulders of the young Roddick, who turned 21 during the tournament, to continue the home nation's rich legacy at the tournament.

And Roddick did not disappoint. He came back the next day and blasted big serves and blistering groundstrokes to overcome Ferrero in straight sets to land the biggest title of his career and his only Grand Slam title.

The win extended the American's win streak to 19 and helped him to ascend to a career-high World No. 2 ranking. It remains the latest triumph by an American man at the last Grand Slam event of the year.