On Sept. 7, 1997, 20 years ago, the first two US Open singles finals were played on the new Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.
Sixteen-year-old Martina Hingis and 17-year-old Venus Williams kicked things off in the youngest Grand Slam final contested in the Open era. Hingis prevailed, 6-0, 6-4, to capture her first and only US Open crown and her third Grand Slam tournament title of the year. Only a stunning loss in the French Open final to Iva Majoli denied Hingis the calendar-year Grand Slam.
Venus, meantime, advanced to the final in her first appearance in the US Open main draw. She defeated No. 8 seed Anke Huber and No. 11 Irina Spirlea on her way to the title match.
The men's final followed the women's, with 13th-seeded Patrick Rafter outdueling unseeded Greg Rusedski, 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, to win the first of his back-to-back men’s singles crowns.
