When Arthur Ashe Stadium opened its gates in 1997, it simultaneously opened a new era for the US Open. The arena, named for one of tennis’ all-time champions and grandest ambassadors, quickly established itself as the game’s greatest stage; a spectacular centerpiece for an event whose global appeal had spurred its remarkable growth. With its 23,000-plus seats, Arthur Ashe Stadium allowed more fans the chance to witness first-hand the tournament’s singular sizzle, while simultaneously affording the game’s greatest talents a fitting floorboard upon which to showcase their incredible talents. Like its host city, Arthur Ashe Stadium is unapologetically large and loud; the electricity generated within its high walls creating a wave of energy that has come to define the US Open as an event unlike any other. It is as iconic as the man for whom it is named.
In the 25 years since Arthur Ashe Stadium opened, this grand arena has hosted countless memorable moments—many of them integral pieces in constructing the US Open’s global reputation as one of the world’s most spectacular sporting events. So many great matches; so much incomparable drama; so much unforgettable magic.
Throughout the summer leading up to the 2022 US Open, USOpen.org will recount 25 of the most memorable moments from these 25 years of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Some obvious; others, less so; every one of them helped establish this unequaled arena as our game’s greatest stage.
In the next installment, we're throwing it back to 2010, where Rafael Nadal silenced then-doubters of his hard-court prowess to complete the career Grand Slam.
Rafael Nadal arrived at the 2010 US Open as an eight-time Grand Slam singles champion with multiple Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles and a 2009 Australian Open crown, but without so much as a single finals appearance in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The whispers were that the hustle and bustle of New York City did not suit the man from the Spanish island of Mallorca, and that the toughest two weeks in tennis, at the end of a long Grand Slam season, were not compatible with Nadal and his 100% effort game.
What the naysayers missed was Nadal’s steady improvement on hard courts and at Flushing Meadows, his progression to the quarterfinals in 2006 and the semis in 2008 and 2009. And of course, his unerring and unbending will to compete.
At the 2010 US Open, Nadal took the next—final, if you will—step, advancing to his first Flushing finale and taking home the hardware. It was a thoroughly dominant fortnight. The No. 1 seed did not surrender a set en route to the title match, where he defeated rival Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, finally earning a bite of the elusive Tiffany trophy.
The victory capped the finest Grand Slam season, to date, of Nadal’s remarkable career—he won all but the Australian Open that season. With it, he became the fourth man in the Open Era (Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rod Laver) and the seventh all-time (also Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Fred Perry) to capture the career Grand Slam, the second (Agassi) to win all four Slams plus an Olympic singles gold medal, and the first to win majors on three different surfaces in the same calendar year.
It also kicked off a decade in which the Spaniard, once doubted on New York’s hard courts, instead became their most decorated performer. After a loss to Djokovic in the final in 2011, he would go on to claim US Open men’s singles titles in 2013, 2017 and 2019, equaling John McEnroe and climbing within one title of Jimmy Connors, Federer and Pete Sampras for the most in the Open Era.
What's in store for our grandest stage this summer? Join us and find out. The 2022 US Open main draw begins on Aug. 29 and runs through Sept. 11. Individual tickets and ticket plans are on sale now at Ticketmaster.
