From first ball to last, the 2022 US Open delivered a wide-ranging array of emotions that pulled on the heartstrings of fans, and left us feeling privileged to be in Flushing Meadows, living the tennis dream up close and personal.
From Serena Williams' farewell, to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz's mind-bending epic and everywhere in between, it was a Flushing fortnight that provided fans with everything they could have wished for in a tennis tournament—and more!
Let’s take a look back at some of the top emotions we experienced.
Serena’s long goodbye
Setting the tone for one of the most memorable US Opens in history, Williams was not just a top storyline in week one. She was the story.
From the moment Queen Serena stepped into Arthur Ashe Stadium to take her place in the night session on Day 1, the emotional floodgates were open. If you didn’t find yourself reaching for tissues with tears rushing down your cheek, you were in the minority.
Fans showed up in droves to pay tribute to an American icon that didn’t just dominate the sport for two decades; she reinvented it, took it to a better place, revolutionized it and set the bar ridiculously high for those who dream of following in her path.
And, true to form, Williams made the moment last. She stunned the crowds by winning two matches in New York, and had many believing that one last glorious run to the title might be in the works. It didn’t happen in the end, but Serena’s send-off was spectacular nevertheless. It gave fans a chance to take part in a five-day celebration in Queens that will never be forgotten, just like the legend we paid tribute to.
Alcaraz arrives
The future of men’s tennis has arrived—and it was welcomed with open arms on Sunday in Queens.
It had been 32 years since a teenager had won the men’s singles titles at the US Open, and there were times over the last two decades where tennis fans wondered if it would ever happen again. We have our answer after Alcaraz rose to the occasion to claim his maiden major title on Sunday, and the deafening roar inside Arthur Ashe Stadium told the story in sheer volume.
Roaming Ashe with panache, breathtaking physicality and a nuanced, explosive game plays far beyond his 19 years, Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud to become the first teenager to win a major title since Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2005. Making his feat even more impressive is that he will become the youngest world No.1 in ATP history on Monday morning.
From the moment Alcaraz burst onto the scene in New York in 2021, when he became the youngest men’s singles quarterfinalist in US Open history on his main draw debut, the love affair between the New York fans and the charismatic Alcaraz was on.
After his inspiring run to the title, in 2022, it is officially on fire.
Iga gives Polish New Yorkers cause to celebrate
New York boasts one of the largest Polish communities outside of Poland, and that community became an integral part of the fabric of the US Open’s diverse quilt over the last two weeks.
Each time world No.1 Iga Swiatek took the court at Flushing Meadows, Polish flags and spirited cheers filled the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with a festive vibe. Fitting that Swiatek overcame doubts and shaky form at the beginning of the US Open to emerge as a dominant force on the day of the final.
The 21-year-old claimed her third major title on Saturday in Arthur Ashe Stadium, becoming the first Pole to claim a US Open title, and after her triumph legions of Poles assembled in the South Plaza, dancing and chanting as Swiatek conducted one of her final interviews.
If Swiatek’s form in New York is any indication, the Polish party is just getting started in Queens.
Tiafoe’s magical run inspires
It started innocently enough, out on Court 17 as Tiafoe took on Marcos Giron in the first round, before moving to Grandstand; then Armstrong for a third-round battle with Diego Schwartzman.
By the time week two rolled around, the Tiafoe explosion was taking center stage on Ashe, as the American took the torch from Serena and ran it into the second week. When the charismatic 24-year-old ended Nadal’s title hopes in the Round of 16, the tears that were flowing freely weren’t just Tiafoe’s.
“I felt like the world stopped,” Tiafoe later said. “I was already tearing… It was just wild. My heart [was] going a thousand miles an hour—I've never felt something like that in my life, honestly.”
Tiafoe’s success in New York and his compelling origin story was one of the emotional high points of a tournament full of them.
Alcaraz and Sinner light up the night
The US Open never fails to deliver when it comes to late-night entertainment. But this year, fans got even more than they bargained for. Those who decided to brave the witching hour on Day 10 know what we speak of—they were rewarded with a contest they will one day tell their grandkids about.
When Alcaraz and Sinner locked horns in the night session's second match, most recognized the potential for an epic. Few, however, envisaged the heights that would be reached by these two mind-blowing talents.
Five hours and 15 minutes later, we had the latest finish of a night session in US Open history—2:50 a.m.! Fans that stayed for the duration left with bragging rights. Decades from now when we talk about one of the most thrilling quarterfinals in US Open history, they can say they were there.
