1991: Jimmy Connors vs. Aaron Krickstein
It was Labor Day, 1991, and Jimmy Connors was celebrating his 39th birthday. Ranked No. 174 in the world and playing as a wildcard after career-threatening wrist surgery, his epic run should have been over. Facing fellow American Aaron Krickstein, Connors was in deep
trouble, down 2-5 in the fifth and final set. But fueled by a delirious Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd that refused to let their aging hero fall, Connors mounted one of the most iconic comebacks ever seen. He saved two points that would have lost him the match and clawed his way back, embodying his famous fighting spirit with every fist pump and roar. Connors eventually forced a decisive tiebreak, which he won, completing a 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory in four hours and 41 minutes. It wasn't for a title, but his improbable run to the semifinals remains one of the most beloved stories in the sport's history.
1996: Pete Sampras vs. Alex Corretja
This quarterfinal match wasn't just a comeback; it was a staggering display of human endurance. Pete Sampras, the defending champion, was struggling mightily against Spain's Alex Corretja. Exhausted and dehydrated, Sampras was cramping and barely able to move by the fifth set. The match stretched past four hours, culminating in a tense tiebreak. At 1-1 in the breaker, a physically spent Sampras leaned on his racket and vomited on the court. It seemed impossible he could continue. Yet, he did. He saved a match point and later fired a searing ace to earn one of his own. The drama ended when Corretja double-faulted, giving Sampras the 7-6, 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 win. Sampras later said the victory was for his late coach, Tim Gullikson, who had passed away earlier that year.
2011: Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer
For the second straight year, Novak Djokovic found himself on the brink of elimination against Roger Federer in the US Open semifinals. In 2011, Federer was serving for the match with two match points at 5-3, 40-15 in the fifth set. The crowd was ready to celebrate a Federer victory. But Djokovic had other plans. Facing the first match point, he unleashed an all-or-nothing crosscourt forehand return winner of such audacity that it stunned Federer and the entire stadium. That single shot shifted the momentum entirely. An unnerved Federer would fail to convert his second match point, and Djokovic stormed back to break his serve. He went on to win the next four games, sealing a remarkable 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory and capping one of the most gutsy escapes in modern tennis.
2012: Serena Williams vs. Victoria Azarenka
In a final that showcased her legendary resilience, Serena Williams had to dig deep to capture her fourth US Open crown. World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka was playing brilliantly and served for the championship at 5-3 in the deciding third set. Azarenka was just two points away from the title. But against Serena, a match is never over until the final point is won. Feeling the pressure, Azarenka faltered, and Williams seized the moment, breaking serve to stay alive. She then broke Azarenka again to serve for the title herself. In a thrilling conclusion to a dramatic final, Williams secured a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 victory, capping a summer where she also won Wimbledon and an Olympic gold medal.
2020: Dominic Thiem vs. Alexander Zverev
In the strange, fan-less setting of the 2020 US Open, Dominic Thiem made history. Down two sets to none against Alexander Zverev in the final, Thiem's dream of a maiden Grand Slam title looked to be over. Zverev was dominating, and Thiem seemed to have no answers. But the Austrian slowly began to find his footing, clawing his way back into the match set by set. The contest went to a deciding fifth, where both players battled nerves and fatigue. Zverev served for the championship at 5-3, but Thiem broke back. The match was ultimately decided by the first-ever fifth-set tiebreak in a US Open men's final. Thiem prevailed 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6, becoming the first player in the Open Era to come back from two sets down to win the US Open final.
