A golden moment for Diede de Groot!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
The ???? legend completes the Golden Slam by winning the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/9xSigXuFya
With the win, de Groot sweeps the Open singles/doubles events just a week after doing so at the Paralympics in Toyko. She won seven of the eight slam WS/WD titles in '21, matching her effort from '19 (missing only the Wimbledon doubles for a clean sweep of every major title, after falling one win short in the Wimbledon singles two years ago). With the WC Masters events still to be played in the fall, de Groot could complete what would likely be christened the greatest WC tennis campaign ever with another sweep. She's won the last three Masters singles crowns (2017-19) and is the defending Masters Doubles champ, as well. She's currently on a 27-match winning streak in singles, and is 32-1 on the year. The previous Best Season, naturally, would belong to Esther Vergeer. In 2007, she won all six slam WC titles, and swept the two Masters events. But at the time Wimbledon didn't yet hold *either* singles (started in '16) or doubles ('09) events, and it wasn't a Paralympic year, either. Vergeer's best overall year in which the Paralympics were held was 2008, when she won Gold and the AO, RG, US and Masters crowns in singles (no WI/US competitions), and the AO/RG and Masters in Doubles. Again, there were no WI/US events, but she won only Silver in Paralympic doubles...and that result opens the door for de Groot to "top" her season results even without having swept the slam doubles crowns this year.
Incredible.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
Two historic Golden Slams were captured today in New York by Diede de Groot & Dylan Alcott. pic.twitter.com/omaoGTyWgw
After de Groot's accomplishment, Dylan Alcott matched her with a Golden Slam of his own in the Quad event. He topped her in the celebration category, though.
Legend https://t.co/JyEulX037B
— Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) September 12, 2021
Alfie Hewett & Gordon Reid completed a (non-Golden, as they won Silver in Tokyo) WC men's Doubles Grand Slam at this tournament, as well. Of note, there were no *other* Grand Slam celebrations at this Open. ...we didn't see yet another teen champion (two, actually) crowned at Flushing Meadows after the women's doubles final, either, but first-time slam finalists Coco Gauff (17) & Caty McNally (19) gave it the old high school/college try, taking the far-more-senior duo of Samantha Stosur (37) & Zhang Shuai (32) to three sets before losing 6-3/3-6/6-3.
CHAMPIONS IN NEW YORK ??
— wta (@WTA) September 12, 2021
???? @bambamsam30 & @zhangshuai121 ???? capture the #USOpen doubles title!pic.twitter.com/oWfISXL9Br
It's Stosur/Zhang's second slam win as a duo, and Stosur's eighth overall major title.
An eighth Grand Slam title for Sam Stosur ??
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) September 12, 2021
This is her second #USOpen women's doubles title - and comes 16 years after she won her first ?? #GoAussies https://t.co/4hmp66LFPW
...in the WTA 125 in Karlsruhe, Germany, Mayar Sherif claimed her biggest title yet, defeating Martina Trevisan 3 & 2 in the final (after finishing her semi vs. Jaqueline Cristian earlier in the day). The Egyptian won an ITF $100K challenger in Charleston last November, and last month became the first from her nation to reach a tour singles final in Cluj-Napoca. On Monday, she'll climb to another career high of #73 (hmmm, replacing Leylah Fernandez in that spot from the last rankings... after having been Emma Raducanu's final opponent in U.S. Open qualifying).
???? ???????????????????? - ??????! ????????!! ??????????!!! ??????????????????????????!!
— Egypt Sports Network (@ESNEgypt_) September 12, 2021
???? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ???????? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ????????? ??????? ???????? 2-0 (6-3 ? 6-2) ?? ??????? ?? ????? ??????#CHAMPIOOONNNN ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/eNhjzQcNpO
Mayar Sherif since Sept2020
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) September 12, 2021
1st????woman to qualify for Slam MD(RG20)
1st????woman to win a $100k??(Charleston)
1st????woman to win GS MD match(AO21)
1st????woman to compete in??@Olympics
1st????to reach a WTA QF/SF/F(Cluj)
1st????woman to crack top??
Wins biggest??of career-WTA125 Karlsruhe
...in ITF action, Beatriz Haddad Maia won her second title in two weeks, defeating Brit Francesca Jones 6-4/6-3 (hmm, that score sounds familiar) in the $60K Montreaux, Switzerland challenger for her fifth circuit crown of the season.
2. Diede de Groot, NED (WC) - Esther in her sights?
3. Belinda Bencic, SUI - Tokyo drift
4. Ash Barty, AUS - "...she's livin' on the air in Cincinnati"
5. Leylah Fernandez, CAN - She the North, too
6. Danielle Collins, USA - imitation is the most sincere form of flattery of oneself
7. Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN - early Aussie steps in a final Hall of Fame push?
8. Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE - anytime you get more than one Czech together, watch out
9. Camila Giorgi, ITA - now you can't say we never get you anything
10. Karolina Pliskova, CZE - how to rescue a season with just a few results
HM- Desirae Krawczyk, USA -
SURPRISES: Gabriela Ruse/ROU, Maryna Zanevska/BEL and Tereza Martincova/CZE
VETERANS: Elina Svitolina/UKR, Angelique Kerber/GER and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/RUS
COMEBACKS: Rebecca Marino/CAN, Andrea Petkovic/GER and Elena Vesnina/RUS
FRESH FACES: Jil Teichmann/SUI, Marketa Vondrousova/CZE and Elena Rybakina/KAZ
JUNIOR STARS: Robin Montgomery/USA, Nastasja Schunk/GER and Linda Noskova/CZE
DOUBLES: Gaby Dabrowski/Luisa Stefani (CAN/BRA), Shuko Aoyama/Ena Shibahara (JPN/JPN) and Darya Jurak/Andreja Klepac (CRO/SLO)
ITF: Nuria Parrizas Diaz/ESP, Cristina Dinu/ROU and Anhelina Kalinina/UKR
WHEELCHAIR: Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot, NED/NED & Yui Kamiji/JPN
DOWN: Naomi Osaka/JPN and Petra Kvitova/CZE
MOST IMPROVED: Mayar Sherif/EGY, Green Minnen/BEL and Valentini Grammatikopoulou/GRE
COACH: Andrew Richardson (Raducanu), Nicolas Almagro (Collins) and Sascha Bajin (Ka.Pliskova)
TEAM: Russia 14u/12u Juniors
? Two finals
— WinnersOpen (@WinnersOpen) August 8, 2021
? Getting into Top 100
? Making ???? proud
This was an amazing week for Mayar Sherif, congratulations!
We're so happy for you ?? pic.twitter.com/iX64GOFkpY
After reaching the U.S. Open MD (another first) as a lucky loser, during the second week of the event Sherif was in Karlsruhe, Germany accomplishing another first by winning a WTA 125 singles crown.
?? POINT OF THE DAY ??
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 24, 2021
???? Katharina Gerlach shows her all-court game on this incredible rally. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/zpfAC2IkGd
(Q) Emma Raducanu/GBR def. Leylah Fernandez/CAN 6-4/6-3
*WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#14 Stosur/Zhang (AUS/CHN) def. #11 Gauff/McNally (USA/USA) 6-3/3-6/6-3
*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
#2 Krawczyk/Salisbury (USA/GBR) def. Olmos/Arevalo (MEX/ELS) 7-5/6-2
*WOMEN'S WC SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN 6-3/6-2
*WOMEN'S WC DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) def. #2 Kamiji/Whiley (JPN/GBR) 6-1/6-2
*GIRLS' SINGLES FINAL*
#7 Robin Montgomery/USA def. #6 Kristina Dmitruk/BLR/SUI 6-2/6-4
*GIRLS' DOUBLES FINAL*
#3 Krueger/Montgomery (USA/USA) def. #8 Brantmeier/Kalieva (USA/USA) 5-7/6-3 [10-4]
...THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT?... ON DAY 14:
From courtside I could see Billie Jean King almost fall backwards and mouth “Wow” to this line. Leylah Fernandez is 19 years old. https://t.co/OYzFOZLbyD
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) September 11, 2021
Leylah asking for the mic back to acknowledge 9/11 was one of the classiest, most empathetic, and mature things I’ve ever seen in a post game moment ……… and she’s only 19. I’m blown away
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) September 11, 2021
By the way, in the new rankings Bianca Andreescu will be at #20... and Leylah Fernandez #28.
...IS IT A TRADITION IF NO ONE EVER SEEMED TO MENTION THAT IT EXISTED UNTIL NOW?... ON DAY 14:
Nice tradition. Andrew Richardson gets US Open coaching trophy presented by ER. pic.twitter.com/DqVaofRQmN
— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) September 12, 2021
...LAYERS OF THE ONION... ON DAY 14:
Omg she speaks Chinese too, what can’t #EmmaRaducanu do ?? https://t.co/AuIfpw5Hhf
— Tara Moore (@TaraMoore92) September 12, 2021
Max’s (agent) phone must be on fire! Endless opportunities…….@EmmaRaducanu so great for women’s tennis. https://t.co/mMNxGattnp
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) September 12, 2021
...ALL ROADS LEAD BACK TO SIMONA... ON DAY 14:
We should never underestimate the importance of female role models in sport and creating opportunities for young athletes to get close to them. Emma Raducanu’s dad is Romanian and here she is with Simona Halep. ?? @EmmaRaducanu @Simona_Halep pic.twitter.com/DgGugEE6Fn
— judy murray (@JudyMurray) September 12, 2021
So, then, can we say that Emma peered over fabled The Cliffs of Simona in London, but danced expertly along the edge in New York?
...JEALOUS OF NOT THINKING OF THIS FOR THE TITLE OF YESTERDAY'S POST... ON DAY 14:
?? Emma State Of Mind ??@EmmaRaducanu | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Cdqipm4AHU
— wta (@WTA) September 12, 2021
I had five or six possibilities in the mix but, unfortunately, that wasn't one of them.
...PERSPECTIVE, STATS & the 2021 U.S. Open... ON DAY 14:
— Asia Muhammad (@asiamuhammad) September 12, 2021
27? pic.twitter.com/ClQGmzmbz6
— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) September 12, 2021
Diede de Groot has made history as the first wheelchair tennis player to win the Golden Slam!@DiedetheGreat | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/ryfimu8t9O
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
2017 US - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 AO - #2 Diede de Groot/NED def. #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2018 RG - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2020 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
--
de Groot leads 9-2
*WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS - active*
20 - YUI KAMIJI, JPN (8-12)
15 - DIEDE DE GROOT, NED (12-3)
13 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3-10)
6 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4-2)
1 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR (1-0)
1 - KG Montjane, RSA (0-1)
1 - Momoko Ohtani, JPN (0-1)
*RECENT WC SINGLES SLAM FINALS*
[2017]
AO: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Jiske Griffioen/NED
RG: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
WI: Diede de Groot/NED def. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
US: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Diede de Groot/NED
[2018]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Diede de Groot/NED
WI: Diede de Groot/NED def. Aniek van Koot/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
[2019]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
WI: Aniek Van Koot/NED def. Diede de Groot/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
[2020]
AO: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Aniek Van Koot/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Momoko Ohtani/JPN
[2021]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
WI: Diede de Groot/NED def. KG Montjane/RSA
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
*WHEELCHAIR SLAM SINGLES TITLES*
[AO-RG-WI-US]
21 - Esther Vergeer, NED [9-6-0-6]
12 - DIEDE DE GROOT, NED [3-2-3-4]
8 - Yui Kamiji, JPN [2-4-0-2]
4 - Jiske Griffioen, NED [2-1-1-0]
3 - Aniek van Koot, NED [1-0-1-1]
3 - Monique Kalkman, NED [0-0-0-3]
2 - Daniela Di Toro, AUS [0-0-0-2]
2 - Sabine Ellerbrock, GER [1-1-0-0]
2 - Maaike Smit, NED [0-0-0-2]
2 - Chantal Vandierendonck, NED [0-0-0-2]
*U.S. OPEN WHEELCHAIR SINGLES WINNERS*
2005 Esther Vergeer, NED
2006 Esther Vergeer, NED
2007 Esther Vergeer, NED
2008 --
2009 Esther Vergeer, NED
2010 Esther Vergeer, NED
2011 Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 --
2013 Aniek van Koot, NED
2014 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2015 Jordanne Whiley, GBR
2016 --
2017 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Diede de Groot, NED
2020 Diede de Groot, NED
2021 Diede de Groot, NED
*ACTIVE PLAYERS WITH SLAM WS/WD/MX TITLES*
39...Serena Williams, USA (23-14-2)
23...Venus Williams, USA (7-14-2)
8...SAMANTHA STOSUR, AUS (1-3-4)
6...Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (1-2-3)
*CAREER WOMEN'S DOUBLES SLAM TITLES - active*
14...Serena Williams, USA
14...Venus Williams, USA
5...Sara Errani, ITA
5...Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
5...Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
4...Timea Babos, HUN
4...Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
4...SAMANTHA STOSUR, AUS
3...Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
3...Elise Mertens, BEL
3...Sania Mirza, IND
3...Katerina Siniakova, CZE
3...Elena Vesnina, RUS
3...Vera Zvonareva, RUS
*RECENT WD SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2017]
AO: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Lucie Safarova (USA/CZE)
RG: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Lucie Safarova (USA/CZE)
WI: Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina (RUS/RUS)
US: Latisha Chan/Martina Hingis (TPE/SUI)
[2018]
AO: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
RG: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
US: Ash Barty/CoCo Vandeweghe (AUS/USA)
[2019]
AO: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN)
RG: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova (TPE/CZE)
US: Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)
[2020]
AO: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
US: Laura Siegemund/Vera Zvonareva (GER/RUS)
RG: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
[2021]
AO: Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)
RG: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens (TPE/BEL)
US: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN)
**U.S. OPEN "KIMIKO CUP" VETERAN WINNERS**
2015 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Venus Williams, USA
2018 Serena Williams, USA
2019 Serena Williams, USA
2020 Serena Williams, USA and Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2021 Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN
[2021]
AO: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE (s)
RG: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
WI: Karolina Pliskova/CZE and Hsieh Su-wei/TPE (d)
*U.S. OPEN - RECENT "Ms. OPPORTUNITY" WINNERS*
2015 Roberta Vinci, ITA
2016 Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
2017 All-Bannerette SF: Keys,Stephens,Vandeweghe,V.Williams
2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN and Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
2019 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2020 Laura Siegemund & Vera Zvonareva, GER/RUS
2021 Diede de Groot, NED (WC Golden Slam)
[2021]
AO: Karolina Muchova/CZE and Jennifer Brady/USA
RG: 4 New SF: Pavlyuchenkova, Krejcikova, Sakkari, Zidansek
WI: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR and KG Montjane/RSA (WC)
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #9 Garbine Muguruza/ESP
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): Leylah Fernandez/CAN
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): Emma Raducanu/GBR
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3: Katie Boulter/GBR def. #8 Kristina Kucova/SVK 7-5/2-6/6-4 (from break down at 4-2, wins final 4 games to reach first U.S. Open MD)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #4 Karolina Pliskova/CZE def. Amanda Anisimova/USA 7-5/6-7(5)/7-6(7) - (Anisimova first on Ashe; Pliskova US reocord 24 aces; Anisimova up 5-2 in 3rd TB, Pliskova saves MP and wins on MP #2 9-7; no Top 20 seed def. in first two round)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): #17 Maria Sakkari/GRE def. #6 Bianca Andreescu/CAN 6-7(2)/7-6(6)/6-3 (3:29 ends at women's US record 2:13 a.m.; ends Andreescu's 10-0 start in Open)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): SF - Leylah Fernandez/CAN def. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR 7-6(3)/4-6/6-4 (second CAN to reach slam final)
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Kristina Kucova/SVK (def. Li/USA)
FIRST SEED OUT: #31 Yulia Putintseva/KAZ (1st Rd./lost to Kanepi)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Valentini Grammatikopoulou/GRE, Rebeka Masarova/ESP
UPSET QUEENS: Russia
REVELATION LADIES: Greece
NATION OF POOR SOULS: USA (8-14 in 1st; Keys/Riske out; Serena/Venus/Kenin/Brady DNP; 3/4 '17 all-US SF out)
CRASH & BURN: #2 Naomi Osaka/JPN (3rd Rd. to Fernandez/CAN; served for match in 2nd set) and #1 Ash Barty/AUS (3rd Rd. to Rogers/USA; led 5-2, double-break in 3rd)
ZOMBIE QUEENS OF NEW YORK: Elise Mertens/BEL (1r vs. Peterson; down 6-3/5-3 and RP served twice for match; saved 5 MP in 2nd, 1 MP in 3rd) and Rebeka Masarova/ESP (1r vs. Bogdan; down 7-6/4-1; saved 2 MP in 3rd TB, on own 6th MP; first slam win) - simultaneously-played U.S. Open women's record 3:40 matches
IT ("Teens"): Leylah Fernandez/CAN and Emma Raducanu/GBR
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Diede de Groot/NED (first WC singles Golden Slam)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Emma Raducanu/GBR (Champion) (LL 3r: Minnen, Rakhimova)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: none (went 0-8 in 1st Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Shelby Rogers (4th Rd.)
COMEBACK: U.S. Open fans
VETERAN PLAYERS (KIMIKO CUP): Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN) Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN
DOUBLES STAR: Desirae Krawczyk/USA
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Coco Gauff/Caty McNally, USA/USA
BROADWAY-BOUND: "Oh Canada!" (Fernandez finalist, Marino Q-POW, Dabrowski WD SF, FAA men's SF, Andreescu QF...+ Toronto-born Raducanu Champion)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Maria Sakkari/GRE (wins 3:29 4r match at 2:13 a.m.; def. Pliskova to reach SF)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Robin Montgomery/USA