US Open Tennis

In a match filled with spectacular exchanges at dramatic moments, Spanish sensation Nadal beat an unseeded but unyielding Mariano Puerta 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 to win the French Open.

With Sunday’s victory, the young king of clay earned a congratulatory handshake from the king of Spain.

“This is incredible,” said Nadal, who turned 19 Friday. “It’s a dream come true.”

The No. 4-seeded Nadal overcame three set points in the final set and became the youngest men’s Grand Slam champion since Michael Chang won the French Open in 1989 at age 17. Nadal’s the first man to win the French Open on his initial try since Mats Wilander, who claimed the first of his seven Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros in 1982.

“I fight every ball,” Nadal said in English. “When I have problems in the match, I fight, I fight, I fight every game.”

Service, please
Andre Agassi serves to Roger Federer during the men’s final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2005.

Finals
Sep 11
Roger Federer (1) def. Andre Agassi (7) 6-3,2-6,7-6 (7-1),6-1

Semi Finals
Sep 10
Roger Federer (1) def. Lleyton Hewitt (3) 6-3,7-6 (7-0),4-6,6-3
Andre Agassi (7) def. Robby Ginepri 6-4,5-7,6-3,4-6,6-3

Quarter Finals
Sep 7
Andre Agassi (7) def. James Blake 3-6,3-6,6-3,6-3,7-6 (8-6)
Robby Ginepri def. Guillermo Coria (8) 4-6,6-1,7-5,3-6,7-5
Sep 8
Roger Federer (1) def. David Nalbandian (11) 6-2,6-4,6-1
Lleyton Hewitt (3) def. Jarkko Nieminen 2-6,6-1,3-6,6-3,6-1
Fourth Round
Sep 5
Andre Agassi (7) def. Xavier Malisse 6-3,6-4,6-7,4-6,6-2
Guillermo Coria (8) def. Nicolas Massu 6-4,2-6,6-7,6-2,6-2
Robby Ginepri def. Richard Gasquet (13) 6-3,3-6,6-7,6-4,6-0
Sep 6
Roger Federer (1) def. Nicolas Kiefer 6-4,6-7,6-3,6-4
Lleyton Hewitt (3) def. Dominik Hrbaty (15) 6-1,6-4,6-2
David Nalbandian (11) def. Davide Sanguinetti 4-6,7-6 (7-4),6-4,6-2

Third Round
Sep 3
James Blake def. Rafael Nadal (2) 6-4,4-6,6-3,6-1
Andre Agassi (7) def. Tomas Berdych 3-6,6-1,6-4,7-6 (7-2)
Guillermo Coria (8) def. Robin Soderling 6-2,6-7,6-1,6-4
Richard Gasquet (13) def. Ivan Ljubicic 3-6,7-6 (8-6),6-7,6-3,6-2
Sep 4
Roger Federer (1) def. Olivier Rochus 6-3,7-6 (8-6),6-2
Lleyton Hewitt (3) def. Taylor Dent 6-3,3-6,6-7,6-2,7-5
David Nalbandian (11) def. Fernando Gonzalez 7-5,6-3,6-0
Dominik Hrbaty (15) def. David Ferrer 6-7,7-5,7-5,7-5

Second Round
Sep 1
Andre Agassi (7) def. Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-4),7-6 (7-5),7-6 (7-4)
Guillermo Coria (8) def. Vincent Spadea 6-2,6-3,6-2
Stanislas Wawrinka def. Mariano Puerta (10) 3-6,6-4,6-3,6-7,6-1
Sebastien Grosjean def. Thomas Johansson (14) 6-3,6-2,4-6,6-2
Sep 2
Roger Federer (1) def. Fabrice Santoro 7-5,7-5,7-6 (7-2)
Lleyton Hewitt (3) def. Jose Acasuso 7-6 (8-6),7-6 (7-3),6-2
Paradorn Srichaphan def. Nikolay Davydenko (6) 6-4,7-5,6-3
David Nalbandian (11) def. Peter Wessels 7-6 (7-4),1-6,6-2,7-6 (7-4)
Dominik Hrbaty (15) def. Michael Lammer 6-1,6-1,6-3
Nicolas Kiefer def. Radek Stepanek (16) 4-6,4-6,6-4,6-3,6-3

First Round
Aug 29
Rafael Nadal (2) def. Bobby Reynolds 6-3,6-3,6-4
Andre Agassi (7) def. Razvan Sabau 6-3,6-3,6-1
Guillermo Coria (8) def. Felix Mantilla 7-6 (7-5),6-1,6-3
Brian Baker def. Gaston Gaudio (9) 7-6 (11-9),6-2,6-4
Mariano Puerta (10) def. Noam Okun 7-6 (7-4),6-7,6-4,6-0
Richard Gasquet (13) def. Alberto Martin 6-2,6-3,1-6,6-7,6-4
Thomas Johansson (14) def. Mariano Zabaleta 6-3,6-4,6-3
Aug 30
Roger Federer (1) def. Ivo Minar 6-1,6-1,6-1
Gilles Muller def. Andy Roddick (4) 7-6 (7-4),7-6 (10-8),7-6 (7-1)
Nikolay Davydenko (6) def. Tomas Zib 6-2,6-0,6-4
David Nalbandian (11) def. Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-2,7-5,6-4
Fernando Verdasco def. Tim Henman (12) 6-4,6-2,6-2
Radek Stepanek (16) def. Nicolas Lapentti 7-5,7-6 (9-7),6-1
Aug 31
Lleyton Hewitt (3) def. Albert Costa 6-1,6-2,6-1
Dominik Hrbaty (15) def. Andreas Seppi 6-2,6-4,6-7,6-2

Kim Clijsters, the 2005 US Open women’s champion and winner of the US Open Series, doubled her prize money to collect $2.2 million - - the richest prize in women’s sports history.

Finals
Sep 10
Kim Clijsters (4) def. Mary Pierce (12) 6-3,6-1

Semi Finals
Sep 9
Elke Clijsters def. Maria Sharapova (1) 6-2,6-7,6-3
Mary Pierce (12) def. Elena Dementieva (6) 3-6,6-2,6-2

Quarter Finals
Sep 6
Maria Sharapova (1) def. Nadia Petrova (9) 7-5,4-6,6-4
Kim Clijsters (4) def. Venus Williams (10) 4-6,7-5,6-1
Sep 7
Elena Dementieva (6) def. Lindsay Davenport (2) 6-1,3-6,7-6 (8-6)
Mary Pierce (12) def. Amelie Mauresmo (3) 6-4,6-1

Fourth Round
Sep 4
Maria Sharapova (1) def. Sania Mirza 6-2,6-1
Kim Clijsters (4) def. Maria Vento-Kabchi 6-1,6-0
Venus Williams (10) def. Serena Williams (8) 7-6 (7-5),6-2
Nadia Petrova (9) def. Nicole Vaidisova 7-6 (7-4),7-5
Sep 5
Lindsay Davenport (2) def. Natalie Dechy (15) 6-0,6-3
Amelie Mauresmo (3) def. Elena Likhovtseva 6-1,6-4
Elena Dementieva (6) def. Patty Schnyder (11) 6-4,6-3
Mary Pierce (12) def. Justine Henin-Hardenne (7) 6-3,6-4

Third Round
Sep 2
Maria Sharapova (1) def. Julia Schruff 6-2,6-4
Kim Clijsters (4) def. Ai Sugiyama 6-1,6-4
Serena Williams (8) def. Francesca Schiavone 6-3,6-4
Nadia Petrova (9) def. Laura Granville 6-2,7-5
Venus Williams (10) def. Daniela Hantuchova 6-3,6-3
Sep 3
Lindsay Davenport (2) def. Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3,6-2
Amelie Mauresmo (3) def. Anna-Lena Groenefeld 7-5,6-3
Elena Dementieva (6) def. Anna Chakvetadze 6-1,4-6,7-6 (7-5)
Justine Henin-Hardenne (7) def. Yoon Jeong Cho 6-0,7-6 (7-4)
Patty Schnyder (11) def. Shinobu Asagoe 6-1,6-3
Elena Likhovtseva def. Anastasia Myskina (13) 0-6,6-3,7-6 (8-6)
Natalie Dechy (15) def. Tatiana Golovin 7-5,2-6,6-2

Second Round
Aug 31
Maria Sharapova (1) def. Dally Randriantefy 6-1,6-0
Kim Clijsters (4) def. Fabiola Zuluaga 7-5,6-0
Serena Williams (8) def. Catalina Castano 6-2,6-2
Nadia Petrova (9) def. Aiko Nakamura 6-2,6-0
Venus Williams (10) def. Maria Kirilenko 6-1,6-3
Sep 1
Lindsay Davenport (2) def. Pauline Parmentier 6-1,6-1
Amelie Mauresmo (3) def. Sesil Karatancheva 6-0,6-1
Elena Dementieva (6) def. Mariana Diaz-Oliva 7-5,6-1
Justine Henin-Hardenne (7) def. Maria Sanchez Lorenzo 6-3,6-4
Patty Schnyder (11) def. Martina Sucha 6-3,2-6,6-2
Mary Pierce (12) def. Katarina Srebotnik 6-3,6-2
Anastasia Myskina (13) def. Amy Frazier 6-3,6-2
Natalie Dechy (15) def. Vania King 6-1,6-1

First Round
Aug 29
Maria Sharapova (1) def. Eleni Daniilidou 6-1,6-1
Kim Clijsters (4) def. Martina Muller 6-1,6-2
Ekaterina Bychkova def. Svetlana Kuznetsova (5) 6-3,6-2
Serena Williams (8) def. Yung-Jan Chan 6-1,6-3
Nadia Petrova (9) def. Eva Birnerova 6-4,6-4
Venus Williams (10) def. Rika Fujiwara 6-3,6-1
Shenay Perry def. Alicia Molik (14) 6-4,6-4
Aug 30
Lindsay Davenport (2) def. Na Li 6-4,6-4
Amelie Mauresmo (3) def. Roberta Vinci 6-3,6-2
Elena Dementieva (6) def. Lucie Safarova 7-5,6-3
Justine Henin-Hardenne (7) def. Zuzana Ondraskova 6-3,6-0
Patty Schnyder (11) def. Conchita Martinez 4-6,6-4,6-2
Mary Pierce (12) def. Mara Santangelo 6-2,6-4
Anastasia Myskina (13) def. Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3,6-1
Natalie Dechy (15) def. Severine Beltrame 6-4,7-5

Jun 5 Rafael Nadal was crowned the undisputed king of clay on Sunday, beating unseeded Argentine Mariano Puerta 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 in a rousing French Open final.

Finals
Rafael Nadal (4) def. Mariano Puerta 6-7,6-3,6-1,7-5

Semi Finals
Jun 3
Rafael Nadal (4) def. Roger Federer (1) 6-3,4-6,6-4,6-3
Mariano Puerta def. Nikolay Davydenko (12) 6-3,5-7,2-6,6-4,6-4

Quarter Finals
May 31
Roger Federer (1) def. Victor Hanescu 6-2,7-6 (7-3),6-3
Rafael Nadal (4) def. David Ferrer 7-5,6-2,6-0
Jun 1
Mariano Puerta def. Guillermo Canas (9) 6-2,3-6,1-6,6-3,6-4
Nikolay Davydenko (12) def. Tommy Robredo (15) 3-6,6-1,6-2,4-6,6-4

Fourth Round
May 29
Roger Federer (1) def. Carlos Moya (14) 6-1,6-4,6-3
Rafael Nadal (4) def. Sebastien Grosjean 6-4,3-6,6-0,6-3
David Ferrer def. Gaston Gaudio (5) 2-6,6-4,7-6 (7-5),5-7,6-4
Victor Hanescu def. David Nalbandian (10) 6-3,4-6,5-7,6-1,6-2
May 30
Tommy Robredo (15) def. Marat Safin (3) 7-5,1-6,6-1,4-6,8-6
Nikolay Davydenko (12) def. Guillermo Coria (8) 2-6,6-3,7-6 (7-1),6-2

Third Round
May 27
Roger Federer (1) def. Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (11-9),7-5,6-2
Rafael Nadal (4) def. Richard Gasquet 6-4,6-3,6-2
Gaston Gaudio (5) def. Felix Mantilla 6-4,6-4,6-3
David Nalbandian (10) def. Mario Ancic 6-4,7-6 (7-4),6-3
Carlos Moya (14) def. Fernando Vicente 6-4,7-6 (7-4),6-7,0-6,6-4
Sebastien Grosjean def. Radek Stepanek (16) 6-1,4-6,3-6,6-3,6-4
May 28
Marat Safin (3) def. Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6 (7-5),7-5,1-6,7-6 (7-2)
Guillermo Coria (8) def. Jurgen Melzer 6-1,6-1,7-6 (7-2)
Guillermo Canas (9) def. Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3,7-6 (7-4),2-6,6-7,8-6
Nikolay Davydenko (12) def. Tommy Haas 7-5,6-0,6-0
Tommy Robredo (15) def. David Sanchez 6-4,6-3,6-1

Second Round
May 25
Roger Federer (1) def. Nicolas Almagro 6-3,7-6 (7-0),6-2
Rafael Nadal (4) def. Xavier Malisse 6-2,6-2,6-4
Luis Horna def. Tim Henman (7) 7-5,6-7,6-3,6-4
David Nalbandian (10) def. Tomas Berdych 6-3,6-2,6-1
Carlos Moya (14) def. Robin Vik 7-6 (8-6),6-7,6-3,6-1
Radek Stepanek (16) def. Florent Serra 6-3,6-4,6-1
May 26
Jose Acasuso def. Andy Roddick (2) 3-6,4-6,6-4,6-3,8-6
Marat Safin (3) def. Lukas Dlouhy 6-7,6-3,7-5,6-1
Guillermo Canas (9) def. Albert Montanes 6-1,6-3,6-4
Nikolay Davydenko (12) def. Olivier Rochus 3-6,7-5,6-2,6-3
Tommy Robredo (15) def. Dick Norman 6-4,6-2,6-4

First Round
May 23
Roger Federer (1) def. Dudi Sela 6-1,6-4,6-0
Rafael Nadal (4) def. Lars Burgsmuller 6-1,7-6 (7-4),6-1
Gaston Gaudio (5) def. Julien Benneteau 7-5,6-0,6-1
Tim Henman (7) def. Juan Pablo Brzezicki 6-2,6-1,6-4
David Nalbandian (10) def. Marcos Baghdatis 0-6,6-4,6-4,6-4
Carlos Moya (14) def. Alberto Martin 5-7,6-1,6-4,6-2
Radek Stepanek (16) def. Paradorn Srichaphan 3-6,6-3,6-1,6-1
May 24
Andy Roddick (2) def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3,6-2,6-4
Marat Safin (3) def. Raemon Sluiter 6-1,4-6,6-4,6-2
Jarkko Nieminen def. Andre Agassi (6) 7-5,4-6,6-7,6-1,6-0
Guillermo Coria (8) def. Kenneth Carlsen 6-4,6-2,6-4
Guillermo Canas (9) def. Gael Monfils 6-3,6-1,6-0
Nikolay Davydenko (12) def. Sasa Tuksar 6-2,6-4,6-3
Ivan Ljubicic (13) def. Mariano Puerta 7-5,7-5,6-2
Tommy Robredo (15) def. Peter Luczak 4-6,6-3,6-3,6-3

Justine Henin-Hardenne holds up the trophy after beating Mary Pierce to win the French Open.

Finals
Jun 4
Justine Henin-Hardenne (10) def. Mary Pierce 6-1,6-1

Semi Finals
Jun 2
Justine Henin-Hardenne (10) def. Nadia Petrova (7) 6-2,6-3
Mary Pierce def. Elena Likhovtseva (16) 6-1,6-1

Quarter Finals
May 31
Mary Pierce def. Lindsay Davenport (1) 6-3,6-2
Justine Henin-Hardenne (10) def. Maria Sharapova (2) 6-4,6-2
Nadia Petrova (7) def. Ana Ivanovic 6-2,6-2
Elena Likhovtseva (16) def. Sesil Karatancheva 2-6,6-4,6-4

Fourth Round
May 29
Lindsay Davenport (1) def. Kim Clijsters (14) 1-6,7-5,6-3
Maria Sharapova (2) def. Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-2,6-3
Elena Likhovtseva (16) def. Elena Dementieva (4) 7-6 (7-3),5-7,7-5
Justine Henin-Hardenne (10) def. Svetlana Kuznetsova (6) 7-6 (8-6),4-6,7-5
Nadia Petrova (7) def. Elena Bovina (12) 7-5,3-6,6-4
Mary Pierce def. Patty Schnyder (8) 6-1,1-6,6-4

Third Round
May 27
Lindsay Davenport (1) def. Virginie Razzano 7-5,4-6,6-4
Elena Dementieva (4) def. Akiko Morigami 6-3,4-6,6-3
Patty Schnyder (8) def. Flavia Pennetta 4-6,6-0,6-1
Mary Pierce def. Vera Zvonareva (9) 7-6 (7-2),7-5
Sesil Karatancheva def. Venus Williams (11) 6-3,1-6,6-1
Kim Clijsters (14) def. Daniela Hantuchova 6-4,6-2
Elena Likhovtseva (16) def. Silvia Farina Elia 7-5,7-6 (7-2)
May 28
Maria Sharapova (2) def. Anna Chakvetadze 6-1,6-4
Ana Ivanovic def. Amelie Mauresmo (3) 6-4,3-6,6-4
Svetlana Kuznetsova (6) def. Marissa Irvin 6-1,2-6,6-0
Nadia Petrova (7) def. Shahar Peer 6-3,6-1
Justine Henin-Hardenne (10) def. Anabel Medina Garrigues 4-6,6-2,6-3
Elena Bovina (12) def. Tatiana Golovin 6-3,7-5
Nuria Llagostera Vives def. Natalie Dechy (13) 7-6 (7-1),6-3

Second Round
May 25
Lindsay Davenport (1) def. Shuai Peng 3-6,7-6 (7-4),6-0
Elena Dementieva (4) def. Sanda Mamic 7-6 (9-7),6-2
Patty Schnyder (8) def. Sandra Kloesel 6-2,6-3
Vera Zvonareva (9) def. Eva Birnerova 4-6,6-3,6-0
Venus Williams (11) def. Fabiola Zuluaga 6-3,3-6,6-3
Kim Clijsters (14) def. Ludmila Cervanova 6-2,6-1
Elena Likhovtseva (16) def. Mariana Diaz-Oliva 6-1,7-6 (7-3)
May 26
Maria Sharapova (2) def. Aravane Rezai 6-3,6-2
Amelie Mauresmo (3) def. Alize Cornet 6-0,6-2
Svetlana Kuznetsova (6) def. Sofia Arvidsson 6-3,6-4
Nadia Petrova (7) def. Severine Beltrame 6-1,6-3
Justine Henin-Hardenne (10) def. Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-1,6-4
Elena Bovina (12) def. Tathiana Garbin 6-1,1-6,6-4
Natalie Dechy (13) def. Samantha Stosur 6-3,6-3

First Round
May 23
Lindsay Davenport (1) def. Katarina Srebotnik 3-6,6-2,6-2
Elena Dementieva (4) def. Barbora Strycova 6-3,6-3
Maria Sanchez Lorenzo def. Anastasia Myskina (5) 6-4,4-6,6-0
Patty Schnyder (8) def. Yoon Jeong Cho 6-3,6-4
Vera Zvonareva (9) def. Yvonne Meusburger 6-3,6-1
Venus Williams (11) def. Marta Marrero 6-3,6-2
Kim Clijsters (14) def. Meilen Tu 6-1,6-0
Elena Likhovtseva (16) def. Yuliana Fedak 2-6,6-4,6-4
May 24
Maria Sharapova (2) def. Evgenia Linetskaya 6-7,6-2,6-4
Amelie Mauresmo (3) def. Daniella Dominikovic 6-2,6-1
Svetlana Kuznetsova (6) def. Mathilde Johansson 6-1,6-1
Nadia Petrova (7) def. Mashona Lakuta Washington 6-4,6-2
Justine Henin-Hardenne (10) def. Conchita Martinez 6-0,4-6,6-4
Elena Bovina (12) def. Maria Vento-Kabchi 6-0,6-3
Natalie Dechy (13) def. Michaela Pastikova 6-1,6-4
Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi def. Jelena Jankovic (15) 6-0,6-3

McEnroe just blew away the competition in 1984, compiling an incredible 82-3 record and winning a career-high 13 tournaments, including his third Wimbledon and fourth U.S. Open.

Men’s record holders for most wins since 1925:

Singles:
before 1968: Bill Larned; Bill Tilden; Richard Sears (USA), 7.
since 1968: Jimmy Connors; Pete Sampras (USA), 5.

Consecutive singles titles:
before 1968: Richard Sears (USA), 7.
since 1968: John McEnroe (USA); Ivan Lendl (CZE/USA), 3.

Ladies’ record holders for most wins since 1887:

Singles:
before 1968: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (USA), 8.
since 1968: Chris Evert (USA), 7.

Consecutive singles titles:
before 1968: Molla Mallory; Helen Jacobs (USA), 4.
since 1968: Chris Evert (USA), 4.

Last American men’s singles champion: Andy Roddick (2003)
Last American women’s singles champion: Serena Williams (2002)

Men’s record holders for most wins since 1925:

All competitions: Henri Cochet (France), 9 titles (4 singles, 3 doubles, 2 mixed doubles titles).
Singles: Björn Borg (Sweden), 6.
Consecutive singles titles: Björn Borg, 4.
Doubles: Roy Emerson (Australia), 6.

Ladies’ record holders for most wins since 1925:

All competitions: Margaret Smith Court (Australia), 13 (5 singles, 4 doubles, 4 mixed doubles titles)
Singles: Chris Evert (USA), 7.
Consecutive singles titles: Helen Wills Moody (USA), Hilde Sperling (Germany) and Monica Seles (Yugoslavia), 3.
Doubles: Martina Navratilova (Czechoslovakia/USA), 7.

Youngest Singles champions:

Men: Michael Chang (1989): 17 yrs, 3 mos.
Women: Monica Seles (1990): 16 yrs, 6 mos.

Oldest Singles champions:

Men: Andrés Gimeno (1972): 34 yrs, 10 mos.
Women: Chris Evert (1986): 31 yrs, 5 mos.

Other:

Last French men’s singles champion: Rafael Nadal (2005)
Last French women’s singles champion: Justine Henin-Hardenne (2005)