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spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men.sPubDate = "9/9/2008 3:40:21 PM GMT";
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spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Open era champions","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","2008","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/September/080908_RogerFederer_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Charles Krupa", "AP", "358", "253", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Roger Federer (2008)
Becoming the first man since Bill Tilden to win five straight U.S. Open men's singles titles, Roger Federer salvaged an otherwise disappointing 2008 season. He beat Andy Murray, who had topped Federer's nemesis Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, in straight sets to earn the 13th Grand Slam title of his career.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","2007","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_RogerFederer_2007_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Timothy A. Clary", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "342", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Roger Federer (2007)
Playing in his first U.S. Open final, Serbian Novak Djokovic had the misfortune to face Switzerland's Roger Federer, who earned a straight-set victory to claim his fourth straight Open title and 12th overall Grand Slam title, tying Roy Emerson. It was not a bad payday for Federer, as he took home $2.4 million -- $1.4 million in prize money and $1.0 million in Open Series bonus payments.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","2006","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_RogerFederer_2006_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "273", "390", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Roger Federer (2006)
Picking on an American for the second straight year, Roger Federer won his third straight U.S. Open singles title in 2006 by beating Andy Roddick in four sets. Once again, he won three of four Grand Slam events that year.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","2005","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_RogerFederer_2005_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Timothy A. Clary", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "368", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Roger Federer (2005)
Roger Federer dropped only two sets on the way to successfully defending his U.S. Open men's singles championship by defeating ageless Andre Agassi in four sets. Competing in his sixth Open final, Agassi still had the magic for three sets, winning the second set and extending Federer to a tiebreak in the third. Federer became the first man in the Open Era to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in back-to-back years.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","2004","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_RogerFederer_2004_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Al Bello", "Getty Images", "273", "391", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Roger Federer (2004)
Roger Federer won three Grand Slam titles in 2004, capping the year by defeating Lleyton Hewitt, 6-0, 7-6, 6-0, in the U.S. Open championship match. This marked the first of four straight U.S. Open singles titles (and counting) for Federer.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","2003","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_AndyRoddick_2003_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Stan Honda", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "231", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Andy Roddick (2003)
The 2003 tournament began with an emotional retirement ceremony for Pete Sampras. It ended with hard-serving American Andy Roddick defeating Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets. At the end of the year, Roddick was ranked No. 1 in the world, the youngest American to hold that position since the start of computer rankings in 1973.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","2002","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_PeteSampras_2002_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Bongarts", "Bongarts/Getty Images", "273", "377", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Pete Sampras (2002)
Tired of being the runner-up for two straight years and disturbed at being described by Greg Rusedski as a \"step and a half slower,\" 15th-seeded Pete Sampras won his record-tying fifth U.S. Open singles title and 14th career Grand Slam title. In a fitting end to a storied rivalry, this match was a reprise of the Sampras-Agassi Open final that took place 12 years earlier. This marked the last match of Sampras' career. The entire U.S. Open honored the resiliency of New York and the U.S. in a post-Sept. 11 environment.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","2001","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_LleytonHewitt_2001_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Ezra Shaw", "Getty Images", "273", "403", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Lleyton Hewitt (2001)
For the second straight year, a player was in the U.S. Open final for the first time and was facing four-time champ Pete Sampras. Once again, the newbie, in this case Aussie Lleyton Hewitt, won in straight sets. A baseline counterpuncher, Hewitt used his competitiveness and tenacity, along with a number of \"come on!\" shouts to win his only Open title.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","2000","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_MaratSafin_2000_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Roberto Schmidt", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "356", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Marat Safin (2000)
In his first U.S. Open final, Russia's Marat Safin defeated heavily-favored Pete Sampras in a surprising straight-set match. A product of Moscow’s Spartak Tennis Club that also spawned Anna Kournikova, Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Myskina and his sister, Dinara Safina, Safin escaped to Spain in his teens. This volatile, tennis enigma has never found a racquet he could not break.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1999","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_AndreAgassi_1999_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "358", "255", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Andre Agassi (1999)
In his fourth final, Andre Agassi won his second U.S. Open title by rebounding from a 1-2 set deficit against Todd Martin to win in five. Rededicated to tennis and superbly conditioned, Agassi received the nickname \"the punisher\" for his ability to run opponents around the court and into exhaustion.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1998","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_PatrickRafter_1998_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Bongarts", "Bongarts/Getty Images", "358", "250", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Patrick Rafter (1998)
Before Pat Rafter, the last Aussie to win the U.S. Open was John Newcombe in 1973. With this win over fellow 'Roo Mark Philippoussis in four sets, Rafter added a second Open singles title to his resume. En route to the finals, Rafter knocked off Sampras in five sets in the semis.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1997","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_PatrickRafter_1997_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Kathy Willens", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "326", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Patrick Rafter (1997)
It was a festive tournament in 1997 as the USTA unveiled the new Arthur Ashe Stadium, the centerpiece of the National Tennis Center. It also looked like the British Commonwealth championships, as Australian heartthrob Patrick Rafter defeated hard-serving Canadian-British Greg Rusedski in four sets in the finals. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1996","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_PeteSampras_1996_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "John Dunn", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "271", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Pete Sampras (1996)
Pete Sampras won his fourth U.S. Open singles championship and second in a row in a straight-set defeat of fellow American Michael Chang. Because it was his first Grand Slam final since the recent death of coach and close friend Tim Gullickson, who would have turned 45 on the day of the men's championship match, it was an emotional victory for Pistol Pete.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1995","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_PeteSampras_1995_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Simon Bruty", "Getty Images", "273", "370", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Pete Sampras (1995)
At the absolute zenith of their tennis rivalry, Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in four sets for his third U.S. Open title. In 1995, Sampras traded the No. 1 ranking with Agassi and met in five tour finals on hard courts, with Agassi winning the majority. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1994","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_AndreAgassi_1994_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "358", "244", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Andre Agassi (1994)
For a player for whom \"image was everything\" and one who ended with eight Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal, Andre Agassi had many different images during his career. After a tennis hiatus to recover from wrist surgery, he became the first man to win the U.S. Open as an unseeded player, defeating Germany's Michael Stich in straight sets. Agassi is one of only five men's players to win all four Slam titles.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1993","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_PeteSampras_1993_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Don Emmert", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "247", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Pete Sampras (1993)
A re-energized Pete Sampras beat Frenchman Cedric Pioline and his big topspin backhand in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4 and 6-3. His second U.S. Open singles title marked Sampras' ascendancy as the dominant player in the tennis world, as he finished 1993 ranked No. 1 in the world for the first time and set an ATP record as the first player to serve 1000 aces in a season. He finished every season from 1993 to 2000 as the top-ranked player -- a record 8 times.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1992","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_StefanEdberg_1992_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Tim Clary", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "230", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Stefan Edberg (1992)
After struggling through three five-set matches to reach the singles final, Stefan Edberg faced hard-serving Pete Sampras for the title. After losing to repeat-champion Edberg in four sets, Sampras said this match was the \"wake-up call\" that alerted him to what he had to do on and off the court to become the world's No. 1 player. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1991","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_StefanEdberg_1991_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Russell Cheyne", "Getty Images", "273", "396", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Stefan Edberg (1991)
A classy and skilled Swede who retired with six Slam titles to his credit, Stefan Edberg vanquished American baseliner Jim Courier in straight sets in the 1991 championship match. While the wonderfully conditioned Courier was prepared to slug it out for hours, Edberg's skill on the hard court made it a quick title bout.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1990","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_PeteSampras_1990_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Rick Stewart", "Getty Images", "358", "261", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Pete Sampras (1990)
In a celebration of the next generation of American tennis players and a harbinger of what would become the defining tennis rivalry of the 1990s, Pete Sampras faced Andre Agassi in the 1990 men's singles finals and won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. It was the first all-American men's final since 1979 and marked the first of 14 Grand Slam titles that Pistol Pete would win throughout his career.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1989","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_BorisBecker_1989_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Adam Stoltman", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "244", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Boris Becker (1989)
Fresh from a Wimbledon victory, six-time Slam singles champion and Olympic gold medalist Boris Becker won his only U.S. Open singles championship by defeating Ivan Lendl in four sets. \"Boom Boom\" was a crowd favorite for his power serving, heavy forehand and proclivity for diving for volleys. 1989 marked the remarkable eighth straight year that Lendl had appeared in the U.S. Open finals.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1988","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_MatsWilander_1988_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Bob Martin", "Getty Images", "358", "220", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Mats Wilander (1988)
He fell to good friend Ivan Lendl in the tournament's final the previous year, but Mats Wilander turned the tables in 1988. He won the championship in a spirited, almost five-hour, five-set match and claimed his sole U.S. Open singles title. Wilander appeared in three Slam singles finals that year. Over the course of his career, he won seven Slam singles titles.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1987","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_IvanLendl_1987_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Richard Drew", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "235", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Ivan Lendl (1987)
Winning his third straight U.S. Open singles title, Ivan Lendl defeated Swede Mats Wilander in four sets. During each year from 1985-1987, Lendl's match winning percentage was greater than 90 percent. Lendl would become an American citizen in 1992.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1986","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_IvanLendl_1986_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Richard Drew", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "232", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Ivan Lendl (1986)
In an all-Czech final, Ivan Lendl defeated Miloslav Mecir in straight sets for his second Open title. Mecir, who is from what is now known as Slovakia, went on to win the men's singles gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. With a game featuring strength and heavy baseline topspin, Lendl ushered in the era of the \"power\" baseliners that is still in vogue. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1985","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_IvanLendl_1985_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Richard Drew", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "226", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Ivan Lendl (1985)
Turning the tables on John McEnroe from the previous Open championship, Lendl won in straight sets. He started a 23-year-and-counting win streak for male right-handers at the U.S. Open. This also ended his three-year streak as the tournament's runner-up and started his three-year streak as the U.S. Open champ.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1984","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JohnMcEnroe_1984_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Richard Drew", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "236", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "John McEnroe (1984)
Avenging a competitive loss to Ivan Lendl at the French Open, John McEnroe steamrolled the Czech baseliner in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, to capture his fourth U.S. Open singles title. Arguably his most dominant year, McEnroe compiled an overall match record of 82-3 and won 13 singles tournaments. This was the last year of 11 straight that a left-hander won the U.S. Open.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1983","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JimmyConnors_1983_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Getty Images", "Getty Images", "273", "374", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Jimmy Connors (1983)
In 1983, Jimmy Connors won his fifth U.S. Open title in seven finals appearances. Displaying trademarked competitive fire, a flat, laser-like two-handed backhand and the best service return in the game, Connors reprised the previous year's results by defeating Czech Ivan Lendl in four sets.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1982","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JimmyConnors_1982_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Steve Powell", "Getty Images", "358", "253", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Jimmy Connors (1982)
Keeping the lefty U.S. Open winning streak going, Jimmy Connors beat Czech Ivan Lendl in four sets. This era was remarkable for the intense competition between Connors, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Lendl -- all remarkable champions.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1981","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JohnMcEnroe_1981_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Rob Taggart", "Getty Images", "358", "222", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "John McEnroe (1981)
A brash lefty from Douglaston, Queens, McEnroe became the first male tennis player since Bill Tilden in 1925 to win three consecutive U.S. Open singles championships. Bjorn Borg's defeat in the finals in four sets marked his final appearance in a Slam event. As the tournament celebrated the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Championships, McEnroe also paired with Peter Fleming to win the doubles title. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1980","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JohnMcEnroe_1980_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Richard Drew", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "237", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "John McEnroe (1980)
In 1980, John McEnroe took over the mantle from Connors as the designated American to torment Swede Bjorn Borg in the U.S. Open finals. Following his loss to Borg at Wimbledon in a match often described as the best tennis match in history, Johnny Mac gained revenge in this five-set victory over Borg in one of the best Open finals on record.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1979","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JohnMcEnroe_1979_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Dave Pickoff", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "365", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "John McEnroe (1979)
\"You cannot be serious!\" With players from around the world competing in the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, Queens, this John McEnroe catchphrase describes the improbability of having two players from Queens playing in the finals. Johnny Mac prevailed over good friend Vitas Gerulaitis in straight sets for his first of four Open singles titles. For good measure, McEnroe paired with Peter Fleming to win the first of his four Open doubles titles.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1978","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JimmyConnors_1978_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Frank Tewkesbury", "Getty Images", "273", "344", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Jimmy Connors (1978)
1978 was a year of tennis firsts: The first year of play at the new USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens and the first U.S. Open champion to have won on three surfaces (grass, clay and hard court). Jimmy Connors dominated Swede Bjorn Borg in straight sets by displaying his trademarks: Hitting the ball on the rise off the hard court and generating flat power strokes with his steel Wilson T2000 racquet. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1977","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_GuillermoVilas_1977_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Anonymous", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "256", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Guillermo Vilas (1977)
The 1977 U.S. Open marked the end of an era -- it was the last U.S. championship played at Forest Hills. On the clay at the West Side Tennis Club, Guillermo Vilas, a lefty, Argentine baseliner, switched up his game against Jimmy Connors, attacked the net and won in four sets. It was a big year for Vilas, who had won the French Open months before and had an overall match record of 145-14. Vilas was one of two lefties not named Connors or McEnroe to win the U.S. Open title during the 11-year lefty run.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1976","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JimmyConnors_1976_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Central Press", "Getty Images", "358", "242", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Jimmy Connors (1976)
In this American Bicentennial year, Jimmy Connors upheld U.S. tennis pride in a memorable four-set win over Swede Bjorn Borg on clay at the West Side Tennis Club. The 70-minute third set was particularly memorable -- Connors saved four set points to win 11-9. A second-place finish at the U.S. Open would become almost routine for Borg, as he finished as the runner-up three other times.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1975","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_ManuelOrantes_1975_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Dave Pickoff", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "232", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Manuel Orantes (1975)
1975 was a tumultuous year of lawsuits and competing organizations in the tennis world. It was also a year in which Jimmy Connors played in and lost three Slam singles finals, the first year that lights were used for night play at Forest Hills and the first of three years that clay was the court surface. Less than 18 hours after defeating Guillermo Vilas under the lights in the semifinals, Spaniard Manuel Orantes straight-setted Connors in the U.S. Open finals.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1974","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JimmyConnors_1974_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Victor Drees", "Getty Images", "273", "343", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Jimmy Connors (1974)
In a battle of ages, the brash 22-year-old Jimmy Connors defeated the classy 39-year-old Aussie Ken Rosewall in the most lopsided Open final in history, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1. This marked the first of Connors' five U.S. Open singles championships and started a string of 11 straight years in which lefties won the Open title. 1974 was also the last year the U.S. Open was played on grass.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1973","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_JohnNewcombe_1973_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Richard Drew", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "393", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "John Newcombe (1973)
John Newcombe used his sublime grass court skills to defeat Czech Jan Kodes in a five-set final and secure his second U.S. Open singles championship. Revenge was sweet as the mustachioed Aussie avenged his first-round Open defeat to Kodes two years previously. One of the most popular of the Australian players, Newcombe won a total of 25 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles or mixed doubles. Along with Laver, Newc was one of two players to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon men's singles titles as both an amateur and as a pro.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1972","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_IlieNastase_1972_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Kemp", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "246", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Ilie Nastase (1972)
Viewed by a record crowd of 14,696 at Forest Hills, Romanian Ilie Nastase thwarted Arthur Ashe's attempt for a second Open title in a five-set thriller. \"Nasty\" came back from a 1-2 deficit in sets to earn his only U.S. Open singles championship. Possessing rare tennis skills and imposing physicality, Nastase could play great tennis but had a penchant for gamesmanship and clowning on court.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1971","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_StanSmith_1971_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "390", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Stan Smith (1971)
Best known for being one of the most skilled doubles players of his era, Stan Smith had a great serve and volley game that was well suited to Forest Hills grass. This four-set victory over Jan Kodes was not easy since the Czech baseliner was coming off two straight French Open titles. Smith was a very popular American champion who managed to stop the Aussie tennis juggernaut. He has worked hard over the years to promote the USTA and American tennis.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1970","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_KenRosewall_1970_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Hulton Archive", "Getty Images", "273", "357", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Ken Rosewall (1970)
While the 1970 U.S. Open was in the Open Era, conflicts in the tennis world still kept all the elite players from playing in all the Slam events. This U.S. Open on Forest Hills grass was one of two 1970 Slams that did manage to gather the world's best. Ken Rosewall, an Aussie with a classic backhand, defeated countryman Tony Roche in four sets for his second US trophy (and eighth overall Slam title). Known as \"muscles\" for his lack thereof, Rosewall was the \"anti-Nadal,\" both for physique reasons and for the fact that he was a natural lefty who was trained to play right-handed -- the opposite of Nadal.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1969","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_RodLaver_1969_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Harry Harris", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "358", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Rod Laver (1969)
After losing the first set to fellow Aussie Tony Roche, Rod Laver earned his second U.S. Open singles championship by storming back to dominate the next three sets. The win help him net his second career calendar-year Grand Slam and first in the Open Era. He is still the only player to have won the same year Grand Slam twice. The \"Rocket's\" overall match record in 1969 was 106-16, and he became the first player to earn over $100,000 in prize money in a single year.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","1968","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080731_ArthurAshe_1968_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Marty Lederhandler", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "335", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Arthur Ashe (1968)
Three years after he won the NCAA singles title for UCLA, Arthur Ashe won the first of his three Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open on Forest Hills grass. By defeating \"The Flying Dutchman,\" Tom Okker, in a five-set marathon, he became the first African-American male to win a Slam event. This was the start of the Open Era in tennis and a big year for Ashe, as he won the U.S. Amateur as well as the inaugural US Open -- the only player ever to do that in the same year.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Other notable winners","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "left", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Roy Emerson","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080729_RoyEmerson_1964_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Dennis Oulds", "Getty Images", "358", "255", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Roy Emerson (1961, 1964)
Of Roy Emerson's 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 major doubles titles, seven of them came at the U.S. Open. A skilled serve-and-volleyer, Emerson employed that strategy to great success on the U.S. courts. Both of his singles victories came in straight sets over fellow Australians: in 1961 he beat Rod Laver, and in 1964 he beat Fred Stolle.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Tony Trabert","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080729_TonyTrabert_1955_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Bert Hardy", "Getty Images", "358", "235", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Tony Trabert (1953, 1955)
American tennis player Tony Trabert won every Grand Slam final in which he competed. That included the two times he made it to the finals of the U.S. Open in 1953 and 1955. His second singles victory at the tournament capped the best year of his career. In 1955, Trabert won the three most prestigious amateur titles -- the French, Wimbledon and U.S. championships -- as well as 15 other tournaments while compiling a win-loss record of 106-7. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Pancho Gonzales","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080729_PanchoGonzales_1969_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Bob Dear", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "230", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Pancho Gonzales (1948, 1949)
With reflexes and reactions described as \"God-given talents,\" Pancho Gonzales won two U.S. Championships singles titles in 1948 and 1949. Had he not become a professional following that second victory, he might have won many more.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Jack Kramer","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080729_JackKramer_1947_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "J. A. Hampton", "Getty Images", "273", "384", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Jack Kramer (1946, 1947)
One of the preeminent authorities on tennis, Jack Kramer is also one of the elite men's tennis players in history. He won top honors in the U.S. Championships men's singles draw in both 1946 and 1947, displaying a serve-and-volley game in which he came to net after each of his first and second serves.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Bobby Riggs","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080729_BobbyRiggs_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Hudson", "Getty Images", "273", "355", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Bobby Riggs (1939, 1941)
Although best known for his participation in \"The Battle of the Sexes\" against Billie Jean King in 1973, American tennis player Bobby Riggs originally claimed the national spotlight during his competitive tennis career. The same year he captured the Wimbledon triple (winning the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles), he won his first U.S. Championships singles title and mixed doubles title. After his second singles title at the tournament, earned in 1941, Riggs turned professional.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Don Budge","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080729_DonBudge_1938_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "222", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Don Budge (1937, 1938)
The U.S. Championships tournament was one of two that Don Budge won twice. One year after he earned his first trip to a Grand Slam final, falling to Fred Perry in five sets in the U.S. Championships, Budge captured the title two consecutive years. He also won Wimbledon twice and the Australian and French Championships once, giving him a career Grand Slam.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Fred Perry","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080729_FredPerry_1936_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "398", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Fred Perry (1933, 1934, 1936)
Every time a Grand Slam is played, British tennis fans fondly bring up Fred Perry's name. He is the last English tennis player to win Wimbledon and the U.S., French and Australian Championships men's singles titles. Perry's U.S. Championship victories came in 1933, 1934 and 1936. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i++] = new Array("","Bill Tilden","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20men/080729_BillTilden_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Afp", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "260", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_men[i-1].body = "Bill Tilden (1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925)
Although he wasn't even good enough to play on his college team at the University of Pennsylvania, Bill Tilden worked hard on his game and became one of the best tennis players of all time. Throughout the course of his career, Tilden earned six U.S. Championships titles (1920-1925) and was the runner-up in 1918, 1919 and 1927. Tilden also picked up tournament wins in men's doubles (1918, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1927) and mixed doubles (1913, 1914, 1922, 1923).";
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