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spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women.sPubDate = "9/8/2008 6:49:46 AM GMT";
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spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","Open Era champions","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","2008","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/September/080907_SerenaWilliams_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Timothy A. Clary", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "339", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Serena Williams (2008)
Earning a straight-set 6-4, 7-5 victory over Jelena Jankovic in a match that spanned two hours and four minutes, Serena Williams won her third U.S. Open women's singles title and first since 2002. With the victory, Williams moved into the first spot in the women's rankings and snapped a 57-week drought during which no American woman was No. 1.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","2007","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_JustineHenin_2007_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Timothy A. Clary", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "384", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Justine Henin (2007)
Minus a husband and thus a hyphenated last name, Justine Henin displayed her excellent court coverage, footwork and the most classic one-handed backhand in tennis en route to her second U.S. Open title. After dismissing Serena Williams in the quarterfinals and Venus in the semis, Henin beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in the finals in straight sets. The holder of seven major singles titles, she abruptly retired in May 2008, ranked No. 1 in the world. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","2006","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MariaSharapova_2006_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "358", "250", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Maria Sharapova (2006)
Proving that you could be a supermodel and win majors, Russian Maria Sharapova won her second of three Grand Slam titles at the 2006 U.S. Open, ensuring her Madison Avenue marketability for the next century. She accomplished this task over the able Justine Henin-Hardenne in a very competitive final, 6-4, 6-4.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","2005","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_KimClijsters_2005_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Matthew Stockman", "Getty Images", "273", "374", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Kim Clijsters (2005)
Having competed unsuccessfully in four prior Grand Slam finals, Kim Clijsters finally won her Slam singles title at the 2005 U.S. Open by defeating Mary Pierce, 6-3, 6-1. For her efforts, she earned $2.2 million -- $1.1 million in prize money and an equal amount in Open Series bonus payments. This was the largest payday in women’s sports history.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","2004","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_SvetlanaKuznetsova_2004_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Timothy A. Clary", "AFP/Getty Images", "340", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Svetlana Kuznetsova (2004)
Demonstrating their successful infiltration into the ranks of top-flight women's tennis, this all-Russian U.S. Open final featured Svetlana Kuznetsova triumphing over Elena Dementieva in straight sets. This was Kuznetsova's first and only major title despite her superb court coverage.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","2003","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_JustineHenin_2003_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Stan Honda", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "369", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Justine Henin-Hardenne (2003)
Known as \"Juju\" to her fans, Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne faced countrywoman Kim Clijsters in the U.S. Open finals and won her first Open championship in straight sets. This came after Henin-Hardenne defeated American Jennifer Capriati in an epic semifinal lasting over three hours, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4).";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","2002","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_SerenaWilliams_2002_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Timothy A. Clary", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "377", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Serena Williams (2002)
Sister Act II: This \"prime-time\" reprise of the previous year's U.S. Open final allowed Serena Williams to defeat older sister Venus and earn her second Open singles championship, 6-4, 6-3. A four-year string of Williams’ victories gave way to a five-year string of foreign-born women winning the U.S. Open.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","2001","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_VenusWilliams_2001_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "273", "397", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Venus Williams (2001)
Sister Act I: Since each sister had a U.S. Open trophy, it seemed fitting that they played each other to decide who went home with their second Open championship. In front of a rapt prime-time national television audience, the senior sister Venus Williams prevailed over Serena, 6-2, 6-4.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","2000","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_VenusWilliams_2000_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Matt Campbell", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "255", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Venus Williams (2000)
Keeping the trophy in the Williams family, Venus Williams performed superbly in front of a crowd that included President Clinton to deny Lindsay Davenport, 6-4, 7-5. She also defeated Davenport at Wimbledon in 2000 during an exceptionally successful year.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1999","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_SerenaWilliams_1999_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Al Bello", "Getty Images", "273", "385", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Serena Williams (1999)
Ushering in the \"Williams Era\" at the U.S. Open, Serena Williams used her power and athleticism to beat Martina Hingis in straight sets and win her first Open title and first major. She was the first black woman to win the title since Althea Gibson in 1958. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1998","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_LindsayDavenport_1998_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Timothy Clary", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "239", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Lindsay Davenport (1998)
It was an American tennis resurgence in 1998 as Lindsay Davenport became the first U.S.-born woman to take home the U.S. Open singles title in 16 years. She accomplished this by defeating favored and top-ranked Martina Hingis, 6-3, 7-5. She started a five-year U.S. Open win streak for American women.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1997","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MartinaHingis_1997_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Don Emmert", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "406", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Martina Hingis (1997)
Just shy of her 17th birthday, Martina Hingis inaugurated the new Arthur Ashe Stadium with a decisive 6-0, 6-4 U.S. Open victory over three-month-older American Venus Williams, 6-0, 6-4. Born in Czechoslovakia and raised in Switzerland, Hingis was a true tennis prodigy -- playing tournaments at 4, the youngest to win a Grand Slam junior title at 12, the youngest to win a match at a Grand Slam event at 14 and the youngest Wimbledon champ in over 100 years at 16. This was her only U.S. Open singles title to accompany four other major titles.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1996","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_SteffiGraf_1996_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Shaun Botterill", "Getty Images", "273", "380", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Steffi Graf (1996)
Famously known as \"Fraulein Forehand\" for her dominating inside-out forehand drive, Steffi Graf scored her fifth and final U.S. Open singles championship in a competitive but straight-set victory over Monica Seles. Beset by injuries, Graf retired in 1999, but not before collecting 22 Grand Slam titles (only exceeded by Margaret Smith Court) and becoming the only person to win each major at least four times.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1995","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_SteffiGraf_1995_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Simon Bruty", "Getty Images", "273", "363", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Steffi Graf (1995)
After a two-year absence from the tour recovering from her stabbing, Monica Seles was back on the scene, grunting as vociferously as ever. In the finals, she had a set point on Steffi Graf in the first set but could not capitalize. Graf won her fourth U.S. Open title over Seles, 7-6, 0-6, 6-3, in a memorable match.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1994","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_ArantxaSanchezVicario_1994_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "358", "251", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (1994)
Known as the \"Barcelona Bumblebee,\" baseliner Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario had the best year of her career in 1994, winning two of her four majors. At the U.S. Open, Sanchez-Vicario knocked off Steffi Graf in three sets.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1993","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_SteffiGraf_1993_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Tim Clary", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "259", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Steffi Graf (1993)
The absence of Monica Seles, who was stabbed in Hamburg in the spring of 1993 by a deranged German fan, left a clear path for Steffi Graf, who won three of four Grand Slam events this year. At the U.S. Open, Graf claimed her third Open singles title by straight-setting Helena Sukova. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1992","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MonicaSeles_1992_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Simon Bruty", "Getty Images", "358", "241", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Monica Seles (1992)
For a two-year stretch from 1991-92, Monica Seles was as dominating as conceivable. She reached 33 finals of 34 tournaments played and won 22, for a 159-12 win-loss record (93 percent). She was 55-1 in Grand Slam events. At the U.S. Open she required the minimum 14 sets (seven matches) to gain the title over Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1991","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MonicaSeles_1991_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Getty Images", "Getty Images", "358", "237", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Monica Seles (1991)
Born in Serbian Yugoslavia to Hungarian parents and eventually naturalized as an American in 1994, Monica Seles embodied the global span of the tennis world. The 17-year-old arrived at the '94 U.S. Open with three prior Grand Slam titles and won her first Open trophy with a 7-6, 6-1 beating of 34-year-old Martina Navratilova. In 1991 and 1992, she dominated tennis, winning three majors each year.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1990","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_GabrielaSabatini_1990_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Rick Stewart", "Getty Images", "358", "255", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Gabriela Sabatini (1990)
In a reverse of their confrontation in the 1988 Open final, Argentina's Gabriela Sabatini upset Steffi Graf and won the U.S. Open title in straight sets. This was her only major title in what was a very fine career.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1989","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_SteffiGraf_1989_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Simon Bruty", "Getty Images", "358", "248", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Steffi Graf (1989)
After her \"Golden Slam\" of 1988, Steffi Graf was expected to dominate in 1989. She did not disappoint and played in her third straight U.S. Open final, winning her second title in a close three-set match with Martina Navratilova. She came within one match point in the French Open and a bout of food poisoning from collecting her second straight Grand Slam.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1988","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_SteffiGraf_1988_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Mike Powell", "Getty Images", "358", "235", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Steffi Graf (1988)
Besting Gabriela Sabatini in a three-set final, Germany's Steffi Graf won her first U.S. Open singles title to complete the pure Grand Slam. Augmented by her acquisition of Olympic gold later that year in Seoul, she is credited for earning the \"Golden Slam.\" ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1987","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MartinaNavratilova_1987_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Getty Images", "Getty Images", "358", "263", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Martina Navratilova (1987)
On this 100th anniversary of the U.S. Women's Chanpionships, Martina Navratilova did more than garner her fourth U.S. Open title in five years in a 7-6, 6-1 defeat of German youngster Steffi Graf. She also became the first U.S. Open \"Triple Crown\" winner in a single year on the basis of singles, doubles and mixed victories.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1986","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MartinaNavratilova_1986_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Carol Newsom", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "358", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Martina Navratilova (1986)
Czech this out: all four U.S. Open singles finalists in 1986 were born in Czechoslovakia. On the women’s side, naturalized American citizen Martina Navratilova crushed Helena Sukova 3 and 2 to win her third Open singles championship.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1985","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_HanaMandlikova_1985_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Trevor Jones", "Getty Images", "273", "376", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Hana Mandlikova (1985)
It took her third U.S. Open singles final for Czech Hana Mandlikova to earn the trophy. One of her career four Grand Slam titles, the 1985 US Open championship was collected at the expense of Martina Navratilova, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6. En route to the trophy, Mandlikova became the only player other than Tracy Austin at that point to beat Chris Evert and Navratilova in the same tournament.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1984","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MartinaNavratilova_1984_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Pictorial Parade", "Getty Images", "358", "277", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Martina Navratilova (1984)
Having already earned the \"modified\" tennis Grand Slam -- four Slams in a row spanning two years -- Martina Navratilova's second consecutive victory over Chris Evert Lloyd in the U.S. Open finals gave her six consecutive Slam championships. She did collect the doubles pure Grand Slam in 1984, partnered with Pam Shriver. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1983","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MartinaNavratilova_1983_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Richard Drew", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "353", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Martina Navratilova (1983)
When Martina Navratilova beat Chris Evert Lloyd in straight sets for her first U.S. Open singles championship, she was no neophyte to the biggest tennis stages. She had already won six Grand Slam singles titles and competed in ten previous U.S. Open tourneys. Born in Czechoslovakia, she defected to the U.S. in 1975 and gained American citizenship in 1981. She now holds joint U.S./Czech citizenship. Her 1983 win made her the first female lefty champ in 75 years.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1982","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_ChrisEvert_1982_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Tony Duffy", "Getty Images", "358", "263", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Chris Evert Lloyd (1982)
While she continued to garner Grand Slam singles titles until 1986, this was Chris Evert Lloyd's sixth and final U.S. Open singles championship. In a reprise of 1980, she only took two sets to defeat Hana Mandlikova in the finals. The woman who launched a million two-handed backhands, Evert Lloyd ended her career with a singles win-loss record of 1,309-146 (90 percent), the best in professional tennis history, and 18 Grand Slam singles titles. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1981","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_TracyAustin_1981_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Getty Images", "Getty Images", "358", "234", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Tracy Austin (1981)
Like the previous year, an American beat a native Czech in the U.S. Open women’s singles final; this year, however, it was Tracy Austin beating Martina Navratilova. Having won her second Open title, it was a shame that Austin's short but meteoric career was truncated by injuries. At least she had the two Open titles and a total of 30 singles championships to show for it.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1980","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_ChrisEvert_1980_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Central Press", "Getty Images", "358", "246", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Chris Evert Lloyd (1980)
Her last name may have changed, but a short hiatus from tennis re-energized Chrissie and propelled her to a three-set triumph over Czech Hana Mandlikova and her fifth U.S. Open singles title. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1979","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_TracyAustin_1979_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Dave Pickoff", "AP", "273", "357", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Tracy Austin (1979)
In a classic case of youth prevailing, the 16-year-old pig-tailed phenom Tracy Austin became the youngest U.S. Open champion by defeating the relatively ancient 24-year-old Chris Evert Lloyd, 6-4, 6-3. Austin's victory broke Evert Lloyd's 31-match win streak at the Open.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1978","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_ChrisEvert_1978_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Express", "Getty Images", "358", "256", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Chris Evert (1978)
In this inaugural year of the hard courts of the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, NY, Chris Evert notched her fourth straight U.S. Open title by cutting Pam Shriver down to size in straight sets. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1977","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_ChrisEvert_1977_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Dave Pickoff", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "366", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Chris Evert (1977)
Tired of beating up on Goolagong, Chris Evert shifted her attention to another Aussie, Wendy Turnbull, and quickly defeated her, 7-6, 6-2, in the singles finals. As it was the last year on the clay courts at Forest Hills, Evert became the only player to win all U.S. Opens on clay. The \"Ice Maiden\" of tennis was a paragon of steely focus and calm court demeanor.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1976","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_ChrisEvert_1976_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Richard Drew", "AP", "358", "251", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Chris Evert (1976)
Honoring the U.S. Bicentennial, American Chris Evert won her second straight Open singles championship, again by vanquishing Aussie Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the finals. This time, however, her victory came in two easy sets, 6-3, 6-0. This marked Goolagong’s fourth straight U.S. Open finals defeat, qualifying her as probably the best female player never to win the tournament.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1975","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_ChrisEvert_1975_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Central Press", "Getty Images", "273", "356", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Chris Evert (1975)
In this first use of night play at the West Side Tennis Club, Chris Evert capitalized on the clay surface to win her first of six U.S. Open titles. She defeated Evonne Goolagong Cawley in three sets. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1974","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_BillieJeanKing_1974_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "236", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Billie Jean King (1974)
During the last U.S. Open played on grass at Forest Hills, Billie Jean King recorded her fourth singles title and third in four years with a close, three-set victory over Evonne Goolagong Cawley.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1973","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MargaretCourt_1973_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "John Rooney", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "261", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Margaret Smith Court (1973)
Often touted as the greatest distaff tennis player of all time, Margaret Smith Court’s three-set victory over fellow Aussie Evonne Goolagong Cawley marked her fifth U.S. Championship/Open singles title and 24th Grand Slam singles title overall. She was the only player to win all 12 Grand Slam events (singles, doubles and mixed) twice. She won 62 of 85 Grand Slam events for a 73 percent victory rate. Smith Court won the doubles championship this year as well. This singles win was her last Slam singles title and occurred in the first year of equal prize money for men and women at the Open.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1972","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_BillieJeanKing_1972_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Rfs", "AP", "273", "378", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Billie Jean King (1972)
Continuing her dominance, Billie Jean King won three Grand Slam events in 1972, including her defeat of Kerry Melville in the U.S. Open finals, 6-3, 7-5, after vanquishing Virginia Wade and Margaret Smith Court in earlier round matches. King did not drop a set in the tournament.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1971","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_BillieJeanKing_1971_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Harry Harris", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "239", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Billie Jean King (1971)
Billie Jean had already been to the U.S. Open singles finals twice and had won once prior to the 1971 tournament. After dealing with knee and elbow injuries in the late '60s and 1970, she returned with aplomb in 1971, winning the U.S. Open without dropping a set. In the finals she defeated her frequent doubles partner Rosie Casals in straight sets. For the year, Billie Jean was 112-13 and won 17 tourneys.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1970","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MargaretCourt_1970_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "365", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Margaret Smith Court (1970)
This year marked the institution of the tiebreak at the Open. Margaret Smith Court needed three sets to defeat Rosie Casals, take home her fourth U.S. Open trophy and become the second woman to win the storied Grand Slam. ";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1969","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_MargaretCourt_1969_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "355", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Margaret Smith Court (1969)
Prior to 1969, Margaret Smith Court had already won two U.S. Open titles and had finished as the runner-up once as Margaret Smith. A temporary respite from tennis and marriage to Barry Court in 1967 did not diminish her tennis skills, as she rolled to her third Open singles title with a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Nancy Richey. Court also won the mixed doubles title but failed to take the tennis trifecta after losing the women’s doubles final.";
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i++] = new Array("","1968","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/US%20Open%20-%20tennis/Champions%20-%20women/080731_VirginiaWade_1968_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Hulton Archive", "Getty Images", "358", "228", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_USOpentennis_pastchampions_women[i-1].body = "Virginia Wade (1968)
Briton Virginia Wade won the 1968 U.S. Open in a 6-4, 6-4 upset of top-seeded Billie Jean King for her first of three Slam titles. For her efforts \"our Ginny,\" as the British public dubbed her, earned the princessly sum of $6,000.";
// END editorial data