You might have followed the US Open that was held recently – the first Grand Slam tournament to take place since tennis got back after the coronavinus-forced break. If you had tracked it closely, you must be knowing that Dominic Thiem won the men’s singles and Naomi Osaka won the women’s singles. But even otherwise, you might have noticed that the event is played in the blue hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at New York.
If you were under the impression that the US Open has always been played on hard courts, you are mistaken. In fact, the US Open has been played in three different surfaces. From 1881-1974, the tournament was played in grass courts. For three years after that from 1975-1977, it was played in day. The event has been held in hard courts since then.
These changes in surfaces have led to unique feats that will probably never be repeated – unless surfaces are changed again in such quick succession. Jimmy Connors is the only male player who has won the US Open men’s singles title on all three playing surfaces – grass, day and hard. Similarly, in the women’s section, Chris Evert is the only one to win the US Open women’s singles title in two different surfaces – day and hard. The names of Connors and Evert might forever be enshrined in this rather unique manner.
Picture Credit : Google
