The tournament that signaled the end of an era for tennis royalty
In short: The 2022 US Open served as a profound crossroads for professional tennis. It witnessed the final major appearance of Serena Williams, the crowning of a new Polish icon, and the introduction of radical rule changes that forever altered how the sport's most grueling matches are decided.
The 2022 US Open was defined by historic transitions in leadership. Iga Świątek secured her first US Open title by defeating Ons Jabeur 6–2, 7–6(7–5). By securing this win, she surpassed Maria Sharapova's 2008 record as the junior-most female to claim three majors and became Poland's first woman to hit the Open Era quarterfinals. By winning both the French Open and this title, she became the first player since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to capture multiple majors in a single season.
The tournament also served as a poignant farewell for Serena Williams. At 40 years old, the 23-time major champion made her final professional appearance at the event, losing to Ajla Tomljanović in a match that lasted three hours and five minutes—the longest of her major career. She reached a significant goal by being the most senior competitor to beat a top three seed on the WTA Tour during that event's earlier stages.
Beyond individual legacies, the 2022 edition introduced structural shifts and collective milestones. It was the first time the US Open implemented a 10-point tiebreak for games tied at six all in the deciding set, with Karolína Plíšková winning the inaugural instance against Magda Linette. Additionally, it marked a record for Chinese representation, as four women reached the third round of a major for the first time in the Open Era.
The event also saw significant exits and records broken elsewhere on the court. Simona Halep made her final major appearance before retiring in 2025, while Alizé Cornet surpassed Ai Sugiyama's record for consecutive major appearances by reaching her 63rd. Meanwhile, defending champion Emma Raducanu suffered a first-round exit to Cornet, marking the third time since 2005 that a reigning champion fell in the opening round.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 US Open – Women's singles
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