By the numbers: Last man to defend US Open title
20 Aug 2025
The 2025 US Open will be underway on August 24, with several stars gearing up to brace the men's singles event.
World number one, Jannik Sinner will enter the hard-court Grand Slam as the defending champion.
Notably, the US Open has had different champions every year since the 2009 edition.
Who was the last man to defend his US Open men's singles title?
Why does this story matter?
Fact
The US Open is the year's fourth and final Grand Slam event played in August. After toiling across courts and compeitions, players' endurance is tested at this hard-court major. The last US Open men's singles title defense (successful) came in 2008, when legend Roger Federer beat Andy Murray in a three-set final. Federer scripted history with his fifth successive US Open title.
A look at following US Open champions
Fact
Champions since 2009: Juan Martin del Potro (2009), Rafael Nadal (2010, 2013, 2017, and 2019), Novak Djokovic (2011, 2015, 2018, and 2023), Andy Murray (2014), Marin Cilic (2014), Stan Wawrinka (2016), Dominic Thiem (2020), Daniil Medvedev (2021), Carlos Alcaraz (2022), and Jannik Sinner (2024).
Five successive US Open titles
Streak
Federer's streak of winning five consecutive US Open titles is deemed indispensable.
It started in 2004 when the Swiss ace claimed his maiden honor, beating Lleyton Hewitt in the final.
Federer defeated Andre Agassi (2005), Andy Roddick (2006), Djokovic (2007), and Murray (2008) in the following finals.
He was the runner-up in 2009 as well, losing to del Potro.
Federer owns this record
Fact
Federer owns the joint-most consecutive titles at a Grand Slam (5 at US Open). Nadal won five successive French Open honors, while Bjorn Borg and Federer own five back-to-back Wimbledon titles.
Unmatched winning streak at US Open
Fact
Federer won a total of 40 successive matches at the US Open between 2004 and 2009, the second-highest winning streak at a Grand Slam. He is only behind Borg, who own 41 consecutive matches at Wimbledon from 1976 to 1981.
