Tennis fans still talk about that humidity. New York in late August is always a pressure cooker, but the US Open tennis 2019 felt different from the jump. You had the old guard—Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal—still casting these massive shadows over the draw, yet there was this weird, buzzing energy in the air that suggested the script was about to be flipped. It wasn't just another tournament. It was the moment we realized the "Next Gen" wasn't a marketing slogan anymore. It was a threat.
The Night Bianca Andreescu Stunned the World
Nobody expected it. Well, maybe the Canadians did, but for the rest of the world, seeing a 19-year-old dismantle Serena Williams in a Major final was a "where were you" moment.
Andreescu wasn't even in the main draw the year before. She lost in qualifying in 2018. Fast forward twelve months, and she’s standing on Arthur Ashe Stadium, ignoring the roar of 24,000 people screaming for Serena to win her 24th Grand Slam. It was loud. Deafening, honestly. But Bianca just sat there with her eyes closed during changeovers, looking like she was meditating in a library.
She won 6-3, 7-5.
Serena had her chances. She fought back from 5-1 down in the second set, and for a second, it felt like the old Serena magic was going to swallow the teenager whole. But Andreescu didn't blink. She hit these heavy, dipping shots that Serena couldn't handle. It was the first time a Canadian won a Grand Slam singles title, and it felt like a total shift in the WTA power structure. Naomi Osaka had won the year before, and now Bianca. The era of the "unshakeable teen" had officially arrived.
Nadal’s Survival and the Medvedev Villain Arc
On the men’s side, the US Open tennis 2019 was basically a five-set epic waiting to happen. Rafael Nadal eventually won it, but the way he got there was exhausting just to watch.
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Enter Daniil Medvedev.
Before this tournament, Medvedev was a guy people knew was good but maybe a bit eccentric. By the end of the fortnight, he was the ultimate heel. He got fined for throwing a racket, he snatched a towel from a ball person, and he even flashed a middle finger to the crowd that the cameras caught on the big screen. When the fans booed him, he leaned into it. He told them their energy was why he was winning.
"I want all of you to know, when you sleep tonight, I won because of you," he said after his third-round win. It was iconic. It was petty. It was exactly what tennis needed.
The final between Nadal and Medvedev was nearly five hours of baseline warfare. Rafa looked like he had it in the bag, up two sets and a break. Then, the Russian started playing "PlayStation tennis." He hit everything back. Flat, awkward, weird shots that frustrated Nadal to no end. Nadal eventually pulled it out 7-5 in the fifth, collapsing onto the blue hardcourt in pure relief. That was his 19th Major, putting him right on Federer’s heels.
Why the Big Three Started Looking Vulnerable
While Rafa won, the other two giants stumbled in ways we weren't used to seeing at the US Open tennis 2019.
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Novak Djokovic, the defending champ and top seed, had to retire in the fourth round against Stan Wawrinka. His left shoulder just gave out. Seeing the "Djoker" quit a match is rare, and it felt like a glitch in the Matrix. Then there was Roger Federer. He lost in the quarterfinals to Grigor Dimitrov, a guy he had beaten seven times in a row previously. Federer was dealing with a back issue, and suddenly, the invincibility of the Big Three felt... fragile.
- Djokovic: Retired (Shoulder)
- Federer: Lost in Quarters (Back issues)
- Nadal: Won (But barely survived)
The Chaos of the Early Rounds
The first week was a graveyard for seeds. We saw Stefanos Tsitsipas and Dominic Thiem crash out early. This left huge holes in the bracket that players like Matteo Berrettini happily filled. Berrettini’s run to the semifinals was a massive breakout. He brought this old-school, massive serve-and-forehead game that New York loved.
Coco Gauff was the other big story. She was only 15. The hype following her Wimbledon run was massive, and she backed it up by reaching the third round before losing to Naomi Osaka. That match ended with one of the most emotional moments in sports history: Osaka inviting a crying Gauff to share the post-match interview.
Beyond the Scoreboard: The Atmosphere
If you weren't there, it's hard to describe the "New York-ness" of the US Open tennis 2019. The food villages were packed with people eating $20 lobster rolls and drinking Honey Deuce cocktails. The tournament set an all-time attendance record with over 737,000 fans passing through the gates.
It was also the year the "shot clock" really started to annoy the players. You could see Nadal and Djokovic constantly eyeing the timer, rushing their service motions. It added this layer of anxiety to every point. The USTA was clearly trying to speed up the game, but when you have 30-shot rallies in 90-degree heat, 25 seconds isn't much time to breathe.
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What We Learned and What to Do Now
Looking back, 2019 was the bridge to the current era of tennis. It showed us that Serena’s window was closing and that the gap between the Big Three and the rest of the world was finally narrowing.
If you're a fan looking to relive these moments or improve your own game based on what worked that year, here is how to apply those "2019 lessons" to your own approach to the sport:
Focus on "Heavy" Variety
Andreescu didn't beat Serena with just power; she beat her with "heavy" balls and change of pace. If you're a club player, stop trying to hit every ball at 100%. Incorporate high, heavy topspin followed by a low slice. It ruins the rhythm of your opponent, just like it did in the 2019 finals.
Embrace the Pressure
Medvedev’s run proved that mental resilience is about how you channel energy. Even if the "crowd" (or your own internal monologue) is against you, use that friction to sharpen your focus rather than letting it distract you.
Manage Your Recovery
The 2019 tournament was a war of attrition. Djokovic and Federer went down because of physical wear. If you’re playing tournaments, prioritize active recovery—stretching, hydration, and sleep—before you feel the injury. By the time it hurts, it's often too late.
Watch the Film
Go back and watch the Nadal vs. Medvedev highlights on the US Open YouTube channel. Specifically, look at Medvedev's court positioning. He stood incredibly far back to return serve, a tactic that became a blueprint for beating big servers over the next five years.
The US Open tennis 2019 wasn't just a series of matches; it was a vibe shift. It was the end of one era and the messy, loud, exciting beginning of the next.