Top 5 US Open grand slam winners of all time

The tennis season has been extremely exciting so far. The first three Grand Slams of the year, namely the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon were won by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

These superstars, along with 125 others are getting ready to take part in the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year, which begins on August 27.

The first edition of the US Open took place in 1968. Before that, the tournament was known as the US National Championships. Since the Open Era, we have seen numerous winners. However, since 2008, nobody has been able to defend the title.

This year's tournament will be the first time that Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, and Wawrinka, all take part in the same tournament this year.

While Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer are the favourites to win the tournament, Murray and Wawrinka are making a comeback from injury and are looking to get their form back.

With the US Open set to begin soon, let's take a look at the Top 5 US Open Grand Slam winners of all time in the men's category.

#5 Rafael Nadal - 3 titles

The defending champion this year has won the US Open on three occasions - 2010, 2013, and 2017. He is currently the world no. 1 and a win at the US Open will almost guarantee him the year ending world no. 1 spot.

Nadal has enjoyed most success at the US Open after the French Open, of course. Out of the 6 titles outside Roland Garros, Nadal has won 3 at the US Open, 2 at Wimbledon, and 1 at the Australian Open.

Out of the three titles he has, he defeated Novak Djokovic twice, in 2010 and 2013. In 2017, he defeated South Africa's Kevin Anderson in straight sets.

#4 John McEnroe - 4 titles

McEnroe still loves to play tennis

The fiery American ex-tennis star tasted a lot of success on the courts of New York, winning the US Open four times.

Apart from his titles at home, McEnroe also won three Wimbledon titles. Unfortunately, he was never able to win either the Australian or the French.

He was known for his aggresive on-court nature and for his rivalry with Bjorn Borg, amongst many other things. He is currently a tennis expert and commentator and continues to play in the invitational category in the Slams.

#3 Pete Sampras - 5 titles

Pistol Pete, as he was fondly known, is arguably one of the greatest tennis players of all-time. Along with the next two people on this list, he holds the record of having won the most number of US Open titles in the Open Era.

Sampras dominated the 1990s and early 2000s, winning the US Open five times and Wimbledon 7 times. He also won the Australian Open twice but never managed to get his hands on the French Open.

#2 Jimmy Connors - 5 titles

Connors On Court

Another American, Jimmy Connors dominated the tennis circuit in the 1970s, winning a total of eight Grand Slam titles, including five at the US Open.

Connors also held the world no. 1 ranking for a then-record 160 consecutive weeks from 1974 to 1977 and a career total of 268 weeks.

He also holds the record of having won the most number of singles titles in the Open Era (109). Currently, he is still on top of the list with a certain Swiss legend behind him with 98 titles.

#1 Roger Federer - 5 titles

Federer last won the US Open in 2008

The Swiss Legend, Roger Federer, is arguably the Greatest of All Time. He currently has 5 US Open titles to his name and will be looking to go past Connors and Sampras to win his 6th title this year.

Federer has a total of 20 Grand Slam titles to his name - the most by any men's player in history. Out of the 20, he has 8 titles at Wimbledon, 6 at the Australian Open, 5 at the US Open, and a lone title on the clay of Roland Garros.

He holds multiple records to his name, and at the age of 37, continues to break many more records.