Serving Up the 2018 US Open Trivia Quiz

Answer: David Ferrer

Although he never won a major, David Ferrer had a solid career winning 27 titles and more than 700 matches. He achieved his highest career world ranking of #3 in 2013 when he set personal bests reaching the finals of the French Open and semifinals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Other than David Ferrer other players that announced that the 2018 US Open would be their last major included Julien Benneteau, Nicolas Mahut, Gilles Müller, Florian Mayer and Mikhail Youzhny.

Answer: Stan Wawrinka

Interestingly, Stan Wawrinka also defeated Grigor Dmitrov in the first round of the 2018 Wimbledon Championship when Dmitrov was the 6th seed. In 2017 Wawrinka had knee surgery that caused him to miss much of the season. While showing flashes of his former greatness, at the 2018 majors Wawrinka's highest finish was the third round which he achieved at the US Open.

Answer: John Millman

After his upset of Roger Federer in the fourth round Millman would lose in straight sets to the eventual winner of the tournament. The quarterfinal appearance for Millman increased his ranking to #37 in the world.

Answer: He retired from the match.

Prior to his semifinal match Rafael Nadal had played a long, five set match in the quarterfinals that included two tiebreakers in the fourth and fifth set. While he played well in the first set of the semifinal losing 7-6 in a tiebreaker, he was in obvious discomfort with lingering tendinitis in his knee.

After losing the second set 6-2 Nadal retired from the match awarding his opponent the victory.

Answer: Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic had a dominant tournament as he won his final five matches without losing a set. The 2018 season was a return to form for the Serbian champion after he sat out much of 2017 following elbow surgery. Djokovic's 14th major win tied him with Pete Sampras for third-most all time trailing only Rafael Nadal (17) and Roger Federer (20).

The runner-up of the tournament was Juan Martin Del Potro who appeared in his first major final since the 2009 US Open when he defeated the five-time defending champion Roger Federer.

Answer: Simona Halep

In spite of losing in straights sets in the opening round Simona Halep retained the world #1 ranking after the tournament. Outside of the US Open, Halep had a solid year at the 2018 majors winning the French Open and reaching the finals at the Australian Open. Kaia Kanepi would make it to the fourth round of the 2018 US Open eventually losing to Serena Williams.

The world #2 at the time of the tournament, Caroline Wozniacki, lost in the second round yet similar to Halep had already won a major in 2018, the Australian Open.

Answer: Lesia Tsurenko

Lesia Tsurenko first appeared in major tournaments on the WTA Tour in 2010 and the 2018 US Open was the first time she had reached the quarterfinals. Her performance propelled her ranking to #26 in the world.

Answer: Anastasija Sevastova

Sloane Stephens ended the 2018 majors ranked #9 in the world boosted by her finals appearance at the 2018 French Open. Anastasija Sevastova had formerly retired from competitive tennis at the age of 23 in 2013. She returned to competition in 2015 and her solid play at the 2018 US Open was the first time she had reached the semifinals at a major.

Answer: Madison Keys

In two major tournaments (US Open and French Open) in 2018 Madison Keys reached the semifinals. Madison Keys became a tennis pro at just 14 years of age at which time she was already able to serve at over 100 mph (161 kph). Ironically while she is often able to overpower other players she was overpowered in the semifinals at the 2018 US Open losing 6-2, 6-4.

Answer: Naomi Osaka

I am not aware of many people that are born in a city that matches their name, but Naomi Osaka was actually born in the city of Osaka in 1997. Just five months before her major upset at the 2018 US Open, Osaka had won her first tournament at the BNP Paribas Open.

Including the final against Serena Williams in which she won in straight sets, Osaka lost only one set throughout the whole 2018 US Open (4th round against Aryna Sabalenka).