The 'Houdini' Awards: Players Who Pulled Off Great Escapes at the 2025 US Open

As a tennis fan in the UAE, late-night sessions are part of the ritual—especially when the US Open serves up drama. In 2025, New York delivered another masterclass in resilience, with players refusing to blink when the odds tilted against them. Here are the standout great escapes that defined the fortnight.

The art of the escape

Winning from behind demands a short memory, fearless shot-making, and unwavering belief. These matches showcased all three.

• Barbora Krejcikova saved eight match points in a Round 4 epic to flip a match that seemed gone.
• Benjamin Bonzi steadied himself after chaos and a fourth-set bagel to oust a former champion.
• Amanda Anisimova rebuilt belief on the sports biggest stage, turning a semifinal around against Naomi Osaka.
• Doubles drama delivered too, with clutch returns and cold-blooded serves deciding titles and upsets.

Round 4: Barbora Krejcikova def. Taylor Townsend, 1 6, 6 7(13), 6 3

Down a set and facing elimination at 4 5, 30 4 in the second, Krejcikova played with bold margins to erase a match point and extend the contest. In a marathon tiebreak, she fought off seven more match points, threading lines and absorbing pace until she edged it 15 13. With the momentum finally hers, the two-time major winner controlled the decider, completing a comeback that hinged on clarity under fire.

Round 1: Benjamin Bonzi def. Daniil Medvedev, 6 3, 7 5, 6 7(5), 0 6, 6 4

Bonzi led by two sets but saw the match descend into turmoil late in the third after a point was replayed, igniting protests and a restless crowd. Medvedev seized the chaos, storming the tiebreak and sweeping the fourth set. Many would have folded; Bonzi did the opposite. He reset, held his nerve through two fifth-set deficits, and broke back each time, finishing with clean first strikes and measured aggression.

Semifinals: Amanda Anisimova def. Naomi Osaka, 6 7(4), 7 6(3), 6 3

Just weeks removed from a painful Wimbledon defeat, Anisimova arrived in New York determined to rewrite the narrative. Osaka served for the match at 6 5 in the second set, but Anisimova elevated: deep returns, fearless backhands, and purposeful point construction. She snatched the set in a tiebreak, secured an early break in the third, and never loosened her grip, booking a first US Open final with a performance built on conviction.

Round 2 (Doubles): Tomas Machac & Matej Vocel def. Marcelo Arevalo & Mate Pavic, 5 7, 7 6(4), 7 5

The No. 2 seeds looked set to advance with match point on Pavics racquet in the decider. Then the pressure told: back-to-back double faults breathed life into Machac and Vocel, who broke, surged through the next games, and converted their own match points with proactive net play.

Mens Doubles Final: Marcel Granollers & Horacio Zeballos def. Joe Salisbury & Neal Skupski, 3 6, 7 6(4), 7 5

Championship tennis often comes down to inches. Granollers and Zeballos saved three match points with brave returning and precise first volleys, then flipped the script with a composed second-set tiebreak and a late break in the third. Their title run was a case study in staying present.

Mindset matters

• Short memory, long view: The best forget the last point quickly and commit fully to the next.
• Patterns under pressure: Trusted plays—body serves, crosscourt backhands, poaches—hold up when hands get tight.
• Tempo control: Well-timed pauses and purposeful routines can defuse a surging opponent and reset the rhythm.

Match recap table

Final word

Under the bright lights and louder roars, the 2025 US Open reminded us why comebacks captivate: they reveal a players competitive core. For fans following from the Gulf to Queens, these Houdini acts were worth every late-night minute.

https://www.usopen.org