Before the 2026 US Open, 18 years had passed since a man last successfully defended the US Open singles title.
Roger Federer was the last man to achieve the feat, winning the tournament in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. His 2008 championship was therefore the most recent successful men’s defense before the 2026 edition.
The drought illustrates how difficult repeat success has become at the US Open. Since Federer’s fifth straight title, several champions have returned as defending winners, but none managed to win the following tournament. The tournament’s hard courts, deep field and demanding two-week schedule make consecutive championships especially challenging.
The statistic concerns the men’s singles competition only. It should not be confused with women’s singles, doubles or the overall record for consecutive US Open titles. At the 2026 tournament, Aryna Sabalenka was also attempting a women’s singles three-peat, but Elena Rybakina defeated her in the final.