Memories from the US Open

New York

 Djokovic wins third Slam of year

Novak Djokovic clinched his third Grand Slam title of 2015 and 10th career major with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over sentimental favorite Roger Federer in the men's final. Shrugging off a three-hour rain delay and the overwhelming hostility of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, the 28-year-old world number one captured his second title in New York to add to his 2011 triumph.

Serena stumped by Vinci code

Serena Williams was set fair to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to capture a calendar Grand Slam and lift a 22nd major title. Unfortunately for the 33-year-old American world number one, nobody told Roberta Vinci. The Italian world number 43 clinched a shock 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 semi-final victory in the one of the biggest stunners in the history of the sport. Williams then conducted a surly three-minute news conference before leaving the grounds within 30 minutes of the end of her match.

From drone to delight to retirement for Flavia

Flavia Pennetta certainly had a tournament to remember, not least as she became the oldest first time Grand Slam title winner in the Open Era. The 33-year-old then announced her retirement from the sport. Earlier in the competition, her second round match against Romania's Monica Niculescu was held up when a drone crashed into the stadium. "I was really scared, I thought it was a bomb and it was all over," said Pennetta.

Heat treatment

The first week at Flushing Meadows saw daily temperatures soar to 35 degrees while crushing humidity led to a record 12 men quit their matches before the end of the second round. America's Jack Sock had to be carried off court after fainting in the afternoon sun. The players who quit found no sympathy from Roger Federer. "We've been here in North America for some time. It's not like, all of a sudden, hot. I mean, it was more on the warmer side, but it's not like impossible, to be quite honest. Really no excuse for that," he said.

Nadal's decline and fall

Rafael Nadal's sad, rapid decline continued at the US Open where he surrendered a two-sets lead to lose 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to Fabio Fognini. The third-round loss for the 14-time major winner was his earliest in 10 years in New York. He also finished a Grand Slam season without a major title for the first time since 2004. Just as depressing for the Spaniard was seeing Fognini fire 70 winners beyond his reach. Until this US Open, Nadal had won 151 Grand Slam matches when he had taken the first two sets.

Golden girls lose shine

Maria Sharapova was at Bloomingdale's and then in Greenwich Village, but she never made it to Flushing Meadows, withdrawing on the eve of the tournament because of a knee injury. Five of the remaining top 10 seeds failed to get beyond the second round. Canada's Eugenie Bouchard slipped and fell in the locker room and suffered a concussion that forced her to pull out of her fourth round match against Roberta Vinci.