US Open 2016: 14 days, 14 memories

New York: Fourteen memories from 14 days of the 2016 US Open:

Day 1

Time catches up with Monfils

- French showman Gael Monfils narrowly avoided serious injury when he chased down a ball from Gilles Muller on Court 17. As he leapt to try and get a racquet to it, he collided with the courtside clock which fell off its support and clipped his foot as he hopped out of the way.

Day 2

Aces high for Ivo

- Ivo Karlovic served his way into the US Open record books when he fired 61 aces in his five-set win over Lu Yen-Hsun of Taiwan.

Karlovic, 37, beat the previous best of 49 aces for one match in New York served up by Richard Krajicek in his quarter-final loss to Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 1999.

"@ivokarlovic dude 61 WTF," tweeted Australian star Nick Kyrgios.

Karlovic replied, tongue in cheek: "Yeah got some shoulder issues!"

The giant Croatian already holds the career record for aces having last year passed the previous all time mark of 10,237 held by Goran Ivanisevic.

Day 3

Open and shut case for Nadal

- Rafael Nadal glided into the third round as smoothly as the new roof over Arthur Ashe stadium slid shut for the first time during a match. Two-time champion Nadal defeated Italy`s Andreas Seppi 6-0, 7-5, 6-1 after rain meant the new $150 million roof was called into action for the first time in the second set. Play was delayed for just seven minutes.

Day 4

Sorry pal for beating you

- China`s Zhang Shuai apologised for knocking out her best friend and doubles partner Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-3, hailing the former champion from Australia for talking her out of quitting the sport last year. "Everyone knows we are good friends, we train together a lot of the time. When we came to New York, we practiced together at the same time on this same court," said the 27-year-old. Zhang revealed that Stosur convinced her not to quit tennis when they met for a meal in Beijing last year. At the time, she was at 186 in the world rankings.

Day 5

Tears for Osaka after meltdown

- Japan`s Naomi Osaka broke down in floods of tears as she let a 5-1 final set lead slip away in a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3) defeat to Madison Keys. Twice Osaka served for the match and both times she choked, prompting the tears. "At 5-1 I was just very nervous. I kind of wanted to close it out. It didn`t really bother me that she held serve at that time. But it really started freaking me out when she was, like, going 5-2, 5-3, 5-4."

Day 6

Cool hand Stan

- Facing match point against world number 64 Dan Evans, Stan Wawrinka played probably the most nerveless volley of the fortnight to save it at 5/6 in the tiebreak of the fourth set of the third round clash. The Swiss went on to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/8), 6-2 victory.

Day 7

My name is Lucas

- Frenchman Lucas Pouille emerged on top in a five-set epic to beat 14-time major winner Nadal 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) in a breathtaking fourth round clash. He held his nerve after being a break down in the final set and then seeing Nadal botch a short forehand volley which would have taken him to match point.

Day 8

Serena hits record win mark

- Serena Williams downed Yaroslava Shvedova to make the quarter-finals for a record 308th Grand Slam match win, going past the 307 she had shared for just two days with Roger Federer.

Day 9

Vinci puts her foot in it

- Roberta Vinci lost the first set of her quarter-final 7-5 to Angelique Kerber when she was called for a foot fault. She sarcastically applauded the official and the incident shattered her composure and chances. She dropped the second set 6-0, collecting just 10 points in the process.

Day 10

Del Potro tears delay play

- Juan Martin del Potro was reduced to tears as he faced defeat in the quarter-finals against Wawrinka as his epic recovery from years of wrist troubles came to an end shortly after 1 o`clock in the morning. Fans, many dressed in the sky blue and white football shirts of the Argentina football team, stood to applaud the 2009 champion who broke down and wept before he returned the applause. The final game of the match was held up allowing time for the player to compose himself before Wawrinka completed the victory

Day 11

Sweet Karolina downs Serena

- Before this year, Karolina Pliskova had only won one match at the US Open, but on semi-finals day she won her sixth tie of 2016 and the most significant after defeating Serena Williams in straight sets, ending the American`s hopes of a 23rd Grand Slam title and her reign as world number one

Day 12

Monfils, jeers to cheers -- Djokovic gets shirty

- Monfils was booed by large sections of the Arthur Ashe Stadium when he looked as if he was about to tank his semi-final against Novak Djokovic. By the end, he had redeemed his reputation after a stirring third set. Djokovic added to the drama by invoking the spirit of the Incredible Hulk by ripping off his shirt in frustration at one point.

Day 13

Angelique at the double

- Angelique Kerber marked her elevation to the world number spot by capturing the women`s singles title to add to her Australian Open triumph in January. The German triumphed over Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 after being 1-3 down in the final set. "Amazing to win a second Grand Slam in one year," Kerber said. "It`s the best year of my career."

Day 14

Stan and deliver

- Stan Wawrinka wins his third Grand Slam title with a 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 win over defending champion Novak Djokovic. The 31-year-old Swiss player is the oldest man to win in New York since 35-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1970.