1996 US Open – Men's Singles

1996 US Open
Champion		Pete Sampras
Runner-up		Michael Chang
Final score		6–1, 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
Events
Singles		men		women				boys		girls
Doubles		men		women		mixed		boys		girls
Other events
Legends		men		women		mixed
WC Singles		men		women		quad
WC Doubles		men		women		quad
US Open  < 1995 1997 >

Pete Sampras defeated Michael Chang 6–1, 6–4, 7–6^(7–3) in the final to win the Men's Singles tennis title at the 1996 US Open.

The 1996 US Open men's singles draw had a highly controversial seeding dispute. There were accusations of American favouritism as world number 3, Michael Chang, and world number 8, Andre Agassi, were seeded above their world ranking at numbers 2 and 6 respectively. Other players seeded above their world ranking included world number 6, Goran Ivanišević, being seeded at number 4 and Richard Krajicek, the world number 7, being seeded at number 5.

Some other players were seeded below their world ranking, including world number 2, Thomas Muster, who was seeded at number 3, Boris Becker, the world number 5, seeded at number 6, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the world number 4, seeded at number 7. Becker pulled out of the tournament with an injury and Kafelnikov was so angry at his seeding demotion that he withdrew from the tournament in protest and flew home to Russia.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Pete Sampras is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

Pete Sampras (champion) Michael Chang (finalist) Thomas Muster (quarterfinalist) Goran Ivanišević (semifinalist) Richard Krajicek (first round) Andre Agassi (semifinalist) Yevgeny Kafelnikov (withdrew) Jim Courier (withdrew) Wayne Ferreira (first round)

Marcelo Ríos (second round) MaliVai Washington (second round) Todd Martin (third round) Thomas Enqvist (fourth round) Albert Costa (first round) Marc Rosset (first round) Cédric Pioline (third round) Félix Mantilla (second round)

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild Card
• LL = Lucky Loser
• r. = retired

Final eight

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Finals
	1	Pete Sampras	77	5	5	6	79
		Àlex Corretja	65	7	7	4	67
										1	Pete Sampras	6	6	69	6
										4	Goran Ivanišević	3	4	711	3
	4	Goran Ivanišević	6	6	711
		Stefan Edberg	3	4	69
																			1	Pete Sampras	6	6	77
																			2	Michael Chang	1	4	63
	6	Andre Agassi	6	7	4	6
	3	Thomas Muster	2	5	6	2
										6	Andre Agassi	3	2	2
										2	Michael Chang	6	6	6
		Javier Sánchez	5	3	77	3
	2	Michael Chang	7	6	62	6

Top half

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	1	Sampras	6	6	6
	LL	Szymanski	2	2	1					1	Sampras	6	1	6	4	6
		Novák	6	6	6						Novák	3	6	3	6	4
	Q	Ellwood	2	4	3														1	Sampras	6	6	6
		Larsson	77	4	2	r														Volkov	3	4	2
		Volkov	65	6	5						Volkov	1	6	6	4	710
		Tillström	1	79	6	3	6				Tillström	6	4	1	6	68
	Q	El Sawy	6	67	1	6	4																					1	Sampras	6	6	6
	Q	Cash	4	3	2																								Philippoussis	3	3	4
		Olhovskiy	6	6	6						Olhovskiy	3	4	2
		Woodforde	78	3	3	3					Philippoussis	6	6	6
		Philippoussis	66	6	6	6														Philippoussis	6	6	6
		Carretero	6	4	6	1													16	Pioline	3	2	4
		Burillo	3	6	0	0	r				Carretero	6	2	2	1
		Clavet	4	63	4					16	Pioline	4	6	6	6
	16	Pioline	6	77	6

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	9	Ferreira	4	4	6	5
	Q	Nainkin	6	6	2	7				Q	Nainkin	4	1	1
		Kučera	2	7	63	5					Björkman	6	6	6
		Björkman	6	5	77	7														Björkman	2	6	6	4	3
	Q	Veglio	1	6	6	6														Corretja	6	4	4	6	6
		Ruud	6	2	4	4				Q	Veglio	77	4	4	0
		Corretja	78	3	6	6					Corretja	64	6	6	6
		Black	66	6	2	2																							Corretja	6	6	77
		Rikl	6	7	6																								Forget	4	3	65
		Arazi	4	5	2						Rikl	2	4	4
		Schalken	6	6	66	6					Schalken	6	6	6
		Schaller	3	4	78	3														Schalken	2	5	6	6	0
		Stafford	6	6	4	62	3													Forget	6	7	4	4	6
		Forget	3	2	6	77	6				Forget	6	7	6
		Meligeni	1	77	65	3				17	Mantilla	4	5	3
	17	Mantilla	6	62	77	6

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	4	Ivanišević	1	6	6	6
		Chesnokov	6	2	4	4				4	Ivanišević	61	6	6	6
		Draper	6	7	6						Draper	77	3	4	4
		Blanco	3	5	3														4	Ivanišević	6	6	713
		Furlan	6	6	5	1	5													Dreekmann	3	2	611
		Johansson	4	2	7	6	7				Johansson	61	2	6	1
		Dreekmann	6	6	6						Dreekmann	77	6	4	6
		Rusedski	2	4	2																							4	Ivanišević	6	3	6	77
		Medvedev	6	6	6																								Medvedev	4	6	3	62
		Fleurian	2	0	1						Medvedev	6	6	6
		Krošlák	2	6	3	6	7				Krošlák	4	3	2
		Woodruff	6	4	6	2	6													Medvedev	6	6	6
	Q	Caldwell	3	6	3	5														Korda	2	4	3
		Korda	6	3	6	7					Korda	6	67	6
		Ulihrach	2	6	77	3	6				Ulihrach	0	25	3
	14	A Costa	6	4	62	6	1

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	12	Martin	6	6	4	6
		El Aynaoui	3	2	6	4				12	Martin	6	6	6
		Gaudenzi	77	6	6						Gaudenzi	3	2	2
		Matsuoka	64	2	3														12	Martin	2	64	4
	WC	Flach	7	77	2	78														Henman	6	77	6
	Q	Pozzi	5	65	6	66				WC	Flach	3	4	2
	LL	Jabali	2	3	4						Henman	6	6	6
		Henman	6	6	6																								Henman	77	62	4	4
		Haarhuis	65	78	1	6	6																						Edberg	62	77	6	6
		Joyce	77	66	6	2	2				Haarhuis	1	6	6	6
		Tebbutt	3	6	3	7	6				Tebbutt	6	2	2	3
		Reneberg	6	1	6	5	3													Haarhuis	4	64	1
		Stark	5	3	7	5														Edberg	6	77	6
		Karbacher	7	6	5	7					Karbacher	6	3	3	0	r
		Edberg	6	6	6						Edberg	3	6	6	1
	5	Krajicek	3	3	3

Bottom half

Section 5

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	6	Agassi	6	6	6
		Hadad	3	3	2					6	Agassi	3	6	6	6
		Ondruska	63	2	5					LL	Paes	6	4	1	0
	LL	Paes	77	6	7														6	Agassi	6	6	79
		Moyà	6	64	61	6	6													Siemerink	4	2	67
	WC	Humphries	1	77	77	0	4				Moyà	62	4	4
		Siemerink	4	6	77	6					Siemerink	77	6	6
		Steeb	6	1	64	4																						6	Agassi	4	6	6	6
	Q	Vitoux	6	6	77																							WC	Wheaton	6	2	3	4
	Q	Delgado	4	4	63					Q	Vitoux	4	4	6	64
	WC	Wheaton	6	6	6					WC	Wheaton	6	6	4	77
	WC	Kim	3	2	3														WC	Wheaton	1	7	6	6
		Lapentti	4	6	4	3													WC	O'Brien	6	5	1	2
	WC	O'Brien	6	1	6	6				WC	O'Brien	6	6	5	3	6
		Alami	2	6	65	1				11	Washington	3	4	7	6	3
	11	Washington	6	2	77	6

Section 6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	13	T Enqvist	6	6	6
		S Simian	3	1	4					13	T Enqvist	6	6	6
		G Raoux	77	3	1	6	7				G Raoux	3	2	3
		F Dewulf	65	6	6	3	5												13	T Enqvist	6	6	6
		M Knowles	6	7	6														Q	P Campana	4	4	2
		M Filippini	3	5	1						M Knowles	63	6	3	77	3
		T Woodbridge	2	6	2	4				Q	P Campana	77	3	6	63	6
	Q	P Campana	6	4	6	6																						13	T Enqvist	64	2	6	1
		K Goossens	2	0	61																							3	T Muster	77	6	4	6
		S Bruguera	6	6	77						S Bruguera	6	6	6
	Q	T Haas	3	6	1	5					M Stich	3	2	4
		M Stich	6	1	6	7														S Bruguera	2	4	3
	Q	D Dier	6	2	6	6													3	T Muster	6	6	6
		C Adams	4	6	4	4				Q	D Dier	3	2	4
		J Frana	1	62	2					3	T Muster	6	6	6
	3	T Muster	6	77	6

Section 7

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	LL	D Škoch	2	60	3
		J Sánchez	6	77	6						J Sánchez	6	77	2	6
	WC	J Grabb	6	7	77					WC	J Grabb	2	63	6	3
		S Stolle	3	5	64															J Sánchez	6	3	4	6	78
		P Rafter	67	3	66															J Stoltenberg	4	6	6	2	66
		K Carlsen	79	6	78						K Carlsen	3	61	3
		J Stoltenberg	7	6	6						J Stoltenberg	6	77	6
		S Pescosolido	5	4	1																								J Sánchez	6	77	77
		A Boetsch	77	6	7																								A Boetsch	4	65	63
		N Pereira	64	4	5						A Boetsch	78	6	6
		C Costa	5	6	64	3					M Gustafsson	66	3	1
		M Gustafsson	7	4	77	6														A Boetsch	6	6	78
		J Tarango	65	6	6	3														J Tarango	4	2	66
		A Rădulescu	77	4	1	1	r				J Tarango	6	4	77	6
	Q	A Pavel	6	1	4	2				10	M Ríos	4	6	65	2
	10	M Ríos	4	6	6	6

Section 8

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	15	M Rosset	79	4	4	3
	WC	J Palmer	67	6	6	6				WC	J Palmer	77	3	64	6	61
		M Damm	5	4	5						H Gumy	65	6	77	0	77
		H Gumy	7	6	7															H Gumy	5	1	2
		N Kulti	3	4	6	4														J Hlasek	7	6	6
		J Hlasek	6	6	4	6					J Hlasek	77	79	6
	WC	C Mamiit	1	4	0						A Berasategui	65	67	0
		A Berasategui	6	6	6																								J Hlasek	3	4	2
		V Spadea	6	3	6	6																						2	M Chang	6	6	6
		D Vacek	2	6	3	2					V Spadea	6	1	6	6
		D Prinosil	6	6	3	65	6				D Prinosil	2	6	2	4
	Q	P Tramacchi	3	2	6	77	1													V Spadea	4	7	6	5	3
	Q	N Godwin	6	6	3	6													2	M Chang	6	5	2	7	6
		T Carbonell	4	2	6	1				Q	N Godwin	1	3	1
	Q	J Oncins	6	1	0	66				2	M Chang	6	6	6
	2	M Chang	3	6	6	78

External links

• 1996 US Open on ATPtennis.com