2019 - US OPEN - USA, NY August 26, 2019

The art of defence: How US Open defending champions have fared over the years

As Naomi Osaka embarks on her title defence, take a look back at how the past 20 US Open champions have fared on their returns to New York one year later.

In 1999, Lindsay Davenport made it to the semifinals before losing 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to eventual champion Serena Williams (Getty) — 01 /20

In 1999, Lindsay Davenport made it to the semifinals before losing 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to eventual champion Serena Williams (Getty)

One year later, the roles were reversed as Lindsay Davenport halted Serena Williams's title defence in the 2000 quarterfinals 6-4, 6-2 (Getty) — 02 /20

One year later, the roles were reversed as Lindsay Davenport halted Serena Williams's title defence in the 2000 quarterfinals 6-4, 6-2 (Getty)

Venus Williams pulled off the 11th successful US Open title defence in the Open Era when she defeated Serena Williams in the 2001 final (Getty) — 03 /20

Venus Williams pulled off the 11th successful US Open title defence in the Open Era when she defeated Serena Williams in the 2001 final (Getty)

However, 2002 saw Serena Williams end Venus Williams's hat-trick hopes by defeating her 6-4, 6-3 in the final (Getty) — 04 /20

However, 2002 saw Serena Williams end Venus Williams's hat-trick hopes by defeating her 6-4, 6-3 in the final (Getty)

A knee injury forced Serena Williams to miss the second half of the 2003 season, and prevented her from attempting to defend her US Open title (Getty) — 05 /20

A knee injury forced Serena Williams to miss the second half of the 2003 season, and prevented her from attempting to defend her US Open title (Getty)

Justine Henin's illness-ravaged 2004 found the Belgian competing in just three tournaments after April that year, with her US Open defence ended 6-3, 6-2 by Nadia Petrova in the fourth round (Getty) — 06 /20

Justine Henin's illness-ravaged 2004 found the Belgian competing in just three tournaments after April that year, with her US Open defence ended 6-3, 6-2 by Nadia Petrova in the fourth round (Getty)

Svetlana Kuznetsova became the first defending champion in the Open Era to lose in the first round in 2005, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Ekaterina Bychkova (Getty) — 07 /20

Svetlana Kuznetsova became the first defending champion in the Open Era to lose in the first round in 2005, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Ekaterina Bychkova (Getty)

Kim Clijsters was forced to withdraw from the 2006 US Open due to a left wrist injury sustained during her second-round match in Montréal against Stéphanie Dubois (Getty) — 08 /20

Kim Clijsters was forced to withdraw from the 2006 US Open due to a left wrist injury sustained during her second-round match in Montréal against Stéphanie Dubois (Getty)

An 18-year-old Agnieszka Radwanska announced herself by ousting defending champion Maria Sharapova 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 in the third round of the 2007 US Open (Getty) — 09 /20

An 18-year-old Agnieszka Radwanska announced herself by ousting defending champion Maria Sharapova 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 in the third round of the 2007 US Open (Getty)

2007 champion Justine Henin announced her first retirement in May 2008 and did not defend her US Open crown (Getty) — 10 /20

2007 champion Justine Henin announced her first retirement in May 2008 and did not defend her US Open crown (Getty)

In 2009, Serena Williams lost a dramatic 6-4, 7-5 semifinal to Kim Clijsters, competing as an unranked wildcard in her third tournament back from maternity leave (Getty) — 11 /20

In 2009, Serena Williams lost a dramatic 6-4, 7-5 semifinal to Kim Clijsters, competing as an unranked wildcard in her third tournament back from maternity leave (Getty)

Kim Clijsters successfully defended her US Open title in 2011, lifting the trophy for the second time as a mother and for the third time overall (Getty) — 12 /20

Kim Clijsters successfully defended her US Open title in 2011, lifting the trophy for the second time as a mother and for the third time overall (Getty)

In 2011, an injury sustained in Canada forced Kim Clijsters to withdraw from the US Open as the defending champion for the second time - this time an abdominal issue suffered in the second round of Toronto against Zheng Jie (Getty) — 13 /20

In 2011, an injury sustained in Canada forced Kim Clijsters to withdraw from the US Open as the defending champion for the second time - this time an abdominal issue suffered in the second round of Toronto against Zheng Jie (Getty)

Samantha Stosur reached the quarterfinals in 2012, where it took the No.1 seed Victoria Azarenka and a deciding tiebreak to end her title defence 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(5) (Getty) — 14 /20

Samantha Stosur reached the quarterfinals in 2012, where it took the No.1 seed Victoria Azarenka and a deciding tiebreak to end her title defence 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(5) (Getty)

Serena Williams defended a Slam title for the first time in her career in 2013, when she beat Victoria Azarenka in the final for the second year running to lift her fifth US Open trophy (Getty) — 15 /20

Serena Williams defended a Slam title for the first time in her career in 2013, when she beat Victoria Azarenka in the final for the second year running to lift her fifth US Open trophy (Getty)

Serena Williams became the first woman in the Open Era to win a consecutive hat-trick of US Open titles in 2014, beating Caroline Wozniacki to take her overall Slam count to 18 (Getty) — 16 /20

Serena Williams became the first woman in the Open Era to win a consecutive hat-trick of US Open titles in 2014, beating Caroline Wozniacki to take her overall Slam count to 18 (Getty)

Serena Williams's bid for a fourth US Open title in a row and a calendar year Grand Slam was ended in the 2015 semifinals 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Roberta Vinci (Getty) — 17 /20

Serena Williams's bid for a fourth US Open title in a row and a calendar year Grand Slam was ended in the 2015 semifinals 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Roberta Vinci (Getty)

2015 champion Flavia Pennetta retired at the end of that year, and did not defend her title in 2016 (Getty) — 18 /20

2015 champion Flavia Pennetta retired at the end of that year, and did not defend her title in 2016 (Getty)

Angelique Kerber became the second defending champion in the Open Era to lose in the first round in 2017, losing 6-3, 6-1 to Naomi Osaka - who would win the title herself just two years later (Getty) — 19 /20

Angelique Kerber became the second defending champion in the Open Era to lose in the first round in 2017, losing 6-3, 6-1 to Naomi Osaka - who would win the title herself just two years later (Getty)

Sloane Stephens' defence in 2018 was ended at the quarterfinal stage 6-2, 6-3 by Anastasija Sevastova (Getty) — 20 /20

Sloane Stephens' defence in 2018 was ended at the quarterfinal stage 6-2, 6-3 by Anastasija Sevastova (Getty)