US Open 2016: Summary, Promotions and Demotions

Wawrinka

The Ozeki (=Champions) Stan Wawrinka and Angelique Kerber won the 2016 US Open titles, winning hard-fought finals over Dai-Yokozuna (=great Grand Champion) Novak Djokovic and new Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) Karolina Pliskova.

The ladies' final was played in absurd heat and humidity, for men's final an evening later the New York air had cooled down. Still, both Wawrinka and Djokovic were barely able to walk at the end of their match, after two weeks of high-power, high-intensity tennis. Wawrinka in particular had survived many taxing battles en route to the final - in round 3 he even survived match point against the unheralded Dan Edwards, before going through in 5 sets.

Kerber

In the ladies' tournament, the feisty and gritty Kerber confirmed her status as an elite player. But it was Pliskova - a tall and slender Czech with mighty groundstrokes and a cool demeanor - who had her breakthrough tournament, winning not only a first-time sanyaku promotion, but also two Kinboshi (=gold stars) for beating active Yokozuna (=Grand Champions) on the way to the final: Dai-Yokozuna Serena Williams in the semifinal, who got outmuscled (!) by the Czech, and her sister Venus Williams in a thriller in round 4. Pliskova will share Sekiwake rank with ex-Ozeki Simona Halep, who exited in the quarterfinals, just as in Wimbledon.

Pliskova

The female sanyaku ranks are completed by former Sekiwake Carolina Wozniacki, who seems to have a knack for the US Open: 5 out of her six career grand slam semifinals have been in New York. Wozniacki returns to Komusubi (=Junior Champion II).

Pouille

In the mens' game, there is no Sekiwake on the banzuke, but no less than six Komusubi: ex-Ozeki Tomas Berdych and Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic, who both got demoted; the resurgent former Sekiwake Kei Nishikori (semifinalist) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (back-to-back grand slam quarterfinals); returning Komusubi Gael Monfils (semifinal), who played a rather weird match in his semifinal against Djokovic, seemingly overwhelmed by heat, humidity and awe for his opponent; and first-time Komusubi Lucas Pouille (back-to-back quarterfinals). Pouille beat inactive Dai-Yokozuna Rafael Nadal in a gripping five-setter in round 4, before running out of gas in the quarterfinals against Monfils.

Another notable event was ex-Ozeki's Juan Martin del Potro return to the grand slam quarterfinals, after more than 3 years. Del Potro lost to Wawrinka, arguably in part on stamina, but was competitive for two sets. The resurgence of the charismatic Argentine - whose career has been compromised by so many injuries - is excellent news for tennis.
  

US Open Winners:

• Stan Wawrinka (Ozeki)

• Angelique Kerber (Ozeki)

New Career Sanyaku Ranks:

• Karolina Pliskova, the 46th Female Sekiwake of the Open Era

• Lucas Pouille, the 84th Male Komusubi of the Open Era

Sanyaku Rank Changes

Player (career rank if different)	To	From
Promotions
Karolina Pliskova	Sekiwake	Maegashira
Kei Nishikori (ex-Sekiwake)	Komusubi	Maegashira
Gael Monfils	Komusubi	Maegashira
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (ex-Sekiwake)	Komusubi	Maegashira
Lucas Pouille	Komusubi	Maegashira
Caroline Wozniacki (ex-Sekiwake)	Komusubi	Maegashira
Demotions
Tomas Berdych (ex-Ozeki)	Komusubi	Sekiwake
Milos Raonic	Komusubi	Sekiwake
Garbine Muguruza (ex-Sekiwake)	Maegashira	Komusubi
Elena Vesnina	Maegashira	Komusubi

Kinboshi:
("gold star" - prize awarded to a non-sanyaku ranked competitor for beating an active Yokozuna):

• Karolina Pliskova - for beating Yokozuna Venus Williams in round 4.

• Karolina Pliskova - for beating Dai-Yokozuna Serena Williams in the semifinal.

Other noteworthy developments:

• Simona Halep (ex-Ozeki) holds Sekiwake rank with a quarterfinal participation

• ex-Ozeki Juan Martin del Potro wins his first career point in more than 3 years by reaching the quarterfinals