The first week of a major is all about upsets: Which highly seeded players won't survive the first few rounds? During the first week of this year's U.S. Open, we're counting down the top five most shocking upsets at Flushing Meadows.

1990, First Round: Alexander Volkov d. (1) Stefan Edberg, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2

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Top 5 U.S. Open Upsets: No. 1, Volkov d. Edberg

Top 5 U.S. Open Upsets: No. 1, Volkov d. Edberg

The top seed exited before some fans found their seats, as Edberg became the first No. 1 seed to fall in the first round since John Newcombe lost to Jan Kodes in 1971.

The Swedish serve-and-volleyer, who lost in the first round of the French Open in May of ‘90, but beat Boris Becker in five sets to win Wimbledon, struggled to control his shots and saw his 21-match winning streak snapped. It was Edberg's first opening-round exit in New York since his 1983 debut as a teenager.

"I never felt comfortable hitting the ball," said Edberg, whose wristy forehand swirled in uncertain flight paths. "The courts were very, very quick. I've been working hard and I knew it would be tough, but I didn't come up to the standard I needed to win.”

Volkov lost in straight sets to Edberg in their lone prior meeting in Basel the previous year, but the left-hander was hitting his spots on serve and played a confident, controlled match. Volkov had an optimistic outlook for his Open hopes—until he saw the draw.

"I practiced very well the past few weeks and I was ready to play," Volkov said. "Then I saw the draw and I said, 'Ohhhh.' But you see, anything can happen."

This upset was a prelude to U.S. Open success for Volkov. Three years later, he saved match points to beat Thomas Muster and become the first Russian man in the Open era to reach the U.S. Open semifinals, falling to eventual champion Pete Sampras in an experience he would put to good use. A decade after upsetting Edberg in a win that reverberated around the world, Volkov contributed to a Russian major run in New York: He was in Marat Safin’s box as mentor when the youngster swept the favored Sampras to win the 2000 U.S. Open title.

Edberg responded to what could have been a shattering loss with a winning run in New York. He won 14 consecutive matches, raising the 1991 and '92 title trophies (check out the photos at the USTA's indoor facility if you are at the National Tennis Center). Edberg dispatched Ivan Lendl and Jim Courier in straight-sets succession to collect his first U.S. Open title; his 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 dismantling of Courier in the '91 final was serve-and-volley precision played so crisply you wondered if the gliding attacks were choreographed.

In 1994, Edberg and Volkov squared off again, engaging in a thrilling Davis Cup final before an electric Moscow crowd that included Boris Yeltsin. This time, Edberg, well aware of the danger the Volkov posed, held off a furious fight back to prevail, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 0-6, 8-6, and help Sweden reclaim the Cup.

Top 5 U.S. Open Upsets

No. 5: Muller d. Roddick, 2005

<em>No. 4:</em> Bychkova d. Kuznetsova, 2005  
<em>No. 3:</em> Del Potro d. Federer, 2009  
<em>No. 2:</em> Coin d. Ivanovic, 2008  
<em>No. 1:</em> Volkov d. Edberg, 1990**