1940 U.S. National Championships (tennis)

Last updated

1940 U.S. National Championships
DateSeptember 2–9
Edition60th
Category Grand Slam (ITF)
Surface Grass
Location Forest Hills, Queens
New York City, United States
Venue West Side Tennis Club
Champions
Men's singles
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Donald McNeill
Women's singles
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Alice Marble
Men's doubles
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack Kramer / Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ted Schroeder
Women's doubles
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Alice Marble
Mixed doubles
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Alice Marble / Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs
  1939  · U.S. National Championships ·  1941  

The 1940 U.S. National Championships (now known as the US Open) was a tennis tournament that took place on the outdoor grass courts at the West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills in New York City, United States. The tournament ran from September 2 until September 9, 1940. It was the 60th staging of the U.S. National Championships and the second Grand Slam tennis event of the year because of the cancellation of Wimbledon and the French Championships due to World War II. [1] Don McNeill capped an outstanding season with his win over Bobby Riggs in the finals of the men's singles. Earlier in the year McNeill won the U.S. Men's Intercollegiate Singles Championships for Kenyon College, defeating Joe Hunt of Navy. A dramatic moment occurred in this 1940 National Championships during the men's singles quarter-final match between 1943 national champion, Joe Hunt and third seeded Frank Kovacs. Kovacs had the reputation as a court clown, and early in the third set, Kovacs' antics with the gallery compelled Hunt to sit down on the baseline and refuse to play until the umpire stopped the disturbance. Hunt ignored several of Kovacs' serves, allowing them to harmlessly fly by. In short order, Kovacs also sat on his baseline and Forest Hills experienced what was called "tennis' first sit-down strike." About five minutes went by with the crowd alternately cheering and jeering. When order was restored, Hunt went on to win the match in straight sets. [2]

Contents

Finals

Men's singles

Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Donald McNeill defeated Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs 4–6, 6–8, 6–3, 6–3, 7–5

Women's singles

Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Alice Marble defeated Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Helen Jacobs 6–2, 6–3

Men's doubles

Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack Kramer / Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ted Schroeder defeated Flag of the United States.svg Gardnar Mulloy / Flag of the United States.svg Henry Prusoff 6–4, 8–6, 9–7 [3]

Women's doubles

Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Alice Marble defeated Flag of the United States.svg Dorothy Bundy / Flag of the United States.svg Marjorie Gladman Van Ryn 6–4, 6–4 [4]

Mixed doubles

Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Alice Marble / Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs defeated Flag of the United States.svg Dorothy Bundy / Flag of the United States.svg Jack Kramer 9–7, 6–1 [5]

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References

  1. Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 67–68. ISBN   978-0942257700.
  2. American Lawn Tennis, September 20, 1940
  3. Collins, p. 477
  4. Collins, p. 480
  5. Collins, p. 482
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