1968 US Open (tennis)

Last updated
1968 US Open
Date29 August – 8 September
Edition88th
Category Grand Slam (ITF)
Prize money$100,000
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.svg Arthur Ashe [1]
Women's singles
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virginia Wade
Men's doubles
Flag of the United States.svg Robert Lutz / Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith [2]
Women's doubles
Flag of Brazil.svg Maria Bueno / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Margaret Court
Mixed doubles
Flag of the United States.svg Mary-Ann Eisel / Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Curtis
  1967  · US Open ·  1969  

The 1968 US Open (formerly known as U.S. National Championships) 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 29 August until 8 September. It was the 88th staging of the tournament and the fourth Grand Slam event of 1968. It was the first edition of the tournament in the Open Era of tennis and as such for the first time offered prize money, totaling $100,000. Arthur Ashe and Virginia Wade won the singles titles. Ashe was still registered as an amateur and therefore not entitled to the $14,000 first-prize money, which instead went to runner-up Tom Okker, while Wade earned $6,000. [3] Frank Parker, at the age of 52, lost to eventual champion Arthur Ashe in the second round, and still holds the record for the oldest man to compete in a Grand Slam singles tournament.

Contents

Finals

West Side Tennis Club, Queens West Side Tennis Club, Queens.jpg
West Side Tennis Club, Queens

Men's singles

Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe defeated Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker, [1] 14–12, 5–7, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3

• It was Ashe's 1st career Grand Slam singles title and his 1st and only at the US Open.

Women's singles

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virginia Wade defeated Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King, 6–4, 6–2

• It was Wade's 1st career Grand Slam singles title and her 1st and only at the US Open.

Men's doubles

Flag of the United States.svg Bob Lutz / Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith defeated Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe / Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Andrés Gimeno, [2] 11–9, 6–1, 7–5

• It was Lutz's 1st career Grand Slam doubles title.
• It was Smith's 1st career Grand Slam doubles title.

Women's doubles

Flag of Brazil.svg Maria Bueno / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Margaret Court defeated Flag of the United States.svg Rosemary Casals / Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King, 4–6, 9–7, 8–6

• It was Bueno's 11th and last career Grand Slam doubles title and her 4th at the US Open.
• It was Court's 10th career Grand Slam doubles title and her 2nd at the US Open.

Mixed doubles

No mixed doubles event was held at the 1968 US Open. Results often listed are those of the 1968 U.S. National Championships held a month earlier in Boston. [4]
Flag of the United States.svg Mary-Ann Eisel / Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Curtis defeated Flag of the United States.svg Tory Fretz / Flag of the United States.svg Gerry Perry 6–4, 7–5

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References

  1. 1 2 "1968 US Open – Men's singles draw". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  2. 1 2 "1968 US Open – Men's doubles draw". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  3. Dave Anderson (September 10, 1968). "Ashe Beats Okker to Win Tennis Open". The New York Times.
  4. "Mixed doubles US National Championships, Boston". Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.
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