1968 US Open – Men's singles

Men's singles
1968 US Open
Champion	Arthur Ashe
Runner-up	Tom Okker
Score	14–12, 5–7, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Draw	96
Seeds	16

Main article: 1968 United States Open (tennis)

Arthur Ashe defeated Tom Okker in the final, 14–12, 5–7, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1968 U.S. Open. It was his first major singles title, and Ashe became the first African-American man to win a major. This was the first edition of the tournament open to professional players, a period in tennis history known as the Open Era.

John Newcombe was the defending champion, but lost in the quarterfinals to Clark Graebner.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Arthur Ashe is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

1. Rod Laver (fourth round)
2. Tony Roche (fourth round)
3. Ken Rosewall (semifinals)
4. John Newcombe (quarterfinals)
5. Arthur Ashe (champion)
6. Dennis Ralston (quarterfinals)
7. Clark Graebner (semifinals)
8. Tom Okker (finals)
9. n/a
10. Andrés Gimeno (first round)
11. Fred Stolle (second round)
12. Charlie Pasarell (third round)
13. Richard Pancho Gonzales (quarterfinals)
14. Roy Emerson (fourth round)
15. Marty Riessen (second round)
16. Cliff Drysdale (quarterfinals)

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• r = Retired

Final eight

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	16	Cliff Drysdale	10	3	7	4
	5	Arthur Ashe	8	6	9	6
										5	Arthur Ashe	4	8	7	6
										7	Clark Graebner	6	6	5	2
	4	John Newcombe	7	9	1	4
	7	Clark Graebner	5	11	6	6
																			5	Arthur Ashe	14	5	6	3	6
																			8	Tom Okker	12	7	3	6	3
	6	Dennis Ralston	2	2	3
	3	Ken Rosewall	6	6	6
										3	Ken Rosewall	6	4	8	1
										8	Tom Okker	8	6	6	6
	8	Tom Okker	14	6	10	6
	13	Pancho Gonzales	16	3	8	3

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Round four
										1	R Laver	6	4	6	6	6
											T Koch	8	6	4	4	4
																			1	R Laver	6	6	6
																				P Segura	2	1	1
											I Crookenden	3	4	1
											P Segura	6	6	6
																												1	R Laver	6	4	6	1	1
																												16	C Drysdale	4	6	3	6	6
										16	C Drysdale	6	8	6	6
											L Ayala	4	10	0	3
																			16	C Drysdale	6	6	6
																				A Stone	3	2	1
											L Gerrard	4	7	2
											A Stone	6	9	6

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Round four
										5	A Ashe	6	6	6
											F Parker	3	2	2
																			5	A Ashe	6	6	6
																				P Hutchins	3	4	1
											P Hutchins	6	6	4	2	6
											H Rahim	3	4	6	6	2
																												5	A Ashe	6	9	6
																												14	R Emerson	4	7	2
										14	R Emerson	10	6	6
											S Giammalva Sr.	8	0	3
																			14	R Emerson	6	6	6
																				J Borowiak	3	4	0
											N Weld	6	4	4	2
											J Borowiak	3	6	6	6

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Round four
	4	J Newcombe	6	6	6
		A Quay	1	3	3					4	J Newcombe	6	6	6
		W Jacques	12	6	0	4					R Krishnan	4	4	2
		R Krishnan	14	2	6	6													4	J Newcombe	6	6	6
		EV Seixas	8	6	6															C McKinley	3	2	2
		T Gorman	6	4	3						EV Seixas	4	3	3
		W Tym	3	6	6	6	1				C McKinley	6	6	6
		C McKinley	6	8	2	3	6																					4	J Newcombe	5	4	6	10	6
	15	M Riessen	11	4	6	6																							T Ulrich	7	6	4	8	4
		Z Franulović	9	6	3	4				15	M Riessen	6	2	3	2
		C Montgomery	4	3	3						T Ulrich	3	6	6	6
		T Ulrich	6	6	6															T Ulrich	6	6	6
		R Goldman	12	7	2															R McKinley	4	4	2
		R McKinley	14	9	6						R McKinley	3	6	6	6
		J Fillol Sr.	6	6	6						J Fillol Sr.	6	3	4	2
		C Bovett	4	1	0

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Round four
	7	C Graebner	6	1	7	6
		P Lall	3	6	5	4				7	C Graebner	6	6	14
		J McManus	6	6	8						J McManus	1	4	12
		S Stewart	3	4	6														7	C Graebner	6	6	6
		E Zuleta	1	1	3															R Taylor	3	4	4
		T Mozur	6	6	6						T Mozur	5	3	4
		F Tutvin	3	1	1						R Taylor	7	6	6
		R Taylor	6	6	6																							7	C Graebner	7	6	6
	LL	P Cranis	2	2	4																								E Scott	5	0	3
		D O'Bryant	6	6	6						D O'Bryant	18	2	6	6	0
		P Gerken	6	3	6	6					P Gerken	16	6	4	8	6
		W Harris	2	6	3	0														P Gerken	2	6	4
		P Cornejo	6	6	12															E Scott	6	8	6
		T Leonard	4	4	10						P Cornejo	3	3	2
		G Taylor	9	10	4						E Scott	6	6	6
		E Scott	11	12	6

Section 5

	First round									Second round									Third round									Round four
		N Pilić	6	6	3	6
		B Seewagen	3	4	6	4					N Pilić	6	6	6
		T Carrero	4	3	6	6	7				D Dell	1	4	2
		D Dell	6	6	2	2	9													N Pilić	6	9	4	6
		B Knight	1	4	7														12	C Pasarell	4	7	6	4
		T Edlefsen	6	6	9						T Edlefsen	1	7	2
		K Coombes	9	5	1					12	C Pasarell	6	9	6
	12	C Pasarell	11	7	6																								N Pilić	6	2	7	11	3
		F Robbins	6	14	19																							6	D Ralston	2	6	5	13	6
		J Loyo-Mayo	8	16	21						J Loyo-Mayo	5	3	6	6	6
		A Neely	6	3	3	7	3				J Sharpe	7	6	4	3	1
		J Sharpe	3	6	6	5	6													J Loyo-Mayo	11	2	6	5	1
		S Pasarell	1	3	8	5													6	D Ralston	9	6	3	7	6
		R Russell	6	6	6	7					R Russell	1	4	1
		C Steele III	3	0	4					6	D Ralston	6	6	6
	6	D Ralston	6	6	6

Section 6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Round four
		B MacKay	6	6	5	3
		J Osborne	8	4	7	6					J Osborne	9	5	9
		R Holmberg	6	6	6						R Holmberg	11	7	11
		H Hose	2	3	4															R Holmberg	6	11	7
		R Lutz	6	6	6															R Lutz	4	9	5
		P Burwash	1	1	3						R Lutz	6	8	2	6	7
		R Moore	4	6	6	6					R Moore	8	6	6	4	5
	10	A Gimeno	6	1	2	1																							R Holmberg	3	3	6	6
		M Lara	9	6	4	8																						3	K Rosewall	6	6	2	8
		P Sullivan	7	1	6	6					M Lara	2	7	7	6
		R Perry	6	0	5	5					D Stockton	6	5	5	2
		D Stockton	4	6	7	7														M Lara	1	3	1
		A Palafox	6	4	6	6													3	K Rosewall	6	6	6
		E van Dillen	4	6	2	4					A Palafox	0	1	0
		J Parker	3	3	4					3	K Rosewall	6	6	6
	3	K Rosewall	6	6	6

Section 7

	First round									Second round									Third round									Round four
											J Brown	6	2	7	6	11
											I Buding	3	6	5	8	9
																				J Brown	4	6	6	6	1
																				P Curtis	6	3	4	8	6
											P Curtis	6	6	4	6	8
										11	F Stolle	8	2	6	3	6
																													P Curtis	6	6	3	2
																												8	T Okker	8	2	6	6
											P Barthès	14	6	9
											P Fishbach	12	2	7
																				P Barthès	2	11	5
																			8	T Okker	6	13	7
											L Schloss	1	0	4
										8	T Okker	6	6	6

Section 8

	First round									Second round									Third round									Round four
											P Guzmán	1	1	2
											M Anderson	6	6	6
																				M Anderson	4	4	4
																			13	RP Gonzales	6	6	6
											C Stubs	2	2	2
										13	RP Gonzales	6	6	6
																												13	RP Gonzales	8	6	6
																												2	T Roche	6	4	2
											D Bleckinger	w/o
											A Olmedo
																				A Olmedo	2	6	4
																			2	T Roche	6	8	6
											S Smith	6	8	6	4	4
										2	T Roche	3	10	3	6	6

Effects of Ashe's Victory

Arthur Ashe's victory took the public by storm. Telegrams from fans, politicians, and celebrities began to flood in. One celebrity who celebrated the importance of Ashe's victory was Jackie Robinson. He stated that this victory would "bridge the gap between races and inspire black people the world over and also affect the decency of all Americans". Ashe's victory was a sign that Blacks could excel anywhere, even in places flooded with racial prejudice. This is proven with the steady fight for Black rights in years to come.

External links

• Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) – 1968 US Open Men's Singles draw
• 1968 US Open – Men's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation