U.S. Open History

1968 -- Arthur Ashe, a 25-year-old lieutenant in the U.S. Army, defeats Tom Okker in five sets in the men's final to become the first American since 1955 to win the U.S. Open men's singles title. Ashe also becomes the first African-American man to win a Grand Slam singles title. Virginia Wade of Britian knocks off defending champion Billie Jean King in the women's final.

1969 -- Rod Laver completes his second Grand Slam by defeating fellow Australian Tony Roche in the rain-delayed men's final. The match was pushed back until Monday and a helicopter was brought in to help dry off the court. Margaret Court captured the third of her five women's singles titles and teamed with Marty Riessen to win the mixed doubles crown.

1970 -- Margaret Court becomes only the second woman to complete the Grand Slam by defeating Rosie Casals in the women's final. Court also won the women's doubles and mixed doubles titles. Ken Rosewall, at the age of 35, wins his second U.S. Open title 14 years after claiming his first. The tournament also marks the Grand Slam debut of the tiebreak and Rosewall wins the first tiebreak in a Grand Slam final in his victory over Tony Roche.

1971 -- Billie Jean King and Stan Smith give the United States a sweep of the women's and men's singles titles for the first time in 16 years. King's semifinal opponent is 16-year-old American Chris Evert, who makes her U.S. Open debut. Evert will go on to win the U.S. Open six times and make the semifinals each of the next 15 years. Men's top seed John Newcombe is stunned in the first rond by Jan Kodes, becoming the first top seed to lose in the opening round since 1928.

1972 -- Ilie Nastase of Romania battles from a set down to defeat Arthur Ashe in the dramatic five-set men's final and Billie Jean King beats Kerry Melville in straight sets to become the first player in the Open Era to repeat as singles champion at the U.S. Open.

1973 -- John Newcombe avenges his first-round loss to Jan Kodes two year earlier by defeating Kodes for his his second singles title at the U.S. Championships. Margaret Court outlasts fellow Australian Evonne Goolagong in three sets for her fourth U.S. Championships singles title. Newcombe and Court each receive $25,000 for their victories, marking the first time in tennis history that men and woman players receive equal prize money.