15 Interesting US Open Facts

The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year. Lasting two weeks, the competition take place at the end of August each year. Watched all over the globe, the competition is held in New York! Here are our top 15 interesting US Open facts that you may not know!

1. The first US Open

First held in Newport, Rhode Island in August 1881. Around the height of the gilded age!

2. An amateur won

Arthur Ashe won the first U.S. Open as an amateur. The main stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which just happens to be the largest tennis-specific stadium in the world, is named after him. Virginia Wade won the women’s singles.

3. Played in a garden

Originally played on a grass court in one of the organisers garden. The tournament moved venues a few years later to clay surfaced courts. By 1978, the competition had transferred to the USTA National Tennis Center in New York, which has hard courts. The US Open is therefore the only Grand Slam that has been played on three different surfaces.

4. Night games

In 1975, the U.S. Open became the first Grand Slam tourney to have night games.

5. The trophy

Designed by Tiffany & Co, both male and female winners are awarded the same identical trophy. However, the winners don’t take home the actual trophy. A replica is included in their overall prize.

6. Equal Prizes

Men and women receive the same amount of prize money. This tradition dates back to 1973.

7. Shots stop play

In 1977, a shot rang out during a game between John McEnroe and Eddie Dibbs. The commotion in the crowd briefly stopped play. However, the game quickly resumed, and McEnroe won the match (but not the tournament). It was later discovered that a fan had been shot in the leg by a stray bullet from outside the grounds.

8. Now played on a hard surface

Originally the tournament was play on grass. Then on clay courts. However, since 1978, matches have been on a hard-court surface covered with DecoTurf II.

9. Americans usually dominate the singles finals

U.S. male players have won 85 titles; male players from Australia have won 18; and male players from Great Britain and Switzerland have, respectively, won five. In women’s singles, the U.S. has won 93 titles; Australia six; and Belgium and Germany, respectively, five.

10. The Williams sisters

Venus and Serena Williams became the first sisters to meet in a U.S. Nationals/U.S. Open final in 2001.

11. Tiebreaker

In the other Grand Slam tournaments, there’s no tiebreaker like there is in the U.S. Open; opponents just play until one person has two more winning games.

12. Youngest Men’s Singles champion

Pete Sampras, who won in 1990 at the age of 19 is the youngest Men’s Singles champion.

13. Makes more money

The US open is more profitable than both the Wimbledon Championship and the Roland Garros Open.

14. Youngest Men’s Doubles champion

Vincent Richards, who won in 1918 at just 15 years old is the youngest Men’s Doubles champion.

15. The Arthur Ashe Stadium

As the world’s largest tennis stadium, the Arthur Ashe Stadium has a capacity of 22,547 individual seats divided between three viewing levels.

Cool US Open Facts!

There you have 20 US Open Facts that celebrate one of the world’s greatest annual spotting events. If you enjoyed this, you’ll want to read 15 Fascinating Australian Open Facts, 20 Amazing Wimbledon Facts, or 20 Impressive Monte-Carlo Masters Facts.