# 1938 U.S. National Championships – Men's singles

Don Budge defeated Gene Mako in the final, 6–3, 6–8, 6–2, 6–1 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1938 U.S. National Championships. He became the first player in tennis history to complete the Grand Slam.

## Seeds

The tournament used two lists of eight players for seeding the men's singles event; one for U.S. players and one for foreign players. Don Budge is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

## Draw
### Key

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

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Don Budge | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harry Hopman | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harry Hopman | 3 | 1 | 3 | | 1 | Don Budge | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Sidney Wood | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Sidney Wood | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 7 | Sidney Wood | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | |
| 15 | Bryan Grant | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Bryan Grant | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | 1 | Don Budge | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Gene Mako | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| | Gilbert Hunt | 5 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | Gene Mako | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| | Gene Mako | 7 | 1 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gene Mako | 7 | 1 | 8 | 6 | | Gene Mako | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 1 | John Bromwich | 3 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Joseph Hunt | 1 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 1 | John Bromwich | 3 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | |
| 1 | John Bromwich | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 1 | Budge | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Van Horn | 0 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1 | Budge | 6 | 7 | 9 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Kamrath | 3 | 5 | 7 | | | | | |
| | Kamrath | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kramer | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Budge | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | Hare | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| | Finnigan | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Farrell | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Farrell | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 15 | Hare | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Schwartz | 4 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Hare | 6 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | | | | | | 9 | Cooke | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Godsell | 2 | 5 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | Cooke | 2 | 6 | 4 | 8 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Hopman | 6 | 4 | 6 | 10 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Hopman | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Buxby | 3 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hopman | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | McNeill | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| | | | | | | | McCauliff | 2 | r | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Toley | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Toley | 1 | 4 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Hartman | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | McNeill | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Lowman | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3 | | Hartman | 5 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | McNeill | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | McNeill | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Destremau | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 7 | Wood | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | McGehee | 4 | 1 | 4 | | | 7 | Wood | 9 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hall | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | Hall | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Davenport | 1 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Wood | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Mulloy | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Mulloy | 4 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Lewis | 5 | 1 | 4 | | | | Mulloy | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Low | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Low | 5 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lay | 2 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Wood | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| | Gillespie | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Kukuljević | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| | Bushman | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | Gillespie | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robertson | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | Robertson | 3 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lavine | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | Gillespie | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | Surface | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Kukuljević | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Brugnon | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | Surface | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Kukuljević | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | 11 | Kukuljević | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Prochaska | 5 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 15 | Grant | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Everett | 4 | 7 | 4 | | | 15 | Grant | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mattmann | | | | | | | Mattmann | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harman | w/o | | | | | | | | | | 15 | Grant | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Henderson | 6 | 6 | 5 | 9 | | | | | | | | Anderson | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | Bowden | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | | | Henderson | 1 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Anderson | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | Anderson | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rood | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | Grant | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| | Bellis | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Quist | 1 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| | Anderson | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | | Bellis | 6 | 11 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ballagh | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | Ballagh | 8 | 13 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Burt | 2 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | Ballagh | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Umstaedter | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | 3 | Quist | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Johnson | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | | | Umstaedter | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Quist | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | 3 | Quist | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Broida | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 5

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 3 | Riggs | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lauck | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | | 3 | Riggs | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Guernsey | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Guernsey | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lubin | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Riggs | 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Shayes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Shayes | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | Mouvet | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | Shayes | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bobbitt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Bobbitt | 3 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | De Gray | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Riggs | 2 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| | Jarvis | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hunt | 6 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| | Abrams | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | | | Jarvis | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Talbert | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Talbert | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Baldwin | 1 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | Jarvis | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hunt | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Hunt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Murphy | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 4 | | Hunt | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Nakano | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 13 | Nakano | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Wetherell | 6 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 11 | Kovacs | 6 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Filby | 1 | 3 | 7 | | | 11 | Kovacs | 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kuramitsu | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | Kuramitsu | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hughes | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 11 | Kovacs | 0 | 2 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Mako | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Mako | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | |
| | Podesta | 1 | 2 | 2 | | | | Mako | 6 | 6 | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Foreman | | | | | | | Foreman | 2 | 1 | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stephens | w/o | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mako | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| | Weston | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Punčec | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| | Mangin | 1 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 6 | | Weston | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lynch | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Lynch | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Freisenbruch | 0 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | Weston | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Kerdasha | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Punčec | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Lanas | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | | Kerdasha | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Punčec | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | 5 | Punčec | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Du Rivage | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 5 | Hunt | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Abe | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Hunt | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Sabin | 1 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Hunt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dunn | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Steele Jr. | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Dunn | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Hunt | 6 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | Petra | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
| | | | | | | | Murphy | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Fishbach | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fishbach | 2 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | Petra | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Swanson | 4 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 9 | Petra | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 13 | Parker | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lurie | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 13 | Parker | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Rood | 2 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | |
| | Hawley | 4 | 2 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rood | 6 | 6 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Parker | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Bromwich | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Shields | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sutter | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Shields | 6 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | Bromwich | 1 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Ganzenmuller | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Bromwich | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |