# 1968 US Open – Men's singles

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, becoming the first African American man to win a singles major. This was the first edition of the US Open to be open to professional players, marking 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.
* Rod Laver (fourth round)
* Tony Roche (fourth round)
* Ken Rosewall (semifinals)
* John Newcombe (quarterfinals)
* Arthur Ashe (champion)
* Dennis Ralston (quarterfinals)
* Clark Graebner (semifinals)
* Tom Okker (finals)
* n/a
* Andrés Gimeno (first round)
* Fred Stolle (second round)
* Charlie Pasarell (third round)
* Richard Pancho Gonzales (quarterfinals)
* Roy Emerson (fourth round)
* Marty Riessen (second round)
* Cliff Drysdale (quarterfinals)

## Draw
### Key

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

### Final eight

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

### 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 | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | 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

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | 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 | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | 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 | 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 | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | 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 | 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 | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | 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 | 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 | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | 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

| 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 | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | 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

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Round four | Round four | Round four | Round four | 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.