# 1978 US Open – Men's singles

Jimmy Connors defeated Björn Borg in the final, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1978 US Open. It was his third US Open singles title and fifth major singles title overall. The final was watched by a sell-out crowd of 19,537 spectators.
Guillermo Vilas was the defending champion, but lost in the fourth round to Butch Walts.
This was the first edition of the US Open to be played on hard courts, and the first to be held at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, relocating from its former site at Forest Hills.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Jimmy Connors is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Björn Borg (finalist)
* Jimmy Connors (champion)
* Guillermo Vilas (fourth round)
* Vitas Gerulaitis (semifinalist)
* Eddie Dibbs (third round)
* Brian Gottfried (quarterfinalist)
* Corrado Barazzutti (second round)
* Raúl Ramírez (quarterfinalist)
* Manuel Orantes (first round)
* Sandy Mayer (first round)
* Roscoe Tanner (fourth round)
* Harold Solomon (fourth round)
* José Luis Clerc (third round)
* Wojtek Fibak (third round)
* John McEnroe (semifinalist)
* Arthur Ashe (fourth round)

## 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 | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Björn Borg | 6$^6$ | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Raúl Ramírez | 7$^8$ | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Raúl Ramírez | 7$^8$ | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | Björn Borg | 6 | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | 3 | 2 | 6$^3$ | | | | | |
| 4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | 3 | 2 | 6$^3$ | | | | | |
| | Johan Kriek | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Johan Kriek | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | 1 | Björn Borg | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 15 | John McEnroe | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Butch Walts | 1 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Butch Walts | 1 | 2 | 6 | | 15 | John McEnroe | 2 | 2 | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| 6 | Brian Gottfried | 2 | 6$^0$ | 1 | | 2 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| 2 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Section 1

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First 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 | Borg | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hewitt | 0 | 2 | | 1 | Borg | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Günthardt | 6 | 7 | | | Günthardt | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Masters | 3 | 6 | | | | | | 1 | Borg | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Leonard | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | Mitton | 6 | 4 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Mitton | 7 | 7 | | | Mitton | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cox | 6 | 6 | | | Cox | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Birner | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Muñoz | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Solomon | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| | Ocleppo | 7 | 6 | | | Ocleppo | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Borowiak | 6 | 6 | | | Borowiak | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lara | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | Ocleppo | 2 | 1 | | | | | | |
| Q | Menon | 0 | 6 | 2 | | | | | 12 | Solomon | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Mayer | 6 | 3 | 6 | | Mayer | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hardie | 3 | 1 | | 12 | Solomon | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Solomon | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Section 2

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 16 | Ashe | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Case | 6 | 6 | 1 | 16 | Ashe | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | McMillan | 5 | 1 | | | Granát | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Granát | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | 16 | Ashe | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| Q | Malin | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | Moor | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Q | Graham | 7 | 6 | | Q | Graham | 6 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Noah | 7 | 6 | 5 | | Moor | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Moor | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 16 | Ashe | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| | Gullikson | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Ramírez | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| | Moore | 6 | 6 | | | Moore | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lloyd | 6 | 3 | 6 | | Lloyd | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mottram | 1 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | Lloyd | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Ruffels | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | 8 | Ramírez | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Carter | 6 | 6 | | | Carter | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alexander | 6 | 6 | 3 | 8 | Ramírez | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Ramírez | 3 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Section 3

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 4 | Gerulaitis | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portes | 5 | 5 | | 4 | Gerulaitis | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amaya | 7 | 4 | 6 | | Amaya | 2 | 7 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Richey | 5 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | 4 | Gerulaitis | 6 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | |
| | Crealy | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | Pattison | 4 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | |
| | Martin | 7 | 5 | 0 | | Crealy | 7 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Okker | 6 | 6 | 3 | | Pattison | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pattison | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Gerulaitis | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Acuña | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Lutz | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| | Pfister | 6 | 6 | | | Pfister | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lewis | 0 | 1 | | | Lutz | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lutz | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Lutz | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| Q | Curren | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 13 | Clerc | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Collings | 4 | 1 | | Q | Curren | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cahill | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | Clerc | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Clerc | 7 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Section 4

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 10 | Mayer | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Genois | 7 | 6 | | | Genois | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Betancur | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Betancur | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Saviano | 7 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | Genois | 2 | 6 | | | | | |
| Q | Fagel | 7 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | Kriek | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| Q | Feigl | 6 | 0 | 2$^r$ | Q | Fagel | 2 | 7 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kriek | 7 | 7 | | | Kriek | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | DiLouie | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | Kriek | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| | Joubert | 5 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | Teacher | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| | Teacher | 7 | 6 | | | Teacher | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Manson | 4 | 7 | 6 | Q | Manson | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Turpin | 6 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | Teacher | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | |
| | Taróczy | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 5 | Dibbs | 2 | 7 | 3 | | | | |
| | Amaya | 2 | 2 | | | Taróczy | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fishbach | 6 | 2 | | 5 | Dibbs | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Dibbs | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Section 5

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 7 | Barazzutti | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Simpson | 0 | 4 | | 7 | Barazzutti | 5 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sadri | 6 | 6 | | | Sadri | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Benavides | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | Sadri | 2 | 6 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Warwick | 7 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | Dowdeswell | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Dowdeswell | 6 | 7 | 6 | | Dowdeswell | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Purcell | 5 | 0 | | Q | Waltke | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Waltke | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dowdeswell | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| | Šmid | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | McEnroe | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| | Giltinan | 6 | 3 | 0 | | Šmid | 7 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pasarell | 1 | 1 | | | Fleming | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fleming | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Fleming | 4 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | Fillol Sr. | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 15 | McEnroe | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Johansson | 1 | 7 | 4 | | Fillol Sr. | 4 | 7 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stewart | 6 | 4 | | 15 | McEnroe | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | McEnroe | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Section 6

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 14 | Fibak | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | González | 3 | 3 | 14 | Fibak | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amritraj | 6 | 1 | | Drysdale | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Drysdale | 7 | 6 | | | | | | 14 | Fibak | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Moretton | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | Walts | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| | Walts | 6 | 6 | | Walts | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Fisher | 6 | 6 | Q | Fisher | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Friedler | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | Walts | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| | Dowlen | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Vilas | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
| | Bengtson | 6 | 6 | | Bengtson | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Yuill | 6 | 4 | | Smith | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Smith | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | Smith | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Goven | 4 | 4 | | | | | | 3 | Vilas | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Scanlon | 6 | 6 | | Scanlon | 7 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Drysdale | 5 | 2 | 3 | Vilas | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Vilas | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Section 7

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 6 | Gottfried | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dent | 5 | 5 | | 6 | Gottfried | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Winitsky | 3 | 7 | 3 | | Van Dillen | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Van Dillen | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 6 | Gottfried | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Stockton | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Stockton | 3 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Amritraj | 3 | 7 | 4 | | Stockton | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Prinsloo | 6 | 6 | | | Prinsloo | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Garcia | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Gottfried | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Teltscher | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Tanner | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| | Halder | 1 | 0 | | | Teltscher | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Iskersky | 6 | 6 | | | Iskersky | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ycaza | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | Teltscher | 6 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Taygan | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | 11 | Tanner | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Pecci Sr. | 6 | 6 | | | Pecci Sr. | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Schneider | 1 | 4 | | 11 | Tanner | 6 | 4 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Tanner | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Section 8

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 9 | Orantes | 1$^r$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Panatta | 4 | | | | Panatta | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gorman | 6 | 6 | 4 | Q | Nichols | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Nichols | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | Panatta | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | Edmondson | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | Riessen | 6 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | |
| | James | 6 | 6 | | | James | 1 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Riessen | 3 | 6 | 7 | | Riessen | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Wilkison | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | Panatta | 6 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| | DuPré | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Connors | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| | Dibley | 4 | 4 | | | DuPré | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Freyss | 6 | 6 | | | Freyss | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dominguez | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | DuPré | 5 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Fillol | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | 2 | Connors | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Docherty | 6 | 6 | | | Docherty | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gullikson | 0 | 2 | | 2 | Connors | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Connors | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |