1940 U.S. National Championships (tennis)

The 1940 U.S. National Championships (now known as the US Open) was a tennis tournament that took place on the outdoor grass courts at the West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills in New York City, United States. The tournament ran from September 2 until September 9, 1940. It was the 60th staging of the U.S. National Championships and the second Grand Slam tennis event of the year because of the cancellation of Wimbledon and the French Championships due to World War II.[1] Don McNeill capped an outstanding season with his win over Bobby Riggs in the finals of the men's singles. Earlier in the year McNeill won the U.S. Men's Intercollegiate Singles Championships for Kenyon College, defeating Joe Hunt of Navy. A dramatic moment occurred in this 1940 National Championships during the men's singles quarter-final match between 1943 national champion, Joe Hunt and third seeded Frank Kovacs. Kovacs had the reputation as a court clown, and early in the third set, Kovacs' antics with the gallery compelled Hunt to sit down on the baseline and refuse to play until the umpire stopped the disturbance. Hunt ignored several of Kovacs' serves, allowing them to harmlessly fly by. In short order, Kovacs also sat on his baseline and Forest Hills experienced what was called "tennis' first sit-down strike." About five minutes went by with the crowd alternately cheering and jeering. When order was restored, Hunt went on to win the match in straight sets.[2]

1940 U.S. National Championships
DateSeptember 2–9
Edition60th
CategoryGrand Slam (ITF)
SurfaceGrass
LocationForest Hills, Queens
New York City, United States
VenueWest Side Tennis Club
Champions
Men's singles
United States Donald McNeill
Women's singles
United States Alice Marble
Men's doubles
United States Jack Kramer / United States Ted Schroeder
Women's doubles
United States Sarah Palfrey Cooke / United States Alice Marble
Mixed doubles
United States Alice Marble / United States Bobby Riggs
← 1939 · U.S. National Championships · 1941 →

Finals

edit

Men's singles

edit

  Donald McNeill defeated   Bobby Riggs 4–6, 6–8, 6–3, 6–3, 7–5

Women's singles

edit

  Alice Marble defeated   Helen Jacobs 6–2, 6–3

Men's doubles

edit

  Jack Kramer /   Ted Schroeder defeated   Gardnar Mulloy /   Henry Prusoff 6–4, 8–6, 9–7 [3]

Women's doubles

edit

  Sarah Palfrey Cooke /   Alice Marble defeated   Dorothy Bundy /   Marjorie Gladman Van Ryn 6–4, 6–4 [4]

Mixed doubles

edit

  Alice Marble /   Bobby Riggs defeated   Dorothy Bundy /   Jack Kramer 9–7, 6–1 [5]

References

edit
  1. ^ Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 67–68. ISBN 978-0942257700.
  2. ^ American Lawn Tennis, September 20, 1940
  3. ^ Collins, p. 477
  4. ^ Collins, p. 480
  5. ^ Collins, p. 482
edit
Preceded by Grand Slams Succeeded by