Arthur Ashe’s historic five -set 1968 US Open Win was just the start of his tennis marathon – World Tennis Magazine

By Randy Walker

@TenniisPublisher

On September 9, 1968, Arthur Ashe wrote history as the first winner of the US Open as an event that is open to both professionals and amateurs. He was also the first black man to win the national title of the United States.

As documented in the book “On this day in tennis history,”Ashe’s final round victory was a five-set struggle with Tom Okker that he won with a 14-12, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 40 minutes.

Although many imagine that Ashe enjoyed the historical victory and enjoyed a fun party dinner with family and friends, they would be wrong. He went back to the field and played much more tennis.

Ashe’s last round match against Okker started at 3 p.m. on Monday, September 9, the tournament was postponed by the weather. After his victory and after he had received the trophy and had a moving hug from his father, Ashe had to return to court shortly thereafter to complete a semi -final Doubles match. He and partner Andres Gimeno were tied up with Clark Graebner and Charlie Pasarell on 4-4 in the fourth set, Graebner and Pasarell led two sets to one, when their game was suspended due to darkness the night before. However, the game was unable to come to a conclusion, because it was suspended again because of the darkness at 12-12 in the fourth set.

The game resumed again at 10.30 am on Tuesday morning, the day after Ashe’s Historical Singles had won, and he and Gimeno were able to collect Graebner and Pasarell with a 6-4, 3-6, 14-16, 20-18, 15-13. After another short break, Ashe and Gimeno returned to the court – again – and against Stan Smith and Bob Lutz against the double final. The match ended just after 2.30 pm with Smith and Lutz who won a relatively simple competition 11-9, 6-1, 7-5.

“They finally received a Weary Arthur Ashe Jr. for the center of the West side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens, yesterday at 2:33 pm,” wrote the New York Times of the Eind Odyssey van Ashe, “in less than 24 hours he had played a total of 162 games.