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 | |
|---|---|
| Date | September 2–9 |
| Edition | 60th |
| Category | Grand Slam (ITF) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Location | Forest Hills, Queens New York City, United States |
| Venue | West Side Tennis Club |
| Champions | |
| Men's singles | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Donald McNeill | |
| Women's singles | |
| Alice Marble | |
| Men's doubles | |
| Jack Kramer / Ted Schroeder | |
| Women's doubles | |
| Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Alice Marble | |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Alice Marble / Bobby Riggs | |
Finals
Men's singles
Donald McNeill defeated Bobby Riggs 4–6, 6–8, 6–3, 6–3, 7–5
Women's singles
Alice Marble defeated Helen Jacobs 6–2, 6–3
Men's doubles
Jack Kramer / Ted Schroeder defeated 
Gardnar Mulloy / Henry Prusoff 6–4, 8–6, 9–7 [3]
Women's doubles
Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Alice Marble defeated Dorothy Bundy / Marjorie Gladman Van Ryn 6–4, 6–4 [4]
Mixed doubles
Alice Marble / Bobby Riggs defeated Dorothy Bundy / Jack Kramer 9–7, 6–1 [5]
References
- Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 67–68. ISBN 978-0942257700.
- American Lawn Tennis, September 20, 1940
- Collins, p. 477
- Collins, p. 480
- Collins, p. 482