The 2025 US Open Tennis tournament offered a thrilling mix of experience and fresh talent. Rising stars like Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz lit up the courts, showcasing the future of the sport with impressive performances. At the same time, fans took moments to honor legends such as Serena Williams, whose retirement in 2022 marked the end of a legendary career. As tennis moves into this exciting new chapter, the US Open continues to stand as a symbol of excellence, growth and inspiration for generations to come. Today, let’s take a look at the history of the US Open and learn how this cherished tournament evolved over the years.
What matters isn’t how well you play when you’re playing well. What matters is how well you play when you’re playing badly.
Martina Navratilova, Former Czech-American tennis player
How The US Open Tennis Tournaments Started?
Are you wondering the US open started in which year? This thrilling championship started back in 1881. However, back then, it was known as the US National Championship, and the matches were only held for men’s singles and doubles. Women’s singles championships weren’t incorporated till 1889. For over 75 years, US National Championship matches have taken place in many different resorts, stadiums, and other locations all over the US.
The first tournament occurred in the Newport Casino in Rhode Island, while the one in 1968 took place in the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills. That same year, the competition was renamed US Open Tennis Championship, opening the door for all sorts of tennis players to play against one another. Suffice it to say, it was a revolutionary year for the tennis field. In 1978, the US Open settled in Flushing Meadows.
The History of the US Open Tennis
If you've ever sat on the edge of your seat during a US Open final, shouting at the TV or just holding your breath during a match point, you know this tournament isn’t just about tennis. It’s about moments, history, change and a long road from where it all began! Let’s rewind to 1881. Tennis was a much quieter affair then! The first version of what we now call the US Open took place in Newport, Rhode Island, on grassy courts, with just men allowed to play.
It was called the US National Championship. Players had to be members of exclusive clubs to enter and matches were more of a social event than a global sports showdown. Richard Sears was the first name to make a mark, winning seven years in a row! Women weren’t even part of the event until six years later, in 1887, but even then, the spotlight wasn’t exactly on them. Ellen Hansell won the first women’s singles title, but it would take many more decades for women to get equal footing in terms of pay and recognition.
As the years passed and the world changed through world wars, social shifts and the rise of radio and television, the tournament slowly grew bigger. By the 1920s, a player named Bill Tilden helped bring tennis to the public eye.
He wasn’t just winning, he was making headlines and drawing big crowds. Back then, tennis still had this country-club vibe, but it was starting to break out into something bigger. In 1924, the US tournament officially became one of the four Grand Slam events, joining Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open. Even then, professionals weren’t allowed. Only amateurs could compete! That meant some of the best players in the world were left watching from the sidelines.
1968 Changed Everything
Fast forward to 1968: a huge turning point in the history of US open tennis. That year, the tournament opened up to everyone: amateurs, pros and anyone good enough to make the cut.
They also gave it a new name: the US Open! That first year of the "open era", Arthur Ashe won the men’s title and became a symbol of change. Ashe was the first Black man to win the US Open and he did it as an amateur, against professional tennis players.
A New Home in New York
By 1978, the event had moved from its old venue in Forest Hills to a new place in Queens: Flushing Meadows. That’s where it still happens today! The courts changed from grass to clay, and finally to the hard DecoTurf surface we see now. The hard court is made for fast paced matches, making it perfect for big hitters and long rallies. That move also made the US Open feel more accessible. Forest Hills had charm, sure, but Flushing Meadows gave the event room to grow. It wasn’t just a tournament anymore, as it was becoming a full-on New York experience. Fans packed the stands, celebrities showed up and night matches under the lights turned into a signature part of the event!
One of the biggest moments came in 1973 when Billie Jean King pushed hard for equal prize money for men and women. She boycotted the tournament and it worked! That year, the US Open became the first Grand Slam to pay men and women equally. It was a massive win for women’s sports!
From then on, the US Open kept pushing forward. Chris Evert won six titles, Pete Sampras dominated in the ‘90s, Roger Federer had a five-year streak in the 2000s and Serena Williams became the face of modern tennis with six US Open titles. Her first title was in 1999 when she was just 17 years old! Her impact on the sport stretched far beyond the court. In the past decade, the US Open has turned into a true global event. People tune in from every corner of the world...
The stadiums have gotten bigger, the prize money higher and the technology more advanced! Players now challenge line calls with instant video replay. Rain delays? Not a problem anymore. The Arthur Ashe Stadium has a retractable roof! The 2025 tournament was no exception. Young stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff brought brand new energy. Fans cheered for the future while also tipping their hats to legends like Serena Williams, who retired just a few years earlier. From a quiet lawn in Rhode Island to a global stage in Queens, the US Open has seen it all! The game has changed, but the heart of it is still the same.
How Much Do US Open Tennis Players Get Paid?
The US Open Tennis Tournament has been reported to have one of the largest payouts in all US sports industries, so you can imagine that the prize money for each tournament must be worth another level. In 2020, event organizers revealed that the total US Open prize money and player compensation reached over $53 million. Despite the pandemic, winners of the tournament were rewarded the highest of this amount, which reached up to $3 million. This purse has been growing all the way from the start of the championship itself.
This payout is for the men's and women's singles winners.
Back in 1900, a winner’s share was approximately $200. This share grew to $4000 by 1950 and $800,000 by 2000. This rapid increase shows how the US Open Tournament’s success has grown over the years and why it sets a foundation for tennis fans and players everywhere. As with many competitions, the further a player reaches in the tournament, the higher the prize money they play for. Serena Williams stands today as the highest-paid woman in tennis history. This level of status in a sports competition takes years of practice and dedication. If you want to pave your future as a tennis pro, check out Superprof. They offer hundreds of tennis coaches ready to polish your skills from any skill level.
1900
$200
1950
$4,000
2000
$800,000
2025
$3.6 million
Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships
The US Open was the first-ever Grand Slam event that allowed men and women to participate based on equal prize money. This was all thanks to the revolutionary works of the Women’s Tennis Association and its founder Billie Jean King, who claimed to prohibit the tournament if the prize money for men’s and women’s championships weren’t equal. As a result, 1973 saw the dawn of a new age of tennis players as the winners of that year’s tournament, Margaret Court and John Newcombe, took home an equal sum of $25,000. Here's a YouTube video on the finals in 1973, featuring John Newcombe vs. Jan Kodes!
With the new groundwork for tennis laid, the US Open tournaments branched out to new court surfaces, including grass and clay, before they permanently settled on the DecoTurf. With such diversity in US Open tennis, nothing is stopping you from building your skills to a tournament standard. Tennis has become a leading example of gender pay equity in sports. In 2025, Grand Slams continue this tradition, with women’s matches drawing record-breaking viewership and media deals.
US Open Tennis Tournament Champions
Perhaps one of the most iconic names in tennis history, Athea Gibson laid the foundation for champions to come. In 1950, she stood as the first African-American to participate in the US National Championships. In later years, she rose as the first black player to win a US Open singles match, along with numerous other competitions. Today, she holds 11 Grand Slam titles to her name and has been honored with a statue outside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Since she entered the US Open Tennis Tournament, many aspiring players have won single and double matches.
Let’s look at the winners for men's singles and women’s winners throughout the 2000s:
| # | Year | Winner of Singles for Women’s Tournament | Winner of Singles for Men’s Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001 | Venus Williams | Leyton Hewitt |
| 2 | 2002 | Serena Williams | Pete Sampras |
| 3 | 2003 | Justine Henin | Andy Roddick |
| 4 | 2004 | Svetlana Kuznetsova | Roger Federer |
| 5 | 2005 | Kim Clijsters | Roger Federer |
| 6 | 2006 | Mariya Sharapova | Roger Federer |
| 7 | 2007 | Justine Henin | Roger Federer |
| 8 | 2008 | Serena Williams | Roger Federer |
| 9 | 2009 | Kim Clijsters | Juan Martin Del Potro |
| 10 | 2010 | Kim Clijsters | Rafael Nadal |
| 11 | 2011 | Samantha Stosur | Novak Djokovic |
| 12 | 2012 | Serena Williams | Andy Murray |
| 13 | 2013 | Serena Williams | Rafael Nadal |
| 14 | 2014 | Serena Williams | Marin Cilic |
| 15 | 2015 | Flavia Pennetta | Novak Djokovic |
| 16 | 2016 | Angelique Kerber | Stan Wavrinka |
| 17 | 2017 | Sloane Stephens | Rafael Nadal |
| 18 | 2018 | Naomi Osaka | Novak Djokovic |
| 19 | 2019 | Bianca Adreenscu | Rafael Nadal |
| 20 | 2020 | Naomi Osaka | Dominic Thiem |
| 21 | 2021 | Emma Raducanu | Daniil Medvedev |
| 22 | 2022 | Iga Świątek | Carlos Alcaraz |
| 23 | 2023 | Coco Gauff | Novak Djokovic |
| 24 | 2024 | Aryna Sabalenka | Jannik Sinner |
| 25 | 2025 | TBD | TBD |
How Many Tennis Competitions Are There?
Of course, as one of the most innovative sports out there, tennis is played far beyond the reach of the US Open. From France to Italy, the US Open tennis tournaments are conducted in various parts of the world. In fact, the first Grand Slam event, the Australian Open, has been one of the most popular sporting events in the Southern Hemisphere since 1905. Additionally, we have the Masters Championships, such as the Shanghai Masters in Asia, Monte Carlo Masters and Canada Masters.
The United States hosts around 15 major professional tennis tournaments annually, including the US Open and several ATP/WTA events. In addition, hundreds of USTA-sanctioned tournaments, numerous collegiate, high school and community competitions take place across the country each year!
How Can Superprof Help You Discover the World of Tennis?
The US Open shows how far tennis has come as a respected, celebrated sport worldwide. Even today, millions of enthusiasts are testing their opponents across the net in their backyard, hoping to see themselves as pro players one day.
What better opponent than the one you can learn from? Superprof provides hundreds of tennis trainers who can test your skills professionally and give you excellent tips to score higher. If you practice enough, you just might be eligible for the US Open. Sign up for a professional tennis lesson at Superprof today!
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