Arthur Ashe Wins US Open Tennis Tournament in 1968 over Tom Okker

Arthur Ashe Wins US Open September 9, 1968 Forest Hills, New York Arthur Ashe won his first U.S. Open men's singles crown, defeating Tom Okker of the Netherlands 14-12, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the final. The 25-year-old Ashe, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, played as an amateur and was ineligible to receive the $14,000 first prize in the $100,000 event - the richest tournament in tennis history. Ashe, a resident of Richmond, Va. collected $280 in expenses, at $20 per diem for 14 days, including two days of practice.