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The US Open: It’s a Hard Court Life

On By Teresa Merklin

Throughout the history of the US Open tennis championships, the tournament was traditionally conducted on grass courts. That all changed in 1975 when the court surface was switched over to clay. Three years later, the event changed once again to a hard court surface. The original transition from grass to clay was prompted by player complaints about uneven and soft grass courts previously used for the tournament. The subsequent change to hard court was most likely driven by economics.

Who is the Only Woman to Win the US Open on Clay?

On By Teresa Merklin

In anticipation of the start of the 2021 US Open on Monday, I am continuing to explore trivia related to the court surfaces historically used by the tournament. Yesterday we identified the only man to win the singles championship on all three US Open surfaces: grass, clay, and hard. Today’s question is to name the only woman who won the US Open during the three years when the tournament was played on clay.

Who was the Only Player to Win the US Open on Three Different Court Surfaces?

On By Teresa Merklin

Throughout the years, the US Open has been played on grass, clay, and hard court surfaces. Only one player has won the title on all three. It is a record that will never be tied or beaten. It is doubtful that the US Open will ever be contested in the future on any surface other than hardcourt. Even if the USTA decided to make a change, it is doubtful that they would do it twice and on short order.

1973: The US Open Becomes First Major to Offer Equal Prize Money

On By Teresa Merklin

The USTA frequently heralds the fact that they were the first Grand Slam tennis tournament to offer equal prize money for the men and the women. Fun fact: That claim isn’t exactly true. While the US Open was undeniably the first major to award equal prize money, it really wasn’t the initiative of the USLTA that caused it to happen. Instead, it was an object lesson in organizational leadership from Billie Jean King and Gladys Heldman.

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1971: Billie Jean King Wins $100,000

On By Teresa Merklin

In 1971 Billie Jean King was the first woman to win $100,000 playing professional sports in a single year. It was a goal that she had personally set and announced. Talking about money openly was a calculated strategy intended to draw attention to the women’s tour. It gave the media a story to follow and was great publicity. When Billie Jean King cleared the mark by defeating Rosie Casals at the last Virginia Slims tournament, it was a defining moment for women’s professional sports. Legitimacy had arrived.

1968 US Open: Prize Money Distribution

On By Teresa Merklin

The total prize purse for the first U.S. Open tennis tournament in 1968 was $100,000. Thus started a tradition of USLTA one-upmanship of offering more prize money than any of the other Grand Slam events. Leading into the tournament in 1968, the pressing public question was the source of the funds to be awarded. In retrospect, the distribution of prize money was more culturally and socioeconomically significant. It established the precedent for how money would be allocated between the men and women in the Open Era.

Signs of the Times: Get Out and Play

On By Teresa Merklin

The July Challenge of the USTA Tennis Champions initiative was to put up yard signs to promote tennis participation. I am concentrating my efforts in my childhood hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas. It isn’t my permanent residence, but recently I have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time here. Once upon a time, Wichita Falls was a tennis hotbed with an abundance of courts. Unfortunately, one of the tennis centers is currently shuttered due to lack of public interest. It’s a modern tennis tragedy.

Trivia Time: What Year was the US Open First Conducted?

On By Teresa Merklin

Here is a great trivia question to spark conversation and, more importantly – potentially win a bar bet. If you ask a person what year the US Open tennis tournament was first held, they are likely to come up with a date in the 1880s. It is a trick question. The US Open wasn’t played until the start of the Open Era, which was 1968. Before that year, the US Open wasn’t “Open.” That may prompt the question of what came before.

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

On By Teresa Merklin

The US Open is played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Throughout her playing career, Billie Jean King was in frequent conflict with the USLTA (later USTA) and one of its most outspoken and colorful critics. As an organization, the USTA has a long history of an extremely insular culture that ostracizes dissenters. That makes the decision to say “Thank You” to Billie Jean by naming the National Tennis Center in her honor all the more momentous. That recognition of her enormous contributions to the sport was an act that was entirely out of character for the USTA.

Serena’s Apology

On By Teresa Merklin

Following her loss to Naomi Osaka in the 2018 US Open Finals, Serena Williams had a lot of soul searching to do. The emotional processing following that match included her own behavior, the code violations, and ultimately the reactions of the fans. In Serena’s own words, “Finally I realized that there was only one way for me to move forward. It was time for me to apologize to the person who deserved it the most.”