Bill Tabert, the Tournament Director, announced that night matches might be scheduled, introducing the concept of the famous night sessions. Additionally, men’s matches were to be played in the best-of-three sets format until the round of 16 to avoid schedule disruptions.
The place: The West Side Tennis Club
The US Open, known as the US Nationals before 1968, has been played annually since 1881 but changed locations several times in the 20th century. It moved to the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York, in 1915.
The facts: The US Open as a trend-setter
In 1970, Bill Talbert introduced the tiebreak in a Major tournament and in 1973, the US Open became the first Grand Slam event to offer equal prize money to men and women. In 1975, the switch from grass to green clay courts was implemented, along with the introduction of night matches.
“It will take a complete player to win the Open this year,” said Talbert in June 1975, unveiling the new courts as reported by The New York Times.
Matches on clay were expected to last longer, leading to the decision to use the best-of-three sets format for men’s matches until the fourth round. The introduction of night matches aimed to make the sport more accessible to a broader audience.
What next? US Open continues to innovate in the decades to come
Manuel Orantes won the men’s title in 1975, defeating Jimmy Connors in the final. Chris Evert claimed the women’s title by defeating Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
The US Open would continue to innovate, establishing various changes over the years to enhance the tournament experience for players and fans alike.
