Ashe was first African-American male to win a Slam
By Bob Carter
Signature Match
Sept. 9, 1968 - It was the first U.S. Open, the first time pros were eligible to compete in the most prestigious tournament in this country. The top four seeds were all Australian pros. But in a surprise, American amateur Arthur Ashe won the tournament, becoming the first African-American male to capture a Grand Slam event with his 14-12, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over eighth-seeded Tom Okker of the Netherlands.
"The triumph [is] the most notable achievement made in the sport by a Negro male athlete," Dave Anderson wrote in The New York Times.
It took the fifth-seeded Ashe, who served 26 aces, two hours and 40 minutes to win in a half-filled Forest Hills Stadium.
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