1915 U.S. National Championships (tennis)

1915 U.S. National Championships
Date	31 August – 8 September (M) 8 June – 13 June (W)
Edition	35th
Category	Grand Slam
Surface	Grass
Location	Forest Hills, Queens New York, USA
Venue	West Side Tennis Club
Champions
Men's Singles
William Johnston [1]
Women's Singles
Molla Bjurstedt [1]
Men's Doubles
William Johnston / Clarence Griffin [2]
Women's Doubles
Hazel Wightman / Eleonora Sears [3]
Mixed Doubles
Hazel Wightman / Harry Johnson [4]

The 1915 U.S. National Championships (now known as the US Open) took place on the outdoor grass courts at the West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills in New York, USA. The men's singles tournament ran from 31 August until 8 September while the women's singles and doubles championship took place from 7 June to 12 June at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill. It was the 35th staging of the U.S. National Championships, the first held at Forest Hills and the fourth Grand Slam tennis event of the year.^[5][6]

Relocation to Forrest Hills

In 1915 the national championship was relocated from Newport, Rhode Island to the West Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills, New York. Already in 1911 an effort was made by a group of tennis players, headed by Karl H. Behr from New York, to relocate the tournament to New York but by a vote of 95 to 60 it was decided to remain in Newport.^[7] In early 1915 the issue resurfaced when a group of about 100 tennis players signed a petition in favor of the move, arguing that most tennis clubs, players and fans were located in the New York area and that it would therefore be beneficial for the development of the sport to host the national championship there.^[8] This view was opposed by another group of players which included eight former national singles champions.^[9][10] The contentious issue was brought to a vote at the annual United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) meeting on Feb 5, 1915 and with 128 votes in favor and 119 against it was decided to relocate to Forrest Hills.^[11][12][13]

Champions

Men's Singles

William Johnston defeated Maurice McLoughlin 1–6, 6–0, 7–5, 10–8

Women's Singles

Molla Bjurstedt defeated Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman 4–6, 6–2, 6–0

Men's doubles

William Johnston / Clarence Griffin defeated Maurice McLoughlin / Tom Bundy 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3

Women's doubles

Hazel Wightman / Eleonora Sears defeated Helen Homans McLean / G. L. Chapman 10–8, 6–2

Mixed doubles

Hazel Wightman / Harry Johnson defeated Molla Bjurstedt / Irving Wright 6–0, 6–1

References

1. Bud Collins (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 454–483. ISBN 978-0942257700.
2. Collins, p. 477
3. Collins, p. 479
4. Collins, p. 481
5. "Courts Ready for Tennis Title Play" (PDF). The New York Times. August 30, 1915. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
6. "First National Tennis Here" (PDF). The New York Times. August 15, 1915.
7. "Tennis Tournament at Newport Again" (PDF). The New York Times. February 4, 1911. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
8. "Newport May Lose Tennis Tourney" (PDF). The New York Times. January 17, 1915. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
9. "Want Newport for Tennis Tourney" (PDF). The New York Times. January 18, 1915. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
10. "A Tennis "Solar Plexus`"" (PDF). The New York Times. January 23, 1915. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
11. "Tourney Goes to New York". Boston Evening Transcript. Feb 6, 1915. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
12. "'All-Comers' Tourney to be Restricted" (PDF). The New York Times. February 7, 1915. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
13. "Newport Loses Tennis Tourney" (PDF). The New York Times. February 6, 1915. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

External links

• Official US Open website