The U.S. Open Championships for tennis are held annually at the end of August, making the event the last Grand Slam of each year.
The U.S. Open originates from two separate tournaments, the men's tournament and the women's tournament. The U. S. National Men's Singles Championship was first held in 1881 at Newport, R. I. The men's singles championship was soon accompanied by the U. S. National Men's Doubles Championship in 1900. On the other hand, the U. S. National Women's Singles Championships were first held in 1887 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, which was joined by the doubles in 1889. The first Mixed Doubles Championship was held alongside the Women's Singles and Doubles.
The two tournaments, which include five championships, were combined in 1968, and became the US Open. Until 1978, the US Open Championships were held at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. The matches now take place at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. The surfaces of all courts are hard, so the US Open always provides tennis at a very high speed.
The total of all prize money adds up to 16 million dollars.
Also see: List of US Open champions, List of tennis players
