Arthur Ashe defeated Tom Okker in the final, 14–12, 5–7, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1968 U.S. Open. Ashe became the first African-American man to win a major. It was the first edition of the tournament open to professional players, a period in tennis history known as the Open Era. John Newcombe was the defending champion, but lost in the quarterfinals to Clark Graebner.