Richard Sears won the first-ever US Open Men’s Singles event in 1881.
Since then, there have been another 21 US champions in the Men’s Singles event.
The most recent American champion was Andy Roddick, who beat Juan Carlos Ferrero to win the 2003 title.
Vic Seixas Jr., an icon of American tennis, made his first appearance in a US Open singles final in 1951.
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He was beaten by Australia’s Frank Sedgman.
Three years later, Seixas claimed his one and only US Open singles title.
Seixas went on to set an all-time tennis record at the US Open.
Vic Seixas Jr. played in 28 US Open events
Seixas, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, made his debut at the US Open in 1940.
The American reached the third round, before losing to compatriot Frank Kovacs.
Seixas went on to compete in a record-setting 28 US Open events – the last being in 1969.
That year, Seixas was beaten in the first round by Australia’s Ray Keldie, 6-3, 9-7, 7-5.
The talented American won 15 Grand Slam titles during his career, including 13 in men’s doubles and mixed doubles events.
Seixas’ two Grand Slam singles titles were won at the 1953 Wimbledon Championships and 1954 US Open.
| Player | US Open events played | Years |
| Vic Seixas Jr. | 28 | 1940-42, ‘44, ‘46-69 |
| Sidney B. Wood Jr. | 26 | 1927-28, ‘30-49, ‘51-54, ‘56 |
| Francis X. Shields | 23 | 1926-35, ‘38-41, ‘45, ‘47-54 |
| Watson Washburn | 23 | 1910-17, ‘20-24, ‘26-30, ‘33-37 |
| Wallace F. Johnson | 23 | 1904-16, ‘19-28 |
| Nathaniel W. Niles | 23 | 1904-26 |
| Open Era | ||
| Jimmy Connors | 22 | 1970-89, ’91-92 |
| Andre Agassi | 21 | 1986-2006 |
| Feliciano Lopez | 20 | 2002-21 |
Seixas retired from his playing career in 1970 – a year after making his final US Open appearance.
Vic Seixas’ 1954 US Open win
Seeded second at the 1954 US Open, Seixas came into the event as one of the favourites for the title.
Seixas began his campaign in emphatic fashion, beating Spencer Brent 6-1, 6-0, 6-1.
He then knocked out Jon Douglas, Roger Becker and 12th seed Neale Fraser.
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Seixas continued his march towards the title with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over compatriot Tom Brown.
The American then booked his place in the final with a hard-fought four-set win against Ham Richardson.
Seixas secured the title days later, beating eighth-seeded Australian Rex Hartwig 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
