Throughout the 140 years of US Open play, only 11 campaigns have featured five-set matches in the women’s singles event.
This format was first introduced in 1891 for the ‘challenge round’ – the final round of US Open events in which the victor of the main event would contest a winner-takes-all contest against the defending champion.
Mabel Cahill, from Great Britain, won the first-ever five-set match at the US Open, beating defending champion Ellen Roosevelt 6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 in the 1891 Challenge Round.
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In 1894, the five-set format was also implemented for the penultimate round.
The five-set format continued for six more years before being removed.
Elisabeth Moore won the last five-set match of the US Open Women’s Singles event
Moore, born in Brooklyn, New York, comfortably advanced to the 1901 championship round after beating Carrie Neely and Juliette Atkinson in straight sets.
She then fought past Marion Jones in five sets, winning 4-6, 1-6, 9-7, 9-7, 6-3.
By beating Jones, Moore set up a clash with Myrtle McAteer in the challenge round final.
Moore again emerged victorious in five sets, triumphing 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 on the outdoor grass courts of the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
The American would go on to win four US Open titles; the last being in 1905.
Elisabeth Moore’s US Open singles titles
- 1896: defeated Juliette Atkinson in the final, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 6–2
- 1901: defeated Myrtle McAteer in the final, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
- 1903: defeated Marion Jones in the final, 7-5, 8-6
- 1905: defeated Helen Homans 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
She also won two US Open Mixed Doubles titles: in 1902 and 1904.
Moore, who passed away in 1959 at the age of 82, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971.
Elisabeth Moore disagreed with switching to best-of-three sets
“I do not think any such change should be made without first canvassing the wishes of the women players,” Moore said of the switch from five to three sets at the US Open in the book Past and Promise: Lives of New Jersey Women – as relayed by the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
“Lawn tennis is a game not alone of skill but of endurance as well.
Would people watch more or less tennis if the best-of-five format was scrapped?
“And I fail to see why such a radical change should be made to satisfy a few players who do not take the time or have the inclination to get themselves in proper condition for playing.”
Past and Promise: Lives of New Jersey Women was published in 1990.
