In the 129-year history of the U.S. Open, the event has been played on three different court surfaces. From its inception in 1881 until 1974, the tournament was played on grass. In 1975, the U.S. Open switched from green lawn to green clay (Har-Tru) after mounting player complaints about the ball’s bounce at Forest Hills. The clay-court run was short-lived, however. Just three years later, the U.S. Open moved from the West Side Tennis Club in Queens to the USTA’s National Tennis Center in nearby Flushing, N.Y. The brand new facility was built with hard courts (DecoTurf II), and the U.S. Open has been played on them ever since.
Changing Courts: The U.S. Open’s Many Surfaces
By Aug 24, 2010Facts & Stats
The most accomplished active men’s tennis players seeking their first major title in 2025
By Dec 11, 20242024 Year in Review
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina's Madrid epic, and more top WTA 1000 matches of 2024
By Dec 11, 2024The Business of Tennis
Transgender women barred from competing in female category of many UK domestic tennis tournaments
By Dec 11, 2024The Business of Tennis
The US Open's first female tournament director, Stacey Allaster, will step down in 2025
By Dec 11, 2024Inside-In Podcast
One-time US Open sensation Melanie Oudin is still making her mark on American tennis
By Dec 11, 2024Style Points
How Taylor Swift, Maria Sharapova, Morgan Riddle and more aced courtside style in 2024
By Dec 11, 2024Style Points
From big bows to bold prints, who wore on-court fashion best in the 2024 tennis season?
By Dec 10, 2024Facts & Stats
The most accomplished active women’s tennis players seeking their first major title in 2025
By Dec 10, 2024Social
James Blake, Brandon Nakashima star at San Diego fundraiser to benefit coach Tom Svajda
By Dec 10, 2024Changing Courts: The U.S. Open’s Many Surfaces
Published Aug 24, 2010