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. It was his first major singles title, and Ashe became the first African-American man to win a major. This 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.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Arthur Ashe is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

Draw

Key

Final eight

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

Section 8

Effects of Ashe's Victory

Arthur Ashe's victory took the public by storm. Telegrams from fans, politicians, and celebrities began to flood in. One celebrity who celebrated the importance of Ashe's victory was Jackie Robinson. He stated that this victory would "bridge the gap between races and inspire black people the world over and also affect the decency of all Americans". Ashe's victory was a sign that Blacks could excel anywhere, even in places flooded with racial prejudice. This is proven with the steady fight for Black rights in years to come.