René Lacoste won his first US Open singles title in 1926. The tournament was then officially called the U.S. National Championships and was played on outdoor grass courts at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York.
Lacoste defeated fellow Frenchman Jean Borotra in the final, winning 6–4, 6–0, 6–4. The victory made him the first Frenchman to win the American championship and added a third major title to his record, after his earlier French Championships triumphs.
The name “US Open” can cause a small historical mix-up: the tournament adopted its modern name in 1968, when professional players were admitted. Earlier champions, including Lacoste, won the same event under its U.S. National Championships title.
Lacoste successfully defended the crown in 1927, beating six-time defending champion Bill Tilden in the final. He finished his career with seven major singles titles and became one of France’s celebrated “Four Musketeers.”