Sept. 24, 1938

Having previously won Wimbledon and the French and Australian titles, Don Budge needs only to win the U.S. Nationals to become the first player to capture the Grand Slam. Six days of rain force the final back to today, but neither the wait nor his doubles partner can prevent the 23-year-old redhead from making history.

On the grass at Forest Hills, N.Y., before a less than capacity crowd of 12,000, defending champion Budge beats Gene Mako in the first set 6-3 before losing the next set 8-6, the only set he loses in the tournament. But then he cruises 6-2, 6-1 in the final two sets to gain the Slam.

This is the closest of Budge's four Slam finals as he won the first three in straight sets. The Californian also won the doubles title at Forest Hills with Mako as his partner.