The 1940 U.S. National Championships (now known as the US Open) was a tennis tournament that took place on the outdoor grass courts at the West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills in New York City, United States.

[1] Don McNeill capped an outstanding season with his win over Bobby Riggs in the finals of the men's singles.

Earlier in the year McNeill won the U.S. Men's Intercollegiate Singles Championships for Kenyon College, defeating Joe Hunt of Navy.

Kovacs had the reputation as a court clown, and early in the third set, Kovacs' antics with the gallery compelled Hunt to sit down on the baseline and refuse to play until the umpire stopped the disturbance.

In short order, Kovacs also sat on his baseline and Forest Hills experienced what was called "tennis' first sit-down strike."