Jimmy Connors defeated Ken Rosewall in the final, 6–1, 6–0, 6–1 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1974 US Open.

The final set the record for the shortest ever major men's singles final, both in number of games and duration, lasting only 1 hour and 18 minutes and 20 games.

Rosewall remains the oldest major men's singles finalist, aged 39 years, 10 months and 6 days.

Connors was the first player to win three majors in a season since Rod Laver in 1969; he was banned from the fourth, the French Open, due to his being a member of World Team Tennis.

John Newcombe was the defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to Rosewall.