Patrick Rafter defeated Greg Rusedski in the final, 6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1997 US Open.

It was his first major singles title.

Rafter was the first Australian to win the title since John Newcombe in 1973.

[1] It was Rusedski's first major final, which he dedicated to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died a week earlier.

Pete Sampras was the two-time defending champion, but lost in the fourth round to Petr Korda.