The inaugural U.S. National Championship was a tennis tournament that took place in August 1881 at the Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island. For the first and only time, only clubs that were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter the tournament. A Men's Singles competition and a Men's Doubles competition were played, and Richard Sears became the first men's singles U.S. National Tennis Champion. US Open 1881: August 31 – September 3, 1881 at Newport Casino. Men's singles: Richard D. Sears. Wiki link