The history of the United States Lawn Tennis Championships (better known as the US Open) is very rich and dates to the 19th Century.  In the history of the event up until 1962 no Mexican had ever won a title in either the Singles or Men’s doubles, however over the next two years, the history books would become re-written by a little known Mexican youth table tennis Champion named Rafael Osuna.  Nicknamed "El Pelón" (The Bald), Osuna was a former world No. 1 tennis player, the most successful player in the history of Mexico and an Olympian. He was born in Mexico City, and is best remembered for his singles victory at the U.S. Open Championships in 1963, winning the 1960 and 1963 Wimbledon Doubles championships, the 1962 U.S. Open Championships doubles, and for leading Mexico to its only Davis Cup Final round appearance in 1962.  In 1969 at age 30, Osuna died in a plane crash tragically.  Several years after Osuna’s victories, during the 1969 US Open Championships at Forest Hills, two months after his death, the US Open Committee declared 28 August to be Rafael Osuna Day, honoring the memory of the former champion. This was the first time the tournament had honored a tennis player in this manner. 

The 1962 U.S. National Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills in New York, United States. The tournament ran from 29 August until 10 September. It was the 82nd staging of the U.S. National Championships, and the fourth Grand Slam tennis event of 1962.  The final of the Men’s Doubles featured a rematch of the 1961 US Open Doubles Final where the great Mexican Team of Osuna and Palafox fell the American Team of Ralston and Chuck McKinley in four sets.  After a gritty five set thriller that went back and forth, Osuna and Palafox ended up defeating the American team and became the only Mexican tennis players ever to win the US Open doubles title. Their doubles combination also helped Mexico to the Davis Cup final in 1962, but they were beaten by one of the greatest Australian line-ups of all-time, spearheaded by Rod Laver.

The offered sterling silver trophy is manufactured by Gorham Sterling and measures 10” in diameter and stands 5” tall.  Engraved on the bowl of the trophy it reads, “United States Lawn Tennis Association, Men’s Doubles Championship, 1962, Winners.”  The trophy is the one awarded to Rafael Osuna for his first US Open Championship in 1962.  It comes directly from Mexico and was purchased by our consigner from a member of Osuna’s family. 

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