POINT OF FACT
? Who was the first foreign player to win the U.S. men's title?
•Hugh L. Doherty of England, who beat the defending champion, William A. Larned, 6-0, 6-3, 10-8, in the finals in 1903. (Since then, seven Australians, two Frenchmen, one Englishman and one Mexican have won the tournament.)
? What four foreign players have won the women's title?
•Betty Nuthall of England, Anita Lizana of Chile, Margaret Smith of Australia and Maria Bueno of Brazil.
? Who was the first Negro to play in a U.S. singles championship?
•Althea Gibson, who made her debut at forest Hills, N.Y. in 1950. She lost to Louise Brough in the second round that year; but seven years later, at the age of 30, she beat Miss Brough in the finals, 6-3, 6-2.
? What record is shared by these five players: Richard Sears, William Larned, Bill Tilden, Mrs. Molla Bjurstedt Mallory and Mrs. Helen Wills Moody?
•Each won the U.S. title seven times. (Mrs. Mallory, who won a special Patriotic Tournament in 1917, is sometimes credited with winning the women's title eight times.)
? Has any player gone through the entire tournament without losing a single set?
•Yes; Maureen Connolly, in 1953, and Doris Hart, in 1955, accomplished this in the women's singles, while Tony Trabert did it twice—in the men's singles, likewise in 1953 and 1955.
? What player reached the greatest number of final rounds?
•Tilden was in a total of 10. (He lost three finals—to R. Lindley Murray, William M. Johnston and Jean René Lacoste.)
? Who was the oldest player to win the men's championship?
•Bill Larned, who won it in 1911 at the age of 38.
? Who was last year's winner of the William M. Johnston trophy awarded annually for sportsmanship?
•Davis Cup player (No. 5 nationally) Martin Riessen of Evanston, Ill.