Last year, the U.S. Open celebrated its 50th anniversary. This year brings notable anniversaries for some of the tournament’s most memorable matches and most famous champions. Most significant is the 50th anniversary of Rod Laver’s second Grand Slam in 1969. He is only man to accomplish the feat twice, and no man has completed a Grand Slam since.

But there are other anniversaries, too. Here are excerpts from The Times’ coverage of some of those matches.

50 Years Ago

Rod Laver captures a Grand Slam again.

Rod Laver achieved the second grand slam of his tennis career yesterday.

With all the competitive trademarks of the true champion, the 31-year-old king of the court overcame Tony Roche, his 24-year-old Australian countryman, 7-9, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, in the final of the United States Open championship at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens.