The 1972 U.S. Open Champion was Ilie Nastase, a Romanian professional tennis player. He won the tournament that year, beating Arthur Ashe in the final. Nastase was known for his aggressive playing style and his on-court antics, which often earned him penalties from the umpire. He was also known for his rivalry with Bjorn Borg, which spanned several years. Nastase was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991.