Tennis is coming back to the Big Apple.
The U.S. Open, one of the biggest sporting events in the world, returns to Flushing, Queens this week.
Each year, the tournament begins on the last Monday in August and stretches through the second weekend of September. This year’s event runs from Aug. 28 through Sept. 10.
The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, hosts the annual event, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of tennis fans worldwide.
The tennis championship is the fourth and final "Grand Slam" of the year. It follows the Australian Open in January, the French Open in May and June, and Wimbledon in July.
If you want to visit the Open, here’s what you should know beforehand.
Celebrating equal pay
This year, the tournament celebrates 50 years of providing equal prize money for both men and women tennis players. That milestone is the spotlight of the Open’s “Be Open” campaign that “amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities” and “emphasizes tennis’ commitment to diversity, inclusion and respect.”
The equal pay campaign was spearheaded by U.S. Open champion Billie Jean King in 1973. The U.S. Open was the first Grand Slam tournament to offer equal pay.
Artwork that celebrates the campaign will be displayed on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and a series of essays, including one from King, will be featured on the tournament’s website.
Djokovic’s return
Fan favorite Novak Djokovic will be back at the Open this year. He was not permitted to participate in last year’s U.S. Open because he was not vaccinated for COVID-19.
The last time Djokovic attended the tournament was in 2021, when he lost to Daniil Medvedev in the final.
Djokovic will return to the court to try to defeat defending champion and current No. 1 player Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz won this year’s Wimbledon final over Djokovic.
Women’s singles preview
The defending champion, Iga Swiatek, is also the current top-ranked player on the women’s tour. Swiatek won this year’s French Open, her third title in Paris and fourth Grand Slam victory overall.
Two Americans – Jessica Pegula (third) and Coco Gauff (sixth) – are ranked in the top 10. Pegula reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and at Wimbledon this year, as well as at the U.S. Open last year. She won a tournament in Montreal earlier this month. Gauff was a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Open last year. She also reached the finals of the French Open last year, where she lost to Swiatek.
She has won two tournaments this month, in Washington D.C. and in Cincinnati.
Events to look forward to
To get access to the U.S. Open grounds free of charge, consider attending Fan Week from Aug. 22 through Aug. 27. During this week, the grounds are open to the public, and planned events and activities occur daily for people of all ages.
Some of the events include an exhibition with tennis stars, a concert with Grammy-winning artist Sebastian Yatra and a free racket giveaway for kids.
Tickets may be required for some of these events.
Ticket options worth your buck
It’s recommended to buy tickets the first week of the matches since tickets tend to be more affordable. Each tournament date has a day and a night session, with separate tickets required for each session.
A grounds pass gives you access to matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the Grandstand, and all the smaller courts. This ticket is only available during the day session, and excludes matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
For Arthur Ashe Stadium access, a day session and/or night session ticket is required for reserved seats for each match. If you want to experience matches at this stadium with a cheaper value, consider buying an upper-level seat.
Get tickets at usopen.org or ticketmaster.com
How to get there
The U.S. Open website stresses that parking is limited, and that mass transit is the best way to get to the tournament.
Subway: The 7 train provides service to the tennis center. Visitors will have to get off at the Mets-Willets Point station, which is right across from Citi Field.
Rail: The Long Island Rail Road provides service to the Mets-Willets Point Station. Most commuters coming from Long Island will have to transfer at Woodside. Connections are also available from Penn Station for visitors coming from New Jersey Transit or Amtrak, and, for the first time this year, from Grand Central Terminal for Metro-North riders after LIRR service expanded to Grand Central earlier this year.
Visitors with disabilities are recommended to get off the LIRR train at 61st Street-Woodside Station and transfer to the 7 train to get to Mets-Willets Point Station.
Rideshare: If you are headed to the U.S. Open via Uber/Lyft or via black-car services, you will be dropped off by the New York State Pavilion, where a direct walking path will lead you to the south gate. Shuttle access will be available for guests who need assistance to and from the gate.
Car: Tournament organizers recommend that drivers use Grand Central Parkway Exit 9E, Whitestone Expressway Exit 13D or Long Island Expressway Exit 22B. The NYPD will then direct drivers to the parking areas. A parking fee of $40 for vehicles and $80 for buses will be required. Visitors can also park at the Shops at Skyview for a discounted rate.
Stadium Etiquette
U.S. Open attendees are required to follow a code of conduct. Among other things, the code prohibits attendees from using offensive language, or wearing clothing with offensive messaging; opening umbrellas during play; and entering any tennis court. Guests must also consume alcohol in a responsible manner. If a guest does not oblige by the rules, they will be asked to leave without a refund and can risk a possible arrest by the NYPD.
A list of prohibited items, and the code of conduct, can be found here.
Flavors of the Open
The U.S. Open offers a wide selection of food options, from quick-service options to sit-down dining.
The Food Village, located on the grounds, has a variety of American, Asian and Latin cuisine. Kosher options are also available.
Restaurants and bars are also located on the grounds. Some sit-down dining locations require reservations.
Each stadium also has concessions.
“Honey Deuce" is the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A toast to tennis
The signature cocktail of the U.S. Open is the “Honey Deuce.”
The drink is a mix of vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liquor, topped with frozen honeydew melon balls that resemble tennis balls.
The drink is offered at multiple bars on the grounds.
Information from Rocco Vertuccio was used in this report.
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