The US Open Tennis Tournament Continues To Amaze

This afternoon out at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center I was excited to get a chance to see my first ever Men's Wheelchair Doubles match. Amazing. The match that took place inside Arthur Ashe Stadium ahead of the Women's Semi-Finals matches tonight is part of the USTA U.S. Open Wheelchair Championships. Having never had the chance to see this tournament I was completely blown away by the incredible athletes competing. The desire, determination, and perseverance of these tennis players truly inspired me in so many ways.

Below is an article I wrote for Forbes earlier this week on the success of The US Open. Next year I will definitely be including more information about the USTA US Open Wheelchair Championships.

This week the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, is again hosting the U.S. Open. With an annual attendance of 700,000, the championship continues to grow into not only one of the most exciting events on the American sports calendar but also one of the most fan-friendly. Thanks to makeovers to the stadiums and grounds, a unique atmosphere, the global popularity of tennis and the allure of New York City, the U.S. Open is a tournament unlike any other.

Every year from the Monday preceding Labor Day to the Sunday that follows it, tennis fans come from all over the world to Arthur Ashe Stadium. The crown jewel of the National Tennis Center, 24,000-seat Arthur Ashe is the world’s largest tennis arena — and in 2016, it received an upgrade in the form of a retractable roof. That was far from the only improvement to the Billie Jean King site, however, with the tennis complex undergoing a series of changes that began four years ago and will conclude in 2018. Among these modifications are a rebuilding of Louis Armstrong Stadium, which also hosts some of the tournament’s high-profile matches, and a new Grandstand, as well as wider walkways and an overall enhancement of 90 percent of the tennis center’s grounds. With the venue in its finest condition ever, it’s no wonder that the 2017 U.S. Open set the event’s opening-day attendance record.

The modernized stadiums and grounds make up a great deal of the tournament’s magic, but just as much of the U.S. Open’s mystique stems from its fan-friendly nature. Tickets to the event allow guests to roam the grounds freely, enjoying all sorts of amenities and mingling with the tennis pros and celebrities who walk the same pathways as everyone else. Those who show up the week before the tournament begins enjoy a special treat — the chance to watch the players practice — for free. And whether it’s the practice week, the first week of the tournament or the final matches, a pulse of excitement permeates the grounds.

One of the factors contributing to the U.S. Open’s rise in prominence is tennis’ popularity across the globe. With approximately 1 billion fans worldwide, tennis is without a doubt one of humanity’s greatest pastimes. In 2016, when ESPN ranked the world’s 100 most famous athletes, nine of the top 100 were tennis players — and five of those (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams) made the top 25. When these famous faces all appear in New York City, it’s no wonder the world takes notice.

And that — New York City — is the X factor in the U.S. Open’s brilliance. By hopping on the NYC subway’s 7 train, tournament attendees are a straight shot away from Grand Central Terminal, Times Square and Midtown Manhattan. If they want, fans can watch tennis in the morning, go sightseeing in the city and then return to the tournament the same day.

The ability to not only catch one of the world’s premier sporting events but also visit one of the world’s premier cities makes the U.S. Open an unparalleled summer highlight. If you ever have a chance to come to the Big Apple and catch the Open, make sure you do. It’s an experience not to be missed.