Hundreds of thousands of fans had the opportunity to celebrate tennis in the US Open Fan Week at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from Sunday, Aug. 23 to Saturday, Aug. 29.
Fans could access U.S. Open-themed stores, various food and drink stands, dance to DJ music, and watch players practice or compete on more than a dozen tennis courts across the venue.
“It’s a great vibe, and we’re seeing the crowds grow and grow every day,” Managing director of pro tennis marketing and entertainment for the U.S. Open Nicole Kankam said. “We want to create opportunities for fans to be inspired to hopefully play tennis in the future but also to experience the U.S. Open.”
U.S. Open Fan Week has been held since 2017, and this year featured a new digital all-access pass for fans to use, including some days with free entry, as well as the expansion of U.S. Open Kids’ Day, which allowed young fans to practice on the courts and play interactive games.
“In the last few years, Fan Week has really grown exponentially,” Kankam said. “We’ve been investing a lot in creating more content and more opportunities for fans to come onto the grounds to truly make the U.S. Open accessible for the average fan.”
The event emphasized the importance of the sports culture in New York with a theme of “Celebrating Our New York Story”. Many fans wore a variety of clothing items featuring New York sports teams and iconic landmarks and appreciated New York-inspired art.
“It’s truly about celebrating the link between the U.S. Open and New York City, the home where we are,” Kankam explained. “It started with the theme art [that] has examples from all five boroughs… you’ll see it all throughout the grounds.”
Tennis legend Roger Federer made his return to U.S. Open courts on Tuesday night for a celebration of his illustrious career. Federer even played a brief doubles exhibition match alongside John McEnroe against Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.
A mixed doubles tournament, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, featured some of the game’s greats as well. Serena Williams teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz for a run to the quarterfinals, and both Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev made brief appearances.
Fans also had access to various memorabilia and souvenirs, including inflated tennis balls and a U.S. Open Spider-Man Comic Book, that could be signed by passing players. Some fans would toss items to players to sign as they entered and exited matches.
“Oh my goodness, the fact that I am here is great,” longtime tennis fan Oneita Jackson said. “It’s the best… I never had a bucket list, but I started and ended the bucket list watching Alcaraz and Serena play. [Also], my friend and I set off the dance floor over there… So it has been fantastic, magnificent [and] amazing to be here.”
Dozens of stands featuring first-class food and drink were available throughout the festival. Coqodaq’s chicken nuggets with caviar and the iconic “Honey Deuce” Grey Goose beverage were two of the most popular items.
“I am so excited, it’s been a great day here,” tennis fan Berit Franwick said. “I got a hat and a couple of Honey Deuces… [It’s] just super awesome to be here and experiencing it with everyone else here.”
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