TENN360 | THE FAN'S GUIDE TO THE TOUR
tennis is more than the score.
US OPEN
Tour
ITF
Date of event
30 Aug-12 Sep 2027
Location
New York City
Surface
Hard outdoor
Singles Title
A Zverev/E Rybakina
Doubles Title
N Skupski C Harrison/T Townsend K Siniaková
Level
Grand Slam
TENN360 INSIGHT:
If Wimbledon is the elegant one and Roland-Garros is the romantic one, the US Open is the one who arrives late, orders another drink and somehow becomes the best night of the summer.
There is something wonderfully New York about it. The tennis is enormous, the crowds are loud, the grounds are busy and there is always something happening somewhere. You can watch a superstar in Arthur Ashe Stadium in the afternoon, wander off to a tiny outside court, stop for food, watch a practice session and somehow end up staying until the lights come on.
It is also the Grand Slam that feels least precious about itself. You are there to watch extraordinary tennis, certainly, but you're also there to have a day out.
Of course, Beyonce and Jay-Z will inevitably draw more attention than the players, and the cameras will be hunting for every celebrity in sight. It can be pretty frustrating for fans who just want the focus to be on the game, but that's all part of the show, I suppose.
And that is the US Open's great trick: it makes a major championship feel like a city-wide event that happens to have some of the best tennis players in the world wandering around it.
If money is no object, Arthur Ashe Stadium is the obvious choice for the biggest matches. But "best" does not necessarily mean "most expensive".
For atmosphere and proximity to the action, I'd seriously consider Louis Armstrong Stadium or Grandstand. You are closer to the court and the experience can feel much more intimate than sitting high up in Ashe.
Arthur Ashe is magnificent, but it is enormous. If you're sitting high in the upper levels, you're getting the full spectacle rather than the close-up tennis experience.
For me, the real US Open secret is the field courts.
These are first-come, first-served and can give you something that no premium ticket can buy: being ridiculously close to a great match. The official seating information confirms that seating on the other courts is generally first-come, first-served, while Arthur Ashe is entirely reserved.
So my perfect day might actually involve one match in Ashe, one in Grandstand and then a couple of hours sitting courtside somewhere completely unexpected.
That is how you do the US Open.
Good — if you know where to look.
Don't expect to casually wander into the players' areas. Those are properly restricted, as you'd expect.
But if player access matters to you, the practice courts are your best friend.
Players regularly practise around the grounds and the US Open publishes practice information so fans can work out where and when to go. The area around the practice courts has historically been one of the best places for fans hoping to see players close up and get autographs.
Fan Week is another excellent opportunity, with player practices and other on-court activities taking place before the main championship gets properly underway.
So don't spend the whole day staring at the entrance to Arthur Ashe hoping a player will materialise.
Go where the players actually practise.
I'd go if you want to experience tennis on a grand scale.
This is for the fan who wants the big names, big stadiums, big crowds and that unmistakable feeling that something important is happening.
I'd also go if you're the sort of person who enjoys wandering around without necessarily knowing what you're going to see next. The US Open rewards curiosity.
It is brilliant for first-time Grand Slam visitors because there is so much going on beyond the main courts. And if you're travelling with someone who isn't quite as tennis-mad as you are, there is enough food, entertainment and general New York energy to keep them occupied.
You may even get them to admit that watching a three-hour tennis match wasn't entirely your idea.
I'd give yourself far more time than you think you need.
Don't make the mistake of buying a ticket for one match and arriving just before it starts. The joy of the US Open is everything that happens between the big matches.
Go and watch the practice courts. Check the schedule, because this is one of the best places to see top players from relatively close quarters. The practice area around Courts 4, 5 and 6 has long been one of the favourite spots for fans hoping to see players warming up — and possibly getting an autograph.
Then wander.
Watch a match on a smaller court. Sit down somewhere you hadn't planned to sit. Eat something you didn't intend to eat. The grounds are big enough that you can spend an entire day following the tennis rather than following your itinerary.
And wear comfortable shoes.
I cannot stress this enough.
Your glamorous New York tennis outfit may look wonderful in the hotel mirror. Six hours later, your feet will have filed a formal complaint.
New York in late August and early September can be hot, humid and surprisingly unforgiving.
The problem is that the US Open grounds are enormous, so you can easily spend the afternoon walking between courts in the sun and then discover that your lovely seat has its own personal relationship with the afternoon sunshine.
For daytime sessions, don't assume that an expensive seat means a shady one. Check the orientation of the court and the time of day before choosing your seats.
If you're particularly sensitive to heat, I'd favour an evening session. There is something rather magical about the US Open under the lights anyway, so you're hardly making a sacrifice.
And bring water.
New York will provide the atmosphere. You provide the sunscreen.
This is one of those occasions where New York's public transport system is your friend.
The easiest option is the 7 subway line to Mets–Willets Point, which is practically on the doorstep of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The Long Island Rail Road also stops at Mets–Willets Point. The US Open itself recommends public transport as the easiest way to arrive.
Driving is possible, but I wouldn't choose it unless you have a very good reason.
Rideshare services have designated drop-off and pick-up arrangements, but again, the train wins for me.
And there is something rather satisfying about getting off the train and suddenly finding yourself in the middle of the US Open.
You know you've arrived.
I'd skip it if your ideal tennis tournament is small, quiet and intimate.
The US Open can be overwhelming. There are crowds, queues, security checks, noise, enormous screens, music, food outlets and people going in approximately seventeen different directions at once.
It is also not the tournament I'd choose if your main objective is to spend the day sitting peacefully in one seat watching tennis.
You will walk.
A lot.
And if you don't like crowds, particularly around the biggest matches, the sheer scale of the event may become exhausting rather than exciting.
The US Open is not trying to be a tranquil afternoon at the tennis club.
And thank goodness for that.
Power in Numbers
128
Single Draws
23,000
Centre court seat
34
Courts