By Tracy Zwick

Whether you’ve never watched a game of tennis in your life or you’ve trekked three continents to see each of the four Grand Slam tournaments, as I have, the US Open is an Upper West Sider’s paradise! One of the world’s marquee sporting events staged on sprawling grounds with restaurants, cocktail tents, activities, and shopping to complement the tennis, the US Open has something for everyone and it’s one subway ride (with one quick transfer) from the UWS. So even if you think seeds are for trail mix and bagels are best served with a shmear (in tennis a bagel is winning or losing a set 6-0), you can enjoy the US Open and the Rag is here to help! 

When does it start?  Last Monday! But don’t worry, you only missed the qualifying tournament. The main draw, where big-name players make their first appearances, doesn’t begin till Monday the 26th. The most frenetic days where you get the biggest bang for your buck are Monday through Thursday next week. That’s when Rounds 1 and 2 take place and there’s tennis on every court all day and late into the night with more than 250 of the world’s best players in action. Buy a Grounds Pass (retail price $80) and have access to every court in the complex, except Arthur Ashe Stadium. If you buy reserved seats in Arthur Ashe or Louis Armstrong Stadium, those too give you access to all the outer courts.

How to get tickets? They’re sold by Ticketmaster, which also offers a verified resale marketplace. My advice is to buy a Grounds Pass for Round 1 or 2 if you can pull it off, and spend as much of the day and night as you like on site. Every player in the draw will compete on Monday or Tuesday, but this is a single elimination tournament, so as soon as a player loses he goes home. If you’ve got a favorite player you’re dying to see, you might wanna see them in Round 1 because upsets happen all the time and that player could be packing by Wednesday. Nights at the Open are electric, but tickets to the show courts (Ashe & Armstrong) can be pricey. If you wait till the last minute you might score a deal on StubHub, SeatGeek or other secondary ticket platforms. Grounds pass holders can also plunk down outside of Ashe and watch the action on large screens set up outside.

How to get there from the UWS: Take the 1/2/3 to the 7 at Times Square. It’s a straight shot from there. Get off at Mets-Willets Point Station and follow the signs and the crowd. It’s easy, convenient, inexpensive, and efficient. The LIRR also provides service to Mets-Willets Point Station. You can drive and pay for parking on site, and when I’ve stayed for late matches on Ashe, which can go until the wee hours of the morning, that’s been handy. There are also pick-up and drop-off points for car services like Uber and Lyft. 

What to Eat: Tennis may be the main attraction, but it’s not the only draw at the US Open. Dozens of notable restaurants and top chefs will be serving, including Kwame Onwuachi of Lincoln Center’s Tatiana, and Simon Kim of Coqodaq. Other names will be familiar to UWSers, like Dos Toros, Carnegie Deli, and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. You can get anything from Glatt Kosher to Red Hook Lobster Pound at the Open, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available on the grounds. My daughter and I went for poke at Poke Yachty last year, and before that a date took me to the upscale Aces for a multi-course pre-tennis dinner. That same date put me on to crowd-favorite Korrila BBQ’s bowls and Korean tacos. There’s also Fuku, Eataly, Crown Shy, Hill Country BBQ, San Matteo NYC, Pat LaFrieda, and more. The signature drink of the US Open is the Honey Deuce, made with Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, raspberry liquor, and tennis-ball-shaped honeydew melon balls. You get to keep the souvenir cup, and some people leave with terrifying stacks of empties. Aperol Spritz, a returning sponsor, is prominently placed. After several years away, Moët & Chandon is back, with Imperial Brut for $32 a glass and Imperial Rose for $42. Non-alcoholic options include Lavazza’s coffee cottage and Nourish Spot, which offers smoothies, juice, and tea. Bring your wallet because none of this is cheap. Lobster Rolls are $34, Hot Pastrami at Carnegie Deli’s $29, and a Lamb Gyro from King Souvlaki is $22. You can’t bring a cooler, alcohol, glass bottles, or cans, but you can economize by packing your own food, though not in a backpack or large bag. Click here for security and prohibited items info.

Tennis!: The draw, the schedule that indicates which players will compete against each other, was revealed yesterday. WSR has its eye on local star Aleksander Kovacevich, a graduate of PS9 and Beacon High School who’s currently ranked 75th in the world. It won’t be easy for Aleks in Round 1 where he faces fellow American Francis Tiafoe, ranked 20th in the world, on Monday or Tuesday. (Each day’s schedule is released the day before.) Aleks is being coached by his dad, Milan, who, with his mom, Millie, still lives in the apartment where Aleks & his sister, Lena, grew up on the UWS. 

Novak Djokovic, fresh from his gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics, is in NY to defend his 2023 singles title. The 2023 women’s champ, Coco Gauff, is also back and a top seed. It’s an exciting time for American tennis as well, with five men and five women ranked in the Top 20 for the first time since 1996. So, if you’ve got Team USA gear on hand from the Olympics, don’t put it away yet! 

Taste the US Open in Manhattan: Even if you never leave the UWS, you can get in the tennis spirit at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Starting Monday, they’re offering a limited-edition tennis-inspired ice cream flavor in collaboration with Amex: Match Point Mint Chip x Amex. The green mint chip with blue frosting swirl ice cream will be available at Van Leeuwen locations throughout the city, including two on the UWS, and at the Open (while supplies last).

Tracy’s Tips: 

I’ve been to the US Open many times. I’ve sat in the president’s box and the nosebleeds. I’ve been sunburned, hungry, and dehydrated, and I don’t want Rag readers repeating my mistakes. Here’s a little hard-won wisdom: 

• Download the US Open app and use it. Your tickets will appear there as will a map of the extensive grounds and a complete schedule for the entire tournament, scores, the latest news, and loads of analytics.
• Wear sunscreen, bring extra, and consider a hat. On many courts there is little or no shade and the time can disappear in three, four, or five-set matches such that before you know it you’ve been in direct sun for hours. 
• Don’t pay $10 for a bottle of water. Bring your own and refill it at well-placed bottle-filling stations. 
• Pack a few snacks to save a few shekels. 
• Don’t shop at the Open; that’s not what UWSers do! It’s overpriced. If you forgot your hat or it’s cold and you need a layer, we’ll allow it. But if you’re coming home with shopping bags from the Ralph Lauren store or Wilson, expect side-eye from your UWS neighbors, or at least from me.
• Wear comfortable shoes. You’ve got a lot of ground to cover. 
• If you’re going the first week, check the order of play ahead of time and map out who you want to see and where they’re playing. Don’t sleep on the practice courts! Even if you aren’t shelling out for prime time Ashe tickets to see Carlos Alcaraz or Iga Swiatek, you can likely catch them on one of the practice courts drilling with coaches and hitting partners, many of whom are themselves seeded players in the tournament. The practice schedule is visible on the US Open app. 
• Doubles is a “do”! Last year, Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton lit it up in mixed while the Greek Tsitsipas brothers kept it in the family as partners in men’s dubs. It’s fast, it’s fun, matches are shorter than men’s singles (best of 3 sets instead of 5), and it’s not nearly as crowded as the premier singles matches. 
• Don’t be on your phone or talking loudly during the match. It’s a distraction to your neighbors and the players. I was seated by some jerk who took a phone call during Diego Schwartzman’s match against the #1 seed in qualifying this week. These are professionals with big money on the line ($100k for Round 1 and nearly $4 million for the male and female champs), and your neighbors coughed up for their tickets. So be cool, UWS, and be quiet. 
• AmEx and Chase are sponsors and offer some perks and experiences on site, so if you’re a cardholder bring your plastic or have it in your Apple Wallet. AmEx, for example, offers a $10 statement credit to cardholders who spend $100 at the Open.

Have fun! Add your tips, advice, US Open stories, and must-see matches in the comments! 

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