By Tracy Zwick
This year’s U.S. Open, which kicks off next week, is embracing the theme “Celebrating Our NY Story” – and what’s a celebration, especially during a NY summer, without ice cream?
The Open’s bringing free soft-serve and ice pops to one tennis destination in each borough all week. Yesterday, its Mister Softee-style truck pulled up to the Riverside Tennis Association’s clay courts at 96th Street in Riverside Park.
Some of the kids and adults on line were already tennis fans, players or longtime U.S. Open-goers. Others, like seven-and-a-half year old UWSer Lake, were more straight-forwardly situational: “I’m here because I want ice cream.”
When pressed, Lake acknowledged he’d attended and enjoyed Columbia Lions tennis matches uptown. “They’re good.”
Some adult UWSers, like Leslie, were seasoned slam-goers who offered tips for this year’s attendees. “It’s easy to get to, just take the 7, and it’s one of the most amazing sporting events in the world,” she said.
While she’s a fan of Canadian No. 1 Felix Auger-Aliassime, she said she “wouldn’t mind an American winning” this year. “Going to Fan Week is great and it’s free,” she offered, “though it’s getting more crowded every year. Be ready to stand in long lines.” She added, “I just wish the rest of the tournament was more affordable.”
Carrie Ehorn, director of pro tennis marketing at the U.S. Open, was on hand, along with several U.S. Open brand ambassadors who were handing out ice cream tickets and Open-themed rally towels, and letting the 30-or-so people in line know to take a hard look at their napkins.
Ehorn explained they were using “hidden theme art napkins” with a few special designs distributed “Willy-Wonka style.” Those who randomly received the golden-ticket napkins would win two free tickets to watch mixed doubles in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the marquee U.S. Open venue. There were two winners by 5 p.m.
“We want to give back to tennis communities,” Ehorn explained, and part of that is via the ice cream truck, and the ticket giveaway. “It’s going to all five boroughs and giving out about 1,000 ice cream or popsicle treats per day, mostly to communities near tennis courts.”
A first-timer to the Riverside clay courts, she added that “this location by the water is gorgeous. I’ve never been here before, and I’m coming back!”
Michael, an UWSer who attends Eleanor Roosevelt High School on the UES, was there as a camp counselor with some of his campers. He was planning on going to Fan Week at the U.S. Open next week. “I’d see any players,” he said, “they’re all good.”
But he was especially interested in world No. 15 Lorenzo Musetti, a 24-year-old Italian with a mesmerizing one-handed backhand. “Is Michael Zheng playing?” he asked – inquiring about the former Columbia Lions No. 1 who’s been thrilling uptown audiences for the last four years. (The answer is yes. Zheng, the two-time NCAA singles champ, received a wild card to play in the main draw, which begins Sunday, Aug. 30th.)
Danny DiMarino, who works with Riverside Parks Conservancy, and Jocelyn Cruz-Alfalla, Director of Tennis for RTA, weren’t having any ice cream, but they were on-site talking about how Riverside Park came together with the USTA to bring the truck to the park. “Riverside Park has a robust tennis community,” DiMarino said. “We have three facilities where people are playing every day: 96th Street, 119th Street, and up in Fort Washington, so it was a nice match.”
“The U.S. Open is tennis’s World Cup,” Cruz-Alfalla added. “It’s our superbowl – a major tournament in our backyard. It’s so nice that the Open came to us in this fun way.”
Ten-year-old Lilly MacDonald was heading home after a morning of sports camp with her ice cream and her babysitter, Sherap. Asked if she knew what the U.S. Open was, Lilly said “isn’t it where people play tennis games?” (It is.)
Sherap had never been to the Open, but knew a bit more about it. “My cousin went last year and dressed up in a really cute tennis skirt and all that. I’d like to go to a not-too-expensive game one day soon.”
When asked if she thought something like the free ice cream had an impact, Leslie, still waiting in line for her frozen treat, said it definitely did, “especially for people who aren’t into tennis.” Cruz-Alfalla felt the same. “Any way you can encourage people to come out to the Open, or get new communities to see live tennis – it’s so cool.”
Thirteen-year-old Denis Core, a student at West End Secondary, concurred. “I think most people are in it for the ice cream,” he said. “But I feel like the truck could get people excited, because I forgot the Open was about to happen. And now I’m excited.”
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