By Tracy Zwick
The best three weeks of summer have arrived. The U.S. Open kicks off on Monday with Fan Week, when the biggest stars in the game are on the courts, and everyone gets in free. It’s all an easy commute from the UWS.
Getting there
The only thing an USWer visiting the U.S. Open during Fan Week has to pay for is the subway ride, and it’s a one-transfer commute. To get to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, get on the downtown 1 or C to 42nd Street, then switch to the Queens-bound 7. When the doors open at Mets-Willets Point, follow the crowd across Passerelle Boardwalk. You’ve arrived. (The LIRR is also an option.)
Tickets
Download the free USTA app ahead of time and get your free Fan Pass (also available online). That’s all you’ll need to enter the grounds during Fan Week (Aug. 23rd to 29th). Once the main draw starts on Sunday, August 30th, you’ll need a paid ticket.
Events: Mixed Doubles & Qualifying
There are several tournaments within the tournament, and two big ones start Monday: the superstar-stuffed mixed doubles event, and the qualifying tournament. Mixed doubles will feature the best-of-the-best: Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, Venus Williams, Naomi Osaka, and more. Go for free on Monday and Tuesday. If you want to see the semi-finals and finals on Wednesday night, you’ll have to buy a ticket.
The qualifying tournament is free all week (Monday through Thursday). The sport’s highest-ranked players get automatic entry into the main draw, which starts on Sunday, August 30th. Everyone else has to play “qualies” – a win-or-go-home tournament the week before the big show.
UWSers in Prime Time
The UWS has not one but two players to get behind this year. Aleksander Kovacevic, who was ranked as high at No. 54 in the world earlier this year, grew up on West 97th Street. His family’s still on the UWS, and the bleachers at Kovacevic’s matches are extra fun for locals. He made it to the semi-finals in doubles play at Wimbledon last month. We’ll be looking for him to make a deep run in Queens.
Michael Zheng missed graduation from Columbia University this year, but he had a good excuse: he was playing the main draw of the French Open. Zheng, a two-time NCAA champ, two-time Academic All-American, and main-draw competitor at all three of the 2026 grand slams so far, has been thrilling uptown fans for years as a Columbia Lion. He’s sure to have raucous support as he competes in his fourth grand slam main draw this season.
Ya Gotta Eat
There’s tons of food at the Open, much of it fun and none of it cheap. So if you’re looking to save money, pack a few sandwiches and a refillable water bottle. Keep in mind that you can’t bring a cooler or large bag, and check the rules before you pack up to go. Personally, I’m excited about U.S. Open first-timer Mizon, with its fluffy-as-a-cloud pitas. They’ll be filled with roast beef, falafel or schnitzel at the Open. If only they’d finally open their Broadway and West 113th location!
Returning vendors include San Matteo Pizza, Poke Yachty, Nourish Spot (for salads and smoothies), Carnegie Deli, CQDQ, Glatt Kosher, Korilla BBQ, King Souvlaki, Red Hook Lobster Pound and more. Find them all here.
It’s Not Just Tennis
Arthur Ashe Kids Day is this Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the schedule includes activities for families, a stadium takeover by the Savannah Bananas, opportunities to watch the pros practice, music, face-painting, tennis drills, and more. It’s all free.
If you don’t want to schlep out to Queens, you can still enjoy the Open. Hudson Yards is offering “The U.S. Open Experience” from August 30th to September 5th, when you can watch ESPN’s coverage on a big screen, sip the Open’s signature Honey Deuce cocktail, and play Open-themed games and activities. Riverside Tennis Association is hosting an outdoor watch party on September 10th in Riverside Park.
Tips from One UWSer to Another
Here’s some of what I’ve learned after several years attending the U.S. Open:
- Wear and bring sunscreen. You never know when you’ll be in direct sun, and matches are best-of-five in the men’s game, often lasting hours.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You’re gonna be walking.
- Take a free portable phone charger from one of the kiosks when you get there, and remember to return it before you leave.
- Don’t forget about the doubles tournament and the juniors tournament, both of which kick off September 3rd. For grit and greatness, you can’t beat the wheelchair tournament, which starts September 8th.
- Don’t talk loudly during matches, and don’t take calls. It’s not exactly Wimbledon-level etiquette at the U.S. Open, and we like it that way. But be considerate.
- Loosely plan your day using the app before you arrive. Check out who’s gonna be on each court at what time, including practice courts, and if you don’t get to everything you aimed to, don’t sweat it. Have fun!
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