For two weeks late in the summer, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens becomes the center of the tennis world. The US Open is the last major of the season, and defending champion Jannik Sinner will seek to defend his title against a talented field that includes Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz and 2023 Wimbledon winner Iga Swiatek. Home hope Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz will also play in the first round, along with doubles stars Jasmine Paolini and Amanda Anisimova.
Like the Australian and French Opens, the US Open takes place on hard courts at Flushing Meadows, with retractable roofs on Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. The tournament follows a best-of-three-sets format for women and a best-of-five-sets format for men. Matches can run into the wee hours, and night sessions are offered.
While the food court near Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong can get crowded, you can also check out the swanky food truck area in front of the Grandstand, where many of the most popular New York City eateries set up shop. You can grab everything from pizza to burgers and wings.
If you’re staying in Manhattan, the easiest way to get to the tournament is to take an eastbound No. 7 train to Mets-Willets Point and follow the crowds to the grounds. Ride-share services are also available, but traffic can snarl the service and cause a delay in reaching your pickup spot.