The U.S. Open serves up quite a New York experience every summer in Queens (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
August 26 – September 9
www.usopen.org
Consider this flare warning. On the heels of Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams winning the 2013 French Open, where the former was greeted with a semi-streaker holding a lighted flare, tickets to the 2013 U.S. Open are now on sale. Defending champions Andy Murray and current world #1 Williams will be back in Queens this summer, along with number-one-ranked men’s singles leader Novak Djokovic. First held in Rhode Island in 1881, the U.S. Open has been a New York City institution since 1968, when the tennis championship became the fourth leg of the grand slam, following the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon. Initially taking place in Forest Hills, in 1978 the U.S. Open moved to the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, where it begins August 26 and runs through September 9. Things actually get started on August 24 with Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, featuring family-friendly clinics and workshops and games and activities, with appearances by tennis professionals and live music from pop superstars. If you’ve never been to the Open, you must experience this rousing New York City event, even if you’re not a big tennis fan. You can check out exciting matches up close and personal on the smaller courts, overpay at the Food Village, and marvel at the beautiful expanse from the top of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Be sure to read the very specific rules about what you can and can’t bring in through the security line, as well as what happens if your session is rained out. And as always, if you buy a day ticket, you can stick around for night matches as well, except for those in Arthur Ashe Stadium.