Going to the US Open? Here's what to expect.

Cramerica

Cramerica

Semi-Pro
Feel free to sticky this. I lived in Astoria for many years and used to go to the USO regularly - first as a common attendee and later as a lower-tier correspondent. So here's what to expect and a few tips:

  1. Take the subway to get there. It'll drop you off right in-between the Mets stadium and the USO facility. Take a quick peak at the Mets stadium because no one ever goes there despite it actually being quite nice. I did a Spartan race there one year and saw a guy throw up in a trash can. From the subway you'll walk along a boardwalk to the facility. Unless you're showing up with Tiffany the influencer to be seen at a late-round night sesh with Alcaraz, the lines to get in are light and quick and the people are friendly.
  2. Don't get suckered into getting one of those Amex earphones. Grow up.
  3. You bought tickets for a round 1 or later? Chump - go to the qualifying rounds where you can watch for free.
  4. Be sure to watch a couple matches from the side courts - you can get only a few feet away from the court and see just how hard they hit it. You thought maybe you could take a game from some of these guys but you're 4.5 USTA dreams have been shattered. Better get new poly strings.
  5. If you're done early, take advantage of the Flushing station to get dim sum. Everyone knows the best food in NYC is in Queens. Otherwise you travelled all the way to New York just to go to Applebee's in Times Square and they're known to go intercontinental.
  6. There are 7 kinds of people at the USO, so figure out which group you will want to join before you get there:
    1. Influencers - you'll need to dress inappropriately and take peace sign pictures next to a Billy Jean King poster - you'll have no idea who she is and you tagged Martina Navritalova because you've seen her on Real Housewives of Miami.
    2. Drunk mom - try your best to get on camera while you're at a late night match. You bought seats in the nose bleeds but because it's 1am, you've moved down to the third row because most people have responsibly gone home for work tomorrow. But you've consumed twelve honey deuces and you've added the empty cups to the pile started by the frat kids next to you. You're convinced you're young and cool but sympathy and patience is running low. You've tried dancing during the changeovers but the camera's yet to have found you, so you start resorting to chugging beer. You'll want to go ahead and call into work the next day.
    3. Tennis player - you play 4.0 tennis for USTA and your team placed third in the city championships in mixed doubles over 55. You've elected to wear the same tennis attire to the USO as you would if you were playing a match. Your hat is vented and a highlighter color. Your tennis shoes are Asics (not the FF series because they don't offer you enough support). You won't say it aloud, but you're hoping that by wearing your tennis attire, there may be an Emma Radacanu or a Emma Navarro who's hitting partner is feeling ill and they're in need of an emergency hit - they spot you in the crowd already dressed in your garb, ready and warmed up, and you find yourself on the practice courts shanking forehands you can't handle and you blame the Head racquet that was handed to you, because you only play Wilson.
    4. Rich people - you're not one of them, so don't try.
    5. Frat guy - see drunk mom above. You wear a Rolex but it's one your Dad gave to you because he no longer wears an entry level Submariner. Cornell would have been a great landing spot but you ended up at a SUNY school - still respectable. That's okay because you're dad's a lawyer. You yell during serves and only your brothers think it's funny. You tell people about it the next day.
    6. Casual fan - a dying breed but the most reasonable. You play tennis but it's not your everyday apparel. You're there by yourself or one other person - it's not a festival and you know that. You might buy one alcoholic drink later in the afternoon and regret it both because of the price and because it's made you tired because you realize the ticket deal you bought from Vivid placed you in the afternoon sun.
    7. Sign/flag bearer - you're one of those people. You're clever knows no bounds. You're are schlepping this rolled up masterpiece that you created last night all the way from the hotel, onto the subway, and throughout the USO facility. You're supremely dedicated to a sign with a goat and a trailing word whose last three letters droop down the side because you ill-planned for the spacing but you only bought one posterboard so you've got no choice. The fans behind you will disgust you, but they'll be nice enough not to say anything, ensuring that you'll never learn.
 
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The place is a ripoff now. Not worth going back there. Especially when there’s no GOAT talents to watch play now. Why would anyone play to go watch a talentless loser like Fritz or Draper? LOL

Back in the 90’s it was awesome to go. Or even in the 2000s. You could watch Nadal practice or get decent seats in the earlier rounds
 
Tennfan123 said:
This feels very Reddity.
Click to expand...
It may feel that way but truer words have never been spoken.

Also, you've got to get "a slice" because that's what you do when you go to NY. Unfortunately for you, you went to one of the downtrodden Ray's pizzarias in the theater district and you accidentally poured salt all over your "cheese slice" because you thought it was Parmesan. Sadly I've seen this happen on multiple occasions.
 
TheGoldenEra1990’s said:
The place is a ripoff now. Not worth going back there. Especially when there’s no GOAT talents to watch play now. Why would anyone play to go watch a talentless loser like Fritz or Draper? LOL

Back in the 90’s it was awesome to go. Or even in the 2000s. You could watch Nadal practice or get decent seats in the earlier rounds
Click to expand...
Everyone knows the earlier rounds are the best rounds - less crowds and more upsets.

Nowadays people go there to get a glimpse of insta-girlfriends such as Paige Lorenzo or Fritz's Morgan Fairchild, or whatever her name is.
 
sarcastic-angry.gif
 
Last year splurged for some courtside tickets in Ashe in the earlier rounds.. sat behind two young women who could care less if they were there, just kept getting drinks and checking their phones. Blew my mind - Tiafoe vs Shelton, great 5-set match. Why do these people even show up?

Not sure if people have kept up on all the remodel plans for Ashe - they’re going to add a second level of suites and more courtside seats, assume at the expense of moving up the promenade level. Keep raking in the $$$.
 
newman said:
Last year splurged for some courtside tickets in Ashe in the earlier rounds.. sat behind two young women who could care less if they were there, just kept getting drinks and checking their phones. Blew my mind - Tiafoe vs Shelton, great 5-set match. Why do these people even show up?

Not sure if people have kept up on all the remodel plans for Ashe - they’re going to add a second level of suites and more courtside seats, assume at the expense of moving up the promenade level. Keep raking in the $$$.
Click to expand...
I'd say at least a third of the people there are oblivious to any matches being played. A few times I used to get the day pass, which meant one match in Ashe (usually high up) and then the rest of the day I could go to any court I wanted to watch and stay for as long as I wanted. If you stay late enough while there are still different matches being played, you can scoot up to courtside seats (not on Ashe) and no one really says anything.
 
Cramerica said:
Feel free to sticky this. I lived in Astoria for many years and used to go to the USO regularly - first as a common attendee and later as a lower-tier correspondent. So here's what to expect and a few tips:

  1. Take the subway to get there. It'll drop you off right in-between the Mets stadium and the USO facility. Take a quick peak at the Mets stadium because no one ever goes there despite it actually being quite nice. I did a Spartan race there one year and saw a guy throw up in a trash can. From the subway you'll walk along a boardwalk to the facility. Unless you're showing up with Tiffany the influencer to be seen at a late-round night sesh with Alcaraz, the lines to get in are light and quick and the people are friendly.
  2. Don't get suckered into getting one of those Amex earphones. Grow up.
  3. You bought tickets for a round 1 or later? Chump - go to the qualifying rounds where you can watch for free.
  4. Be sure to watch a couple matches from the side courts - you can get only a few feet away from the court and see just how hard they hit it. You thought maybe you could take a game from some of these guys but you're 4.5 USTA dreams have been shattered. Better get new poly strings.
  5. If you're done early, take advantage of the Flushing station to get dim sum. Everyone knows the best food in NYC is in Queens. Otherwise you travelled all the way to New York just to go to Applebee's in Times Square and they're known to go intercontinental.
  6. There are 7 kinds of people at the USO, so figure out which group you will want to join before you get there:
    1. Influencers - you'll need to dress inappropriately and take peace sign pictures next to a Billy Jean King poster - you'll have no idea who she is and you tagged Martina Navritalova because you've seen her on Real Housewives of Miami.
    2. Drunk mom - try your best to get on camera while you're at a late night match. You bought seats in the nose bleeds but because it's 1am, you've moved down to the third row because most people have responsibly gone home for work tomorrow. But you've consumed twelve honey deuces and you've added the empty cups to the pile started by the frat kids next to you. You're convinced you're young and cool but sympathy and patience is running low. You've tried dancing during the changeovers but the camera's yet to have found you, so you start resorting to chugging beer. You'll want to go ahead and call into work the next day.
    3. Tennis player - you play 4.0 tennis for USTA and your team placed third in the city championships in mixed doubles over 55. You've elected to wear the same tennis attire to the USO as you would if you were playing a match. Your hat is vented and a highlighter color. Your tennis shoes are Asics (not the FF series because they don't offer you enough support). You won't say it aloud, but you're hoping that by wearing your tennis attire, there may be an Emma Radacanu or a Emma Navarro who's hitting partner is feeling ill and they're in need of an emergency hit - they spot you in the crowd already dressed in your garb, ready and warmed up, and you find yourself on the practice courts shanking forehands you can't handle and you blame the Head racquet that was handed to you, because you only play Wilson.
    4. Rich people - you're not one of them, so don't try.
    5. Frat guy - see drunk mom above. You wear a Rolex but it's one your Dad gave to you because he no longer wears an entry level Submariner. Cornell would have been a great landing spot but you ended up at a SUNY school - still respectable. That's okay because you're dad's a lawyer. You yell during serves and only your brothers think it's funny. You tell people about it the next day.
    6. Casual fan - a dying breed but the most reasonable. You play tennis but it's not your everyday apparel. You're there by yourself or one other person - it's not a festival and you know that. You might buy one alcoholic drink later in the afternoon and regret it both because of the price and because it's made you tired because you realize the ticket deal you bought from Vivid placed you in the afternoon sun.
    7. Sign/flag bearer - you're one of those people. You're clever knows no bounds. You're are schlepping this rolled up masterpiece that you created last night all the way from the hotel, onto the subway, and throughout the USO facility. You're supremely dedicated to a sign with a goat and a trailing word whose last three letters droop down the side because you ill-planned for the spacing but you only bought one posterboard so you've got no choice. The fans behind you will disgust you, but they'll be nice enough not to say anything, ensuring that you'll never learn.
Click to expand...
I will be part of a group of bare-chested males who will spell out KYRGIOS with paint on our bodies. I have been chosen for R. We will rise in unison after every ace he serves and wave. @Sentinel will be next to me with G.
 
  1. Tennis player - you play 4.0 tennis for USTA and your team placed third in the city championships in mixed doubles over 55. You've elected to wear the same tennis attire to the USO as you would if you were playing a match. Your hat is vented and a highlighter color. Your tennis shoes are Asics (not the FF series because they don't offer you enough support). You won't say it aloud, but you're hoping that by wearing your tennis attire, there may be an Emma Radacanu or a Emma Navarro who's hitting partner is feeling ill and they're in need of an emergency hit - they spot you in the crowd already dressed in your garb, ready and warmed up, and you find yourself on the practice courts shanking forehands you can't handle and you blame the Head racquet that was handed to you, because you only play Wilson.
LOL. we should have a poll to see how many of you had this thought.
 
tjanev said:
  1. Tennis player - you play 4.0 tennis for USTA and your team placed third in the city championships in mixed doubles over 55. You've elected to wear the same tennis attire to the USO as you would if you were playing a match. Your hat is vented and a highlighter color. Your tennis shoes are Asics (not the FF series because they don't offer you enough support). You won't say it aloud, but you're hoping that by wearing your tennis attire, there may be an Emma Radacanu or a Emma Navarro who's hitting partner is feeling ill and they're in need of an emergency hit - they spot you in the crowd already dressed in your garb, ready and warmed up, and you find yourself on the practice courts shanking forehands you can't handle and you blame the Head racquet that was handed to you, because you only play Wilson.
LOL. we should have a poll to see how many of you had this thought.
Click to expand...
Every tennis tournament (large or small) I go to has a plethora of people who wear their full tennis attire to the tennis tournament just to sit in the stands. We get it, you play tennis. It's not a far stretch of the imagination. Every time I see them I watch them. I study them. I cannot fathom any reason to wear their garish tennis apparel other than that they might one day be selected to hit around on the practice court.

The other consideration I've had is that they want people to think they're somebody, like a coach or a trainer. They walk around in head to toe mismatching brands with a Nike hat, a New Balance shirt, a Wilson pair of short/skirt, and Asics shoes with little Nike encrusted ankle socks. Oh look! That must be Iga's coach! No, it's Jerry from Youngstown and he's got a 6 pm reservation at TGI Friday's in Times Square where they'll be serving 4 day old nachos with tomatoes who've been sitting under the raw chicken in the walk-in freezer.
 
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MeatTornado said:
The Mets are 5th in attendance this year fyi
Click to expand...
yeah the Mets are only good for causing parking problems at the USO the #7 is a good option

I like going the first week as there are matches everywhere and don't mind the crowds as people watching can be fun also. I actually like going by myself or with just one other friend because I like to move around and go from court to court with everything going on in the first week. going in a big group just feels like deadweight lol and it's much easier grabbing a spot for 1 or 2 people than it is for a group. For clothes I'm probably wearing a comfortable concert tshirt with probably some hoka shoes for walking around ( i know i know dad shoes but your feet will thank you) and maybe a baseball cap of my team go stros! lol I also might have one of those small drawstring backpacks to carry my water, small towel, order of play sheet, and maybe something I might buy but usually like to keep it light.
 
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fat middle aged white guy without shirt...rubs belly while dancing, immediate tv star...one even became a Djokovic favorite if I remember correctly....but they're there for everybody every year
 
Good info. I went to Indian Wells in 2019 and it was an awesome experience. Has anyone on the board been to Cincinatti? Is it at all comparable to Indian Wells? I’ve always liked watching the fast courts there on TV.
 
Cramerica said:
Feel free to sticky this. I lived in Astoria for many years and used to go to the USO regularly - first as a common attendee and later as a lower-tier correspondent. So here's what to expect and a few tips:

  1. Take the subway to get there. It'll drop you off right in-between the Mets stadium and the USO facility. Take a quick peak at the Mets stadium because no one ever goes there despite it actually being quite nice. I did a Spartan race there one year and saw a guy throw up in a trash can. From the subway you'll walk along a boardwalk to the facility. Unless you're showing up with Tiffany the influencer to be seen at a late-round night sesh with Alcaraz, the lines to get in are light and quick and the people are friendly.
  2. Don't get suckered into getting one of those Amex earphones. Grow up.
  3. You bought tickets for a round 1 or later? Chump - go to the qualifying rounds where you can watch for free.
  4. Be sure to watch a couple matches from the side courts - you can get only a few feet away from the court and see just how hard they hit it. You thought maybe you could take a game from some of these guys but you're 4.5 USTA dreams have been shattered. Better get new poly strings.
  5. If you're done early, take advantage of the Flushing station to get dim sum. Everyone knows the best food in NYC is in Queens. Otherwise you travelled all the way to New York just to go to Applebee's in Times Square and they're known to go intercontinental.
  6. There are 7 kinds of people at the USO, so figure out which group you will want to join before you get there:
    1. Influencers - you'll need to dress inappropriately and take peace sign pictures next to a Billy Jean King poster - you'll have no idea who she is and you tagged Martina Navritalova because you've seen her on Real Housewives of Miami.
    2. Drunk mom - try your best to get on camera while you're at a late night match. You bought seats in the nose bleeds but because it's 1am, you've moved down to the third row because most people have responsibly gone home for work tomorrow. But you've consumed twelve honey deuces and you've added the empty cups to the pile started by the frat kids next to you. You're convinced you're young and cool but sympathy and patience is running low. You've tried dancing during the changeovers but the camera's yet to have found you, so you start resorting to chugging beer. You'll want to go ahead and call into work the next day.
    3. Tennis player - you play 4.0 tennis for USTA and your team placed third in the city championships in mixed doubles over 55. You've elected to wear the same tennis attire to the USO as you would if you were playing a match. Your hat is vented and a highlighter color. Your tennis shoes are Asics (not the FF series because they don't offer you enough support). You won't say it aloud, but you're hoping that by wearing your tennis attire, there may be an Emma Radacanu or a Emma Navarro who's hitting partner is feeling ill and they're in need of an emergency hit - they spot you in the crowd already dressed in your garb, ready and warmed up, and you find yourself on the practice courts shanking forehands you can't handle and you blame the Head racquet that was handed to you, because you only play Wilson.
    4. Rich people - you're not one of them, so don't try.
    5. Frat guy - see drunk mom above. You wear a Rolex but it's one your Dad gave to you because he no longer wears an entry level Submariner. Cornell would have been a great landing spot but you ended up at a SUNY school - still respectable. That's okay because you're dad's a lawyer. You yell during serves and only your brothers think it's funny. You tell people about it the next day.
    6. Casual fan - a dying breed but the most reasonable. You play tennis but it's not your everyday apparel. You're there by yourself or one other person - it's not a festival and you know that. You might buy one alcoholic drink later in the afternoon and regret it both because of the price and because it's made you tired because you realize the ticket deal you bought from Vivid placed you in the afternoon sun.
    7. Sign/flag bearer - you're one of those people. You're clever knows no bounds. You're are schlepping this rolled up masterpiece that you created last night all the way from the hotel, onto the subway, and throughout the USO facility. You're supremely dedicated to a sign with a goat and a trailing word whose last three letters droop down the side because you ill-planned for the spacing but you only bought one posterboard so you've got no choice. The fans behind you will disgust you, but they'll be nice enough not to say anything, ensuring that you'll never learn.
Click to expand...
Bro.. you play at Astoria park?
 
USO is very tame clueless clown wise compared to Wimbledon. Yes there are many who haven't the first clue about tennis but at least they are humble and clueless unlike Wimbledon where its now mainly young to middle aged Liberal women who drive husbands Range Rover who just go for the Instagram moment.

I love the US Open as it doesn't pretend to be for the upper middle class...its classless and glady but thats part of its charm
 
sureshs said:
I will be part of a group of bare-chested males who will spell out KYRGIOS with paint on our bodies. I have been chosen for R. We will rise in unison after every ace he serves and wave. @Sentinel will be next to me with G.
Click to expand...
Judging by my width, it would be wise to give me the "I".

I am not built like Charles Atlas, as you seem to think.
 
tx10is said:
yeah the Mets are only good for causing parking problems at the USO the #7 is a good option

I like going the first week as there are matches everywhere and don't mind the crowds as people watching can be fun also. I actually like going by myself or with just one other friend because I like to move around and go from court to court with everything going on in the first week. going in a big group just feels like deadweight lol and it's much easier grabbing a spot for 1 or 2 people than it is for a group. For clothes I'm probably wearing a comfortable concert tshirt with probably some hoka shoes for walking around ( i know i know dad shoes but your feet will thank you) and maybe a baseball cap of my team go stros! lol I also might have one of those small drawstring backpacks to carry my water, small towel, order of play sheet, and maybe something I might buy but usually like to keep it light.
Click to expand...
This sounds exactly like a seasoned USO visitor.
 
Ray Mercer said:
Good info. I went to Indian Wells in 2019 and it was an awesome experience. Has anyone on the board been to Cincinatti? Is it at all comparable to Indian Wells? I’ve always liked watching the fast courts there on TV.
Click to expand...
I'd be surprised if Cincinnati is considered to be at any contending level to Indian Wells other than that it's a masters event. From interviews I've heard of the players, Cincy kind of sucks. It's way far out from the city and they don't have many hotel options and stay at Hotel 8's overlooking a highway with nothing else around.
 
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