Why The US Open Will Always Be My Favorite Grand Slam

I started watching tennis because of my dad. I don’t remember watching my first match; tennis was simply always on our family room TV. For those of you who don’t know, the tennis season is practically never-ending (much to my mom’s dismay). The professional season runs from early January to mid-November, meaning there’s almost always a tournament to follow. That constant excitement is part of what made me fall in love with the sport. 

There are four major tournaments: the Australian Open, the French Open (Roland-Garros), Wimbledon, and the US Open. Each of them has its perks: the bright red clay of Roland-Garros, the prestige of Wimbledon, and the vibrant, summer vibes that Australia gives me in the middle of the Northern Hemisphere’s winter. But nothing will ever compare to the US Open.

Maybe I’m biased as an American tennis fan, but there’s something about those two weeks in New York City that makes tennis feel bigger than a sport. The crowds are louder, the matches go later, celebrities fill the stands, and players seem to either thrive under the pressure or completely crumble. It’s chaotic, dramatic, and sometimes a little ridiculous, which is exactly why I love it. 

The US Open is the final Grand Slam of the tennis season, taking place at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. By the time the players arrive, they’ve already battled in the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and countless other tournaments around the world. The US Open feels like one final test before the season starts winding down, and everyone wants to finish on top. 

But for me, what really separates the US Open from the other Grand Slams is New York City.

Tennis has a reputation for being quiet and proper. Fans are expected to stay silent during points, players are required to wear all white at Wimbledon, and there are seemingly a million unwritten rules about etiquette. New York City does not care. At all.

US Open crowds are loud! They cheer for their favorites, get emotionally invested in five-set matches (that can last up to five hours), and pack Arthur Ashe Stadium for night sessions that continue well past midnight. There’s something surreal about watching two players still battling under the arena lights at 2 a.m., while the rest of the country sleeps. 

The atmosphere makes every match feel important, even when you had no intention of caring about either player before sitting down to watch. I have turned on countless US Open matches, planning to watch for 20 minutes, only to find myself hours later emotionally invested in some five-set battle I never saw coming. 

Then there are the American players.

Watching an American walk onto Arthur Ashe is different. The crowd immediately has someone to rally behind, and you practically feel the stadium willing them through every point. As someone who grew up rooting for American tennis, there’s nothing better than watching one of our players make it far. 

There’s also a sense of community that comes with rooting for the American players in New York. Suddenly, thousands of strangers are united behind the same person, celebrating every winner, and holding their breath through every match point. Even watching from home, it’s hard not to feel like you’re part of the crowd.

The US Open is also a perfect intersection of sports and pop culture. Half the fun is seeing which celebrities are in the stands and what everyone is wearing. Tennis is already one of the most fashionable sports, but New York takes it to another level. 

Even the players seem to embrace it. The outfits get bolder, the entrances feel bigger, and everything has a little more personality. But underneath all of the celebrity appearances, outfits, and New York chaos is genuinely incredible tennis. That’s ultimately why I keep coming back.

Maybe Wimbledon will always be tennis’ most prestigious tournament. Maybe nothing will ever look as cool as sliding across the clay at Roland-Garros. And maybe someday I’ll start destroying my sleep schedule to watch live Australian Open matches instead of recordings. 

But give me Arthur Ashe under the lights, a loud New York City crowd, and a five-hour match. The US Open will win every time.

• entertainment
• new york city
• sports
• tennis
• us open