Keep Summer Love Alive at the US Open

Date: Monday, July 27, 2009

If you’re thinking about making plans for Labor Day weekend, look no further than Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City. Held over the two weeks before and after Labor Day, Flushing is home to the 2009 US Open Tennis Championship. What better way to celebrate summer and welcome September?

Fun Fact #1: In 1968, the total prize money awarded at the first US Open was $100,000. In 2008, it exceeded $19 million.

The US Open satisfies more than just your tennis cravings with its countless number of restaurants and bars. If you are on your way to a match, or hoping to cool off in between matches, try one of the many options open to all ticket holders. If you’re in the mood for a cool beverage or a Cuban-inspired specialty, try Mojito Restaurant & Bar. If the 1950s Havana décor is not your cup of tea, try the Patio Café, a great place to go if you want to sit outside and absorb the US Open energy. Try a sandwich or salad which can easily be paired with a summer specialty cocktail. If you need a closer look, then head to the Heineken Red Star Café, located in the South Plaza near Court 7. It has a sports bar atmosphere, light snacks, plenty of television screens, specialty beers, and cocktails. The place that has everything is the US Open Food Village. They have a variety of burgers, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Indian dishes, sushi, crepes, cheese steaks, Mexican food, Kosher meals, seafood, pizza, pasta, and last but not least the infamous Grey Goose Bar. With so many options, food is definitely a crowd pleaser at the Open.

Fun Fact #2: The youngest women's singles champion in US Open history was Tracy Austin, who won it in 1979 at the age of 16 years and eight months.

Location

The tournament is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, but this has not always been the location. When the tournament began in 1881 it was held at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island. Things were different back then; only members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter. It was a men’s only tournament, the women’s competition did not start until 6 years later. The tournament was held in Rhode Island until 1915, when it was moved to the West Side Tennis Club, in Forest Hills, Queens. That was the home of the Open until 1978, when the tournament moved once again to its current home in Flushing, Queens at the USTA National Tennis Center. Change is probably the only consistent thing about this tournament. The location was re-named the USTA “Billie Jean King” National Tennis Center at the start of the 2006 US Open.

The tournament has been played on three different surfaces throughout history. Grass was the first, until Forest Hills, changed their courts to Har-Tru clay courts in 1975. A short three years later when the event moved to Flushing Meadows, the surface changed once again to DecoTurf.

Fun Fact #3: Jimmy Connors is the only man to have won the US Open on more than one surface (he won it on all three!).

Who is Billie Jean King?

One of the most talented women in the history of Tennis, but more importantly, Billie Jean King is an advocate of equality in sports. She has won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. She has appropriately been quoted as saying, "Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever." On top of her competitive nature and desire to extinguish sexism in sports and society, King is the founder of the Women's Tennis Association, the Women's Sports Foundation, and co-founder of World Team Tennis. One of her most famous matches was at the "Battle of the Sexes" in 1973, where she defeated Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon men's champion.

Fun Fact #4: In 1972, King became the first tennis player and the first female athlete ever to be named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

Arthur Ashe Stadium

The main court is Arthur Ashe Stadium, which replaced Louis Armstrong Stadium in 1997. Arthur Ashe is the largest outdoor tennis-only stadium in the world, seating over 23,000. There is not a retractable roof to prevent delays due to weather, so be prepared for the late summer sun to heat your seats. Arthur Ashe Stadium hosted the first ever regular season outdoor basketball game (men’s or women’s) in July of 2008. The WNBA Indiana Fever beat the New York Liberty 71-55; the event raised money for breast cancer research.     

Who is Arthur Ashe?

Arthur Ashe is the famous African American tennis player who won the inaugural US Open in which professionals could compete in 1968. After retiring from Tennis, Ashe founded the National Junior Tennis League and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985. After finding out he contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during one of his two heart surgeries, Ashe became a promoter of HIV/AIDS awareness. He founded the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS. A remarkable athlete and civil rights activist, one of his famous quotes was, "You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy."

Fun Fact #5: The youngest men's singles champion in US Open history was Pete Sampras, who was 19 years old when he won it in 1990.

This year’s Open will provide fans with exciting matches, fulfilling meals, and an irreplaceable atmosphere. Don’t miss out, get your tickets today!