The end of August and early September means back to school time for many. For me, I start dreaming of tennis balls and whether I should attend this year’s US Open, which is in full swing (pun intended) in Flushing Meadows, NY.
My love of tennis began in late high school watching the likes of Boris Becker, Steffi Graf and Stefan Edberg. I don’t remember why, perhaps it was friends’ influences or maybe how close in age I was to them, but I loved it so much that Wimbledon was on my to-do list when I traveled to Europe in the summer of 1990. I remember watching Steffi Graf play an early round, being upset when my then-favorite player Anders Jarryd forfeited his match, and not wanting to give in my ticket when I left for it to be resold. I still have it as a keepsake.
Yet, it wasn’t until more than 20 years that I attended my first US Open, just a few hours from my house in the Philadelphia suburbs. Bizarre, I know, but I think it was that fear of driving through New York traffic to get there that deterred me from going. When my husband and a friend finally determined we were going to get there in 2012, my research showed me just how easy it would be.
Scoring Tickets
Getting tickets to the US Open is a breeze especially since I waited until the age of the Internet for my first visit. Just go onto their site and look around. I prefer going earlier, including opening day, as there are more matches happening on more courts. If you have a budget, it is also the cheapest option as Ground Admission is available. This type of admission allows you first-come, first-served access to all courts except for Arthur Ashe Stadium. Just be sure to check out what your ticket gives you access to before you purchase it and realize that as you get closer to the finals, they will be more expensive, and you will have less choices.
Also keep in mind that there are two sessions each day. One begins at 11am, while the second at 7pm. As the Open goes on, the session times will lessen.
Philly to Flushing Meadows
Each time I’ve gone to the US Open I’ve chosen to attend the daytime session. I’ve both gone up and back to Philly in the same day, and stayed over in Manhattan, leaving my luggage at the hotel while attending the Open the next day.
By car. You can drive, though I never have. The address to plug into your GPS for parking is 126th Street and Shea Road, Corona, NY. You’ll see on the Open’s website to take the Grand Central Parkway Exit 9E or Whitestone Expressway Exit 13D.
By rail. If you’ve never taken the train to New York and you live in or around Philadelphia, just do it. This is my advice for the US Open or any other time of year. You can take Amtrak from Wilmington, Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, or Trenton, but often I take the cheaper alternative. Generally, I drive to Hamilton, NJ, about 50 minutes from my home south of the Philly airport, and hop on NJ Transit (NJT) for the rest of the ride into Manhattan. You can drive to Trenton, or take SEPTA Regional Rail to Trenton as well, but Hamilton is my preference to save some time and I like their parking. From there the ride is generally one to one and a half hours with a price of $16.25 each way for adults, and $7.35 for kids and seniors. While the ride is a little longer and not quite as nice on NJT, I find it a benefit to hop on a train when you want and not be stuck to the timed departure you have on Amtrak.
Once you arrive at Penn Station, there is one more leg of your journey to get to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Simply follow the signs to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR). Look for the Port Washington Branch and get off at the Mets-Willets Point Station. It’s a 16-minute trip. Once you get off the train, go up the stairs and to the right and you will see the gates for the tennis center. That easy.
By bus. Greyhound, Megabus, all the usual suspects will take you to New York. They are cheaper, but with New York traffic, I find the train easier if I want to keep to a schedule. If you choose the bus, remember their drop off points are about a 5-10-minute walk to Penn Station if you are taking the LIRR to the Open. Since Greyhound lets you off at the Port Authority, you can also catch the subway. According to the US Open website, you can catch the 7 train from the terminal to Mets-Willets Point Station.
What to Bring
Make sure you have your tickets, of course. Mobile tickets are an option, so don’t use all your phone’s battery on the way to New York!
Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses. When I’ve gone to the US Open, I’ve been warm to sweating. There are shady areas in the complex, including food areas, but apparently tennis and shade trees don’t tend to mix. You will be out in the sun unless you know just where to find shade, but I’ve only ever found it inside the larger courts. Make sure you’re drinking your water too!
I tend to have to delete apps after a while because of my phone’s storage, but from what I recall, the US Open has a great app, so be sure to download it.
It goes without saying to bring money/credit/debit card. There are plenty of food and drink options, and we never leave without a new shirt or hat for my husband.
A camera. Your phone is fine, but I’ve gotten some great photos at this event with my 35mm and its zoom lens.
Speaking of a camera, I used my camera for my full circle moment at the 2014 US Open. As my friend and I were trying to find some shade during an Andy Murray match, who did we run into but Boris Becker all these years later.
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