A Serious Tennis Fan’s Complete Guide to the 2026 US Open: Tickets, Tips & More

▸ Returning Visitors: Click Here for Latest Updates!
- June 28: Published fully restructured new version of this post to facilitate navigation, including this PDF 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal — day-by-day ticket options and direct links to check prices and comparison shop on Ticketmaster and Stubhub.
- July 3: Added FAQ: “Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?”
- August 3: Updated details on shade patterns in Armstrong Stadium in FAQ: “Which seats get the most shade?”
- August 27: The NYT reported that the Open would offer limited $25 evening grounds passes for purchase on-site only through Sep 6: “However, they can be purchased only on-site the evening of entry and on nights that Louis Armstrong is sold out (not including resale tickets).” When I asked the US Open box office to provide more details, they wrote: “No unfortunately we cannot confirm availability beforehand, these specific passes are on a day-to-day basis. Evenings grounds passes are only made available day of based on the capacity of the events and the stadiums.”
- August 29: My new chart outlining how scheduling should work beginning in Round 2: “Who Plays on Which Dates After R1?”
- September 1: Fellow fan Carrie reported on the late-night taxi situation: “I had a great experience with getting a yellow cab at the rideshare area by the NY Hall of Science at around 11:30pm the first two nights. NYPD organized the taxis and the taxi line and I waited only a few minutes in line before I was able to get a cab and a fast ride back to the hotel at a very reasonable cost. There were plenty of taxis waiting to pick up folks. This was probably way faster than waiting for an uber, and the police officer organizing the taxi line even made the sure my driver had his meter on when he saw I was a woman traveling solo late at night!”
- September 3: I share observation on the new post-renovation Courtside and Loge sections in my updated FAQ “What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?“
By P.J. Simmons
If you’re a fellow tennis fan planning a trip to the US Open — whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth — I built this guide for you. As a serious tennis player and fan living in NYC, I feel so lucky that the US Open is in my backyard. I absolutely love the tournament, and find nothing more educational and inspiring for my own game than seeing world-class live tennis.
2026 will mark my 18th time at the US Open, and I’ve learned a ton over the years through trial and error about how to maximize the opportunity, find the best tickets and seats on the Official US Open ticket site on Ticketmaster, StubHub, and other reseller sites, and generally get the biggest bang for the buck. Likewise, I’ve learned so much thanks to fellow fans around the world who have shared their own insights since I wrote the first version of this post over a decade ago.
Below are my top 10 recommendations and practical resources to help you sort through the complexity, understand all the ticket options, and make the best decisions for your own priorities and budget so you have an incredible experience. I’ll continue to update throughout the summer and the tournament. Don’t hesitate to reach out with a question below if you can’t find what you need – I’ll reply as soon as I can.
For my returning friends: Please let me know what you think of this newly restructured and updated version (June 28), which hopefully will make navigation easier and faster for you. Please let me know what you think – I’d really appreciate your feedback!
What Every First-Timer Should Know Before Buying Tickets
Whether it’s your first Open or you just haven’t been in a few years, here are a few things worth understanding before you spend a dollar or make final decisions on when to attend.
Consider taking advantage of incredible FREE opportunities to see world-class tennis and superstars the week before the main tournament (August 23–29)
Before the main tournament begins, there’s a packed week of events at the US Open grounds (“Fan Week”) that offers many opportunities to experience the magic of the Open without spending a dollar on a ticket.
The week kicks off Sunday August 23 with Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. If you have kids, this is a great day to go with lots of interactive games, music, activities.
Then, the Qualifying Tournament (Monday August 24 – Thursday August 27) is an amazing opportunity for serious fans to see major rising players and incredible tennis up close. 128 of the world’s best male and female players (whose ATP and WTA rankings were just shy of qualifying automatically for the US Open) will compete for the final 32 spots (16 each for men and women) in the singles draws. In 2021, #150-ranked qualifier Emma Raducanu went on to win the US Open women’s singles title – the first Grand Slam champion in history to come through qualifiers. Maja Chwalinska came close to doing the same at the 2026 French Open. Read why Fan Week/Qualies are so special in this excellent piece by Steven Kutz.
Throughout the entire week, there are opportunities to see some of the top-seeded players and biggest stars in unofficial practice sessions (details posted on the practice schedule the morning of).
Note: Fan week also features four special events that require paid tickets: including Mixed Doubles Rounds 1&2 (Aug 25 10am); Exhibition play with Roger Federer (Aug 25 7pm); Mixed Doubles Semis and Finals (Aug 26 7pm); and a “Stars of the Open” exhibition (Aug 27 7pm).
IMPORTANT: TO GAIN ADMISSION DURING FAN WEEK, YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR A FREE FAN ACCESS PASS.
The US Open is much bigger than Ashe Stadium. Get the lay of the land before you make your plan.
Most people think of Arthur Ashe Stadium when they think about the US Open—and understandably so. It’s the largest tennis stadium in the world (almost 24,000 seats) and home to many of the tournament’s biggest matches. But the US Open is so much more than Ashe. Think of it as a massive tennis festival spread across an entire campus. On a typical day during the first week, world-class matches take place simultaneously on Ashe plus 16 other courts.
In fact, some of the most exciting tennis during the tournament happens on Louis Armstrong Stadium (almost as big as the main show courts at Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open with around 14,000 seats plus a retractable roof in case of rain), Grandstand (with 8,100 seats), Court #17 (2,800 seats) and the smaller field Courts #4-16.
Some important basic rules about how entry and seating works:
- Any of the almost 80 ticket options gets you access to the entire US Open grounds — you’ll find every option laid out in the ticket chart below (2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices).
- Once you’ve entered the US Open grounds, you can access unreserved seats (on a first-come basis) in Armstrong, Grandstand, and on every other court except Ashe stadium. Ashe Stadium has no unreserved seats, so you need to buy an Ashe-specific ticket if you want to get in. Armstrong and Grandstand have both reserved ticket options and unreserved seating. Courts #4-17 are entirely first-come, unreserved seating.
- Grounds entry times vary depending on your ticket: A grounds pass or “Day” session reserved ticket for either Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand allows entry when gates first open (usually 9:30am). If you only purchase an “Evening” session ticket for a particular day, you’ll have to wait until 6pm to enter the grounds. Once you’re in the US Open grounds, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
Learn how player and match scheduling works to raise the odds of seeing your favorite players.
Most fans coming to the Open dream of seeing their favorite players in action. But what many first-timers don’t realize is that it’s impossible to predict which players will play on which days, on which courts, or at what time until the detailed “Daily Schedule of Play” is released shortly before the actual match day. So if you buy a ticket to the Open prior to that – which most people do – you’re buying access to matches in a particular round of play, not a guarantee that you’ll see any specific player.
The good news is that having a clear understanding of how scheduling works can dramatically improve your odds of seeing the players and matches that matter most to you. Taking a few minutes now to review these things will put you ahead of the game:
1. Start by getting the big picture of the tournament’s schedule – here’s an overview:
>> You can find a comprehensive, day-by-day breakdown of the schedule and every ticket option here: 2026 US Open Ticket Options
2. Get a sense of what day-by-day match scheduling looks like by reviewing last year’s “Daily Schedules of Play” to get a feel for what types of matches are played on which courts during the various rounds. Keep in mind this is just illustrative: for instance, just because a player was scheduled for certain days or played on certain Ashe Day or Night sessions does not mean you can expect the same for this year!
3. Go deeper: see the FAQ “How can I predict when and where my favorite player will play?” below — it explains how to make educated guesses about who plays when and where.
How to Choose the Right Tickets and Spot Good Deals
One of the most common questions I get every year is some version of: “What’s the best ticket to buy?” The honest answer is that there are many “best” tickets — it simply depends on your priorities and what kind of experience you’re hoping to have. Some fans want the energy of being with 24,000 others in an Arthur Ashe night session. Others are happy spending an entire day roaming the grounds in the early rounds, hopping from court to court. Some want to treat someone special to courtside seats in a final round. Others want the most tennis possible for the lowest price. So the goal is simply to find the ticket that’s best for you.
Below are my top recommendations—followed by a time-saving chart I built to help you compare all the options, benchmark average prices and comparison shop, and make decisions with confidence.
Don’t miss the chance to see world-class players and great matches up close on the other courts beyond Ashe Stadium.

It was awesome seeing Ben Shelton up close for the first time in 2022 on Court #10 in Round 1 (v. Borges)
For my first US Open, I spent about $250 per ticket for a seat in the upper portion of Ashe Stadium for a night match so I’d be guaranteed to see at least one Top 10 player live. While it was certainly thrilling to experience the electricity of an evening Ashe match, I still felt somewhat distant from the action (it’s a mammoth 24,000-capacity venue) and spent much of the time watching the match on the huge video screen. Moreover, because the tournament prioritizes putting the biggest stars on Ashe over the best match-ups, the matches I saw weren’t terribly exciting.
Since then, I’ve become addicted to the unparalleled thrill of seeing many world-class competitors from a few feet away in epic duels on several of the smaller non-Ashe courts (Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand Stadium, the very cool Court #17, and other outer courts #4-#16). Once you have this experience you’ll likely get addicted too. While it’s rare that you’ll see the Top 5 players on those courts, you WILL see other awe-inspiring players in very competitive matches –including seeing rising stars before they become household names, and feel the excitement of “discovering” new talent to cheer for. Over the years I’ve seen countless “next-gen” players up very close for the first time on outer courts before they were super famous — including Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Madison Keys, Dominic Thiem, Sasha Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and many others.
While I recommend everyone experience Ashe Stadium at least once, I also can’t recommend more strongly that you make time to explore the opportunities to see thrilling tennis in more intimate settings on the other 16 courts.
On a tight budget but want to see a lot of tennis? Consider going during Rounds 1 and 2, and aim for an affordable Ashe Stadium (or Armstrong Stadium) DAY session ticket — often comparably priced to a Grounds Pass, but a much smarter buy.

Be sure to take in some Doubles action too. Here was Casper Ruud and his partner William Blumberg during Round 1 in 2024.
Rounds 1 and 2 (Sun–Thurs of the main tournament’s first week) are a great chance to get maximum bang for your buck. There’s so much action across the entire US Open grounds, with matches happening simultaneously on 17 courts all day — and some play stretching into the evening. Crowds are heavy but not as intense as Labor Day weekend. It’s one of my favorite times to be out there.
Many fans assume a Grounds Pass is automatically the cheapest way into the Open — but often it isn’t. Before you buy one, always compare it against Ashe and Armstrong DAY-session tickets. During Rounds 1 and 2 those are often available for a similar price (sometimes less!), and they give you everything a Grounds Pass does — early entry when the gates open in the morning, the run of the whole grounds — plus a reserved seat and rain protection (both stadiums have roofs). You may end up roaming the outer courts more than sitting in that seat — but it’s there when you want it, and it guarantees you a spot inside if one of your favorites gets scheduled in that stadium. And keep in mind: a Grounds Pass won’t get you into Ashe at all (every Ashe seat is reserved). So if having Ashe be part of your experience matters to you, a cheap Ashe day ticket in the early rounds is often the most affordable way to do it.
And because a DAY ticket lets you stay on the grounds into the evening, you’ll get hours of extra tennis on the outer courts well past 6pm — all for the price of one ticket.
If your budget can swing it, I strongly recommend getting a courtside reserved seat in Louis Armstrong stadium (especially between Sep 4 – Sep 7) and/or in Grandstand (especially on Sep 4 or Sep 5).

Me spotted on Netflix “Break Point” series cheering on Taylor Fritz and Brandon Holt at the 2022 US Open – front row during awesome match on Grandstand
As a general rule, I encourage fellow fans to budget their time and money in ways that maximize the possibility of a few magical experiences versus a ton of forgettable ones. For instance, if you’re opting between multiple days of cheap nosebleed seats in Ashe’s Upper Promenade versus applying the same budget towards excellent seats on Armstrong or Grandstand for a couple sessions, I generally recommend the latter.
Louis Armstrong (14,053 seats) and Grandstand (8,125 seats) are the other two main show courts after Ashe Stadium – and they offer a much more intimate experience. A reserved courtside ticket for either can give you access to thrilling matches and players up close that you’ll never forget.
The first time I did this in 2010 I saw an unforgettable marathon slugfest between David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco from the first row of the old Armstrong stadium… It gave me a memory I will treasure forever. Ever since, I’ve made it an annual tradition to go with friends to get excellent courtside seats in Armstrong during the 3rd Round or Round of 16. In 2019, I got to see Matteo Berrettini crushing balls in the Round of 16 on Armstrong from the second row (and my phone exploded with texts when my friends and I were spotted on ESPN frequently cheering for him). I’ve had similar transporting experiences in Grandstand over the years – including sitting first row behind-the-server for a match between Auger-Aliassime and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
Both stadiums also feature general admission seating on a first-come basis, but getting good GA seats can be tough and involve long lines for the higher-profile matches — so having a reserved courtside ticket gives you the dual benefit of skipping long lines plus incredible proximity to the players.
If you’ve never done it, consider splurging once on a courtside Ashe seat.

Me caught on ESPN cheering very loudly for Carlitos from front row Ashe (lower left) during 2024 Round 2 (v Botic van de Zandschulp)
After dreaming for years of the possibility, I finally bit the bullet to invest in Arthur Ashe Stadium Courtside seats in 2011 for the first time. It was bliss. Ever since, I’ve made an annual pilgrimage to experience Ashe Courtside with a few close friends at least once.
What most people don’t understand about the mammoth Ashe stadium until they’ve been in person is that even Loge seating is fairly high up because (a) the stadium is very vertically oriented (seating is on a sharp incline) and (b) there are two levels of suites above Courtside before the first row of Loge even begins. So when you’re down in Courtside, you feel like you’re in another world. The feeling of being that close to greatness in Ashe’s electric atmosphere is pretty amazing.
Here’s a video I shot of Federer from the front row in 2011, the very first time I sat courtside at Ashe. I found a great deal on a resale ticket on Labor Day during the Round of 16 and got to witness Federer perfection from a few feet away. Best money I’ve ever spent.
Before you compare options, get clear on what matters most to you for this particular visit — seeing a favorite player, incredible proximity, atmosphere, the most tennis for your money, shade, flexibility, or certainty. The more familiar you become with the market, the easier it becomes to recognize real value when you see it.
Here are 4 steps to making sure you make your decision with confidence:
- Know the benefits/restrictions of each type of ticket – read “What Each US Open Ticket Type Gets You” below.
- Review the day-by-day ticket options and average prices in the chart below. It will give you valuable context for smart decisionmaking, including up-to-date price ranges of what to expect for every single ticket option plus benchmark ranges from last year’s Open.
- Comparison shop — best done on a computer. For my full step-by-step process — which sites, how to read the maps, what to avoid — see “Which ticket site should I use?” under Before You Buy below.
- Scan the topics below under “Before You Buy — Common Questions” to dive deeper into many important questions that may impact your final decision about what’s best for you.

Before You Buy — Common Questions
▸ Should I buy now or wait? Will prices go up or down?
The frustrating reality is: it depends — and it’s impossible to predict with certainty. Buying US Open tickets can be a bit like investing in the stock market: knowledge and good judgment dramatically improve your odds, but there are always surprises because so many variables are involved.
One thing many first-time buyers don’t realize is that the inventory they see today may look very different tomorrow, next week, or later in the summer. Much of the market is driven by resale, because the USTA typically makes relatively few Standard tickets (“blue dots” on Ticketmaster) available, with most inventory pre-allocated to subscribers — and even Standard tickets are dynamically priced rather than sold at a fixed “face value.” As a result, prices can move in unexpected ways.
Historically, some sessions get cheaper as more resale tickets hit the market and sellers compete, while other high-demand sessions rise substantially. Who gets scheduled on which days, courts, and sessions matters too. Last year (2025), schedulers surprised everyone by putting the blockbuster Djokovic–Alcaraz semifinal in the day session rather than at night — so day prices spiked and night prices dropped.
Resale tickets are almost always available until the last minute, so patient buyers sometimes find great deals — but waiting trades certainty for risk. The best advice I can give: familiarize yourself with typical prices for the sessions you’re considering so you can recognize a good opportunity when you see one. The chart above is built for exactly that — every option, this year’s average ranges, and last year’s day-of benchmarks (for context, not prediction). One clue: if you enlarge the Ticketmaster map and see few tickets, scarcity often signals prices may keep rising; abundant inventory often means more downward pressure.
▸ Will the tournament release more Standard tickets and Grounds Passes?
Sometimes yes — but in a completely unpredictable way. The USTA has historically released additional Standard (“blue dot”) tickets throughout the summer for some sessions, sometimes for surprisingly good seats. There has never been a reliable pattern for which sessions or ticket types get more inventory, and Grounds Pass inventory can fluctuate too. My advice: check periodically, especially in the mornings, but don’t count on it for any specific session.
▸ Will I still get good tickets if everything looks expensive right now?
Usually, yes. One of the biggest misconceptions among first-time buyers is that the inventory available when tickets first go on sale is all there will be. In reality, more resale inventory appears throughout the summer, and the USTA often releases additional standard tickets too. The market keeps evolving right up until the tournament begins — and sometimes even on the day of the matches.
▸ Which sessions are the best deals?
This varies year to year, and some of the best last-minute deals turn up when the lineups aren’t what people expected (last year, for example, a marquee semifinal landed in the day session instead of the night). Still, here are a few sessions that tend to be overlooked and have historically offered relatively good value:
- Armstrong evening courtside, week 1 — exciting under the lights in a big stadium, but demand is lower because many fans choose day-session tickets instead (understandably, since a day ticket lets you in as soon as gates open, so you can catch as much tennis as possible). The trade-off: an evening-only ticket won’t get you onto the grounds until 6pm. But it can be an affordable way to see bigger names from a far better vantage point than the upper tier of Ashe.
- Quarterfinal day sessions — the biggest-name lineups almost always go to the night sessions during the quarterfinals. With many tourists gone and locals leaning toward evenings, day tickets here are often cheaper than the Round of 16.
- Labor Day Ashe evening — historically cheaper than other Round-of-16 sessions, since many tourists have headed home and demand dips. You still get great matches, and it’s a great time to experience Ashe at night.
▸ How do I see the exact location of seats I might buy?
Use the “Map View” on Ticketmaster for any particular session provides the best reference for the exact location of specific seat(s). After you click on the session/stadium that interests you, choose Map View, then mouse over or click any of the dots to see the exact section, row, and seat number. This is also helpful if you’re comparison shopping with Stubhub or other resale sites, whose maps may only feature sections and zones and not individual seats.
KEY SEATING CHARTS AND SHADE MAPS
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM
- NEW 2026 Arthur Ashe Seating Chart
- My NEW 2026 annotated Ashe Stadium SHADE map
- Ashe “Interactive Seat Viewer” (updated for 2026) to give you a sense of what view is like from specific seats – which from my experience tends to make seats look like they’re closer than they actually feel when you’re there, but helpful nonetheless.
Update on the Renovated Loge Section
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM
- Louis Armstrong Stadium Seating Chart (Official)
- Louis Armstrong Chart (with my annotations)
- Armstrong Interactive “View from Seat” Map
- My annotated Armstrong Stadium SHADE map
GRANDSTAND
▸ What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?
A lot. 2026 brings a huge change to Ashe: a major renovation added 2,000 new Courtside seats and removed around 2,800 Loge seats to make room for the expanded courtside area and newly designed luxury suites between the Courtside and Loge levels. Promenade remains exactly the same.
My initial observations after spending a few days watching play from various sections of Ashe in 2026:
The New Courtside
- Courtside seats (even higher rows) remain qualitatively much, much better than Loge and Promenade, which now feel even more remote. Overall, though, courtside feels far less intimate. And more numbers create intense crowds in the “Club Level” corridors (where you get drinks and food).
- Noise levels are worse than ever in the stadium due to the larger numbers of people in courtside and folks in suites, many of whom are drinking heavily and carry on conversations at full voice. All it takes is a few loud conversations to spark a chain reaction: background conversations become white noise, and everyone feels permission to talk loudly.
- Gone are the days when you would be embarrassed for standing in an aisle except during changeovers. The longer stairways — coupled with the highly questionable elimination of the continuous walkway at the top of Courtside — means people take too long to get to their seats.
- The addition of two cordoned-off Courtside rows (“100A-100E”) with walkway behind the umpire chair feels, to be perfectly frank, obnoxious. One the one hand, I applaud the move to put Players’ Boxes into the first row on this side (section 100A) and directly opposite (105AA). And I understand the need to reserve parts of these rows (especially 100G) for VIPs like Billie Jean King and provide special security for them. But selling the rest of these seats to ultra-rich subscribers — many of whom skip matches in favor of hanging in suites or resell the seats at out-of-reach, exorbitant prices — is infuriating to someone like me who has spent hard-earned savings on those seats in the past and literally been moved to tears of joy and appreciation to be in them watching favorite players.
The New Loge
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
I’ll update the FAQ on views from seats as soon as I can with a few more photos, but wanted to share this update in real time (Sep 3, 2026).
▸ Which seats get the most shade?
ASHE STADIUM
The roof creates a huge amount of natural shade all day for many seats. The most shade is in the South and West sections. Next-best is the North. The most sun (to avoid for Day sessions) is on the East side. See my Ashe shade map. I will update this with more details after I’ve experienced Ashe post-renovation in person during Fan Week this year.
GRANDSTAND
Much less shade overall, but South and West are again better because the sun is more at your back. GA seats higher under the overhang — especially the Southwest corner — get the most.
ARMSTRONG STADIUM
Sections 1–8 (South and West) are best overall for shade, with Section 2 the best (in shade all day). Sections 11-16 (East) are the worst and sit in direct afternoon sun (however the top couple of rows are shaded all day due to the overhang from the upper deck). See this basic overview of the Armstrong shade pattern – then see these additional photos showing how various sections are impacted throughout the day. Additional details:
- Section 1 is fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then some rows and some seats in the first 8-10 rows start getting some sun). See this photo.
- Sections 17-18: Fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then lower rows start getting sun. By about 2:15, many of the first 8-10 rows (rows E-O) are getting sun – see this photo and this photo. By 3pm a few more rows in 17 and 18 get sun – see this photo. By around 4pm (not sure exact time) all of 17 and 18 are shaded completely again
- Sections 3-8 (West side/Chair umpire side) is in full sun at 11am, but the shade gradually moves down to blanket more and more rows such that by 12:30pm the top 10 rows (appx) are in shade and by around 1pm all seats are fully shaded.
- The last 2 rows in the lower bowl around the entire stadium stay shaded (under the overhang from the upper bowl).
- Sections 8-11: Rows U and above are always shaded, most other seats always in direct sun.
▸ Which sections and seats have the best views?
Most people consider “behind the server” seats (the North or South ends of the court) the best — and prices reflect it. For first-timers, that’s my top recommendation. It’s the angle used for broadcast: you can follow point construction and see the court from the perspective of the player on your side of the net, without moving your head side to side. Here’s a photo of the same perspective (from higher up seats) in Armstrong. Here’s another photo from Ashe courtside front row.
Corner sections are also widely considered to be highly desirable — and for good reason. They carry many of the same advantages of the above, with the added benefit you can see the player on your side of the net from the front as their hitting the ball not just the back. Here’s a photo from the new Armstrong from that perspective.
As a serious player myself, I personally love sitting courtside as close as possible in lower rows of sections where seats are practically on the court, perpendicular and near to the actual baseline (e.g., section 120 in renovated Ashe) because it gets me physically even closer to the players and more on the same level. Sitting in the lower rows, I feel even more like I’m on the court with them. I feel the speed of the game. In these seats, I personally enjoy watching one player at a time sometimes to see their footwork, how they prepare for the next ball, etc. Here’s a photo from Ashe courtside from that perspective.
For Loge or Promenade in Ashe, I generally recommend the lowest rows you can get regardless of location, since Loge — and especially Promenade — are already quite high up.
For Day sessions, factor in shade (West, Southwest, and Northwest get the most relief; see the shade question above). The umpire chair is never a real obstruction, but in very low rows on that side it can be a minor annoyance.
▸ Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?
There are a handful of specific seats worth avoiding in Promenade based on reader reports in the comments over the years and posts on “View from my Seat.” Two recommendations based on every obstruction complaint I’ve ever heard about the Promenade:
1. Avoid aisle seats in Promenade rows A-E (due to large glass safety panels at the bottom of aisle stairways).
At the bottom of every aisle staircase, there’s a clear safety panel (with a metal support bar) to keep people from stumbling over the ledge. These sit at the ends of the rows, all the way around the stadium. If you’re in one of the first several rows (roughly A through E) AND in the seat or two directly beside an aisle, that glass and bar can cut right across your view of the court. Fans report this year after year, always in the same spots: the aisle-adjacent seats in the low rows. A few rows up, or a few seats over, and the problem disappears. The added bonus of skipping these seats: you’ll avoid fans walking up and down the aisles (which they’re only allowed to do in Promenade).
2. Unless you are fairly tall, avoid Row A in Promenade due to the metal safety rail. The front row of the Promenade has a horizontal rail along it. For many adults it’s a non-issue — you see right over it. But if you’re on the shorter side, or bringing kids, the rail can sit annoyingly close to your sightline to the near baseline. My advice for most folks is to avoid the first row altogether. Rows B and C give you virtually the same view with zero rail, and Row A’s extra legroom probably isn’t worth the tradeoff.
Check out photos from other fans of particular seats in Promenade at “View from my Seat.”
Note: I am not able yet to address questions about structural obstructions in the newly renovated Courtside and Loge sections – I’ll update after I’m there this year.
▸ Day session or evening — which is the better value?
For most fans, day sessions offer better overall value. You’ll typically get more tennis, more scheduling flexibility, and grounds access from morning until late evening. Evening sessions often feature big names and a special atmosphere under the lights, but you’re usually paying for fewer matches. Which is “better” comes down to whether you care more about the quantity of tennis or the energy of a showcase night session.
▸ Is a Grounds Pass worth it?
Sometimes — but usually not. Many fans assume a Grounds Pass is automatically the best value; often it isn’t. Before buying one, always compare prices for Ashe and Armstrong day-session tickets. If they’re available for a similar price, you get all the same grounds-access privileges plus a reserved seat and valuable rain protection from the stadium roofs.
▸ Should I buy a subscription or multi-session plan?
For most serious fans, I don’t recommend it. Most multi-session and first-time subscription plans are only for Promenade seats — so high up in that huge stadium that you’ll watch much of the match on the Jumbotron or through binoculars. It can take years to upgrade to Loge (only available with the very expensive full-series plan). For the price of a full-series plan (well over $2,000 each) you could buy several amazing seats across the tournament — or two excellent seats for the Men’s Final. And there’s always a glut of Promenade Ashe seats on the resale market, so an entire series of Promenade seats can be hard to resell.
▸ Which ticket site should I use? How to comparison shop?
Start with Ticketmaster, then compare resale. My process:
- Consult 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal to learn the average price ranges for the sessions you care about.
- Always check the official Ticketmaster US Open site first — on a computer for the fastest navigation. Use “map view” (click any section), try different sortings, and use multiple tabs to compare sessions. Ticketmaster shows both Standard tickets (“blue dots” — face value, most often Promenade, occasionally Loge/Courtside) and resale tickets (“red dots”). Surprisingly, resale red dots are often the best value, because resellers undercut each other. Tickets stay on sale up to 59 minutes after a session starts if inventory remains, and both Ticketmaster and StubHub make it easy to relist if your plans change (you need a US bank account to re-list on Ticketmaster).
- Compare availability and prices with StubHub and any other preferred resellers to see if you can find an even better deal for comparable seats. Other sites I’ve never had any problems with include Viagogo, VividSeats, SeatGeek, or Ticket Liquidator. I personally no longer recommend TickPick after two very poor experiences. My “2026 US Open Ticket Options” chart linked above links directly to every specific Ticketmaster and StubHub session ticket option.
- Only buy resale tickets that specify the exact Section, Row, and Seat (or seat range) matching the stadium seat maps in this post. Double-check what you receive matches what was advertised; reputable resellers refund a misrepresented ticket (but then it’s on you to find another).
- Never buy off Craigslist or classified sites — too many scams, and NYC law bans “scalping” within 1,500 feet of the venue (effectively everywhere off the subway), with undercover police on site.
- Going with friends? Consider buying a mix of cheap and amazing seats and trading off time in the great one (Promenade vs. Courtside, or across stadiums) — I do this every year. All tickets are mobile-only; if you don’t have a smartphone, Ticketmaster customer service can move yours to Will Call.
- For package deals (tickets + hotel/transport/VIP), trusted options include Championship Tennis Tours, Grand Slam Tennis Tours, and Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours.
▸ Are resale ticket sites safe?
Generally, yes — provided you use reputable marketplaces. In some cases resale tickets are actually better values than standard tickets, because sellers compete on price. Before buying, always verify the section, row, and seat numbers, and make sure the ticket is clearly marked for mobile transfer.
▸ How can I predict when — and where — my favorite player will play?
While you can never be absolutely sure whether your favorite player will be scheduled for a Day or Night session (or on which court) until the Schedule of Play is released the day prior to matches, you CAN predict which DATE your favorite players will play if they advance after the Round 1 schedule is announced. Here’s a chart showing which players would play on which days after Round 1 if they advance (based on the pattern from the first two days of Round 1).
To be absolutely sure you see your favorite player, consider waiting until the schedule is published the day prior (start checking frequently early afternoon, usually out by 5:00pm), then immediately go to the official Ticketmaster US Open site or other resale sites like Stubhub to grab a resale ticket. This strategy requires, however, that you monitor the ticket situation closely in the days prior and are prepared to act immediately when the schedule is announced. Also, if you see tickets becoming scarce and prices going up in the days prior, you may conclude it’s worth taking a chance and purchasing based on an educated guess.
Another way to see your favorite player up close is to watch them when they’re scheduled for practice on the practice courts. See Tip #9
- Only the biggest superstars (like Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff) are sure to be scheduled on Ashe – others might be scheduled on Armstrong, Grandstand, or field courts. Schedulers have been known to put even the #1-ranked player in the world on Armstrong or Grandstand, as they did in 2021 with then #1 Simona Halep during Round 1 (on Grandstand) and then #2 Aryna Sabalenka (Armstrong).
- There’s never any sure way to predict whether players will be scheduled for DAY or NIGHT sessions. Officials try to spread the wealth and be fair to players by alternating players between Day and Night sessions. Contrary to popular belief, they do not always schedule the biggest stars at night. The one exception to this is Quarterfinals, when biggest stars are almost always scheduled for the night sessions.
- For Men’s Semifinals, we learned last year (2025) never to assume that the biggest starpower matches would be put on the Night session: they shocked everyone and put the Alcaraz v Djokovic match on during the Day session, and Sinner v Auger-Aliassime at night.
How to Get the Most of Your Visit
The night before you go, check the Schedule of Play
1. Download the official US Open Everywhere App (search “2026 US Open Tennis”) for the latest schedule, scores, and live updates. I also recommend SI.com’s tennis page for terrific day-to-day coverage and analysis.
2. Be sure to check the Schedule of Play here (or on the App) to identify the matches that most interest you and build your plan around that.
3. If you are targeting the first match of the day on either Grandstand or Armstrong and if you don’t have a reserved seat, aim to get in line early at either the East Gate (for Armstrong) or South Gate (for Grandstand) so you can be among the first to enter when gates open at 9:30am. Then speed-walk over and grab the best seat you can.
4. If you’re a player, you might be interested in reading my ten ideas for watching a pro match to help improve your own game— some of the ways I challenge myself to watch live tennis more deliberately from the perspective of a player who wants to improve.
Check out the practice courts for close sightings of the superstars
Check the practice schedule here (or on the US Open App) the night before and the morning of your day at the Open. Note: the best time to see top players practice without fighting as many crowds is during the Fan Week (see Tip 1).
Don’t drive unless you really have to — here’s how to get there
My top recommendation is to take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to “Mets-Willets Point.”
It’s super fast (under 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan) and drops you literally steps from the US Open’s East Gate. You can take it from either Moynihan Train Hall (8th Avenue between West 31st-33rd) or Grand Central. Look for “Port Washington” train on the monitors (signage may say “GREAT NECK” or “PORT WASHINGTON” — double-check the train number.) See 2026 LIRR schedule here. Download the MTA TrainTime app to purchase tickets. Important: the Mets-Willets LIRR stop is NOT accessible for fans with disabilities — exit instead at Woodside/61st St and transfer to the 7 train (or just take the 7 to Mets-Willets Point).
The subway #7 train is also a convenient (and the least expensive) option.
Takes a bit longer, but runs 24 hours. Stops include Grand Central. Download the MTA App for train time and routes. If you must drive: See the US Open’s driving directions and parking details. Plan extra time when the Mets are home (Aug 24-30 and Sep 4-6); I recommend arriving no later than 8:30am on Mets’ dates to be on the safe side. A good alternate parking option is the Shops at Skyview – about a 10-minute walk to the East Gate (and you can reserve a spot in advance for a discounted rate here). Consider buying a resale parking pass on StubHub for a specific lots. Fellow fan Harry notes street parking under or south of Highway 495 is viable if you don’t mind a walk.
Thinking of using UBER/ LYFT/ TAXI? They’re great getting out to the Open – but can be a nightmare coming back after a night session.
To the Open, set the destination to “Billie Jean King National Tennis Center” (drops near the South Gate) or “Mets-Willets Point” (near the 7 train, then walk the footbridge to the East Gate). After a night session, be ready for long waits and heavy surge pricing — thousands of people will be trying to do the same. Alternatives: reserve a car service in advance (I’ve used Riverside), take the LIRR or 7 into Manhattan and hail a cab there, or hail under the 7 train on Roosevelt Ave (or use the Curb app).
Consider staying nearby in Queens and walking or biking.
Fellow fan Mark stayed at an Airbnb on Queens Boulevard about 2 miles away: flat terrain, good bike lanes, and bike racks across from the South Gate — “a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute.”
Coming directly from Laguardia?
It’s only a 9-minute cab ride — or take the Q48 public bus to the “Roosevelt Av/Willets Pt” stop (around 30 minutes). You can check your bag at the US Open before you enter the grounds.
More Common Questions - Good to Know Before You Go
▸ What can I bring — and what’s not allowed? (No backpacks!)
Be sure to review this official complete list of prohibited items before going! To help clarify some common confusions:
- You CAN bring a drawstring bag (click here for example) but NOT a backpack with two straps
- You CAN bring a digital camera with video capabilities (however they do NOT allow “Video cameras or recording devices”, which includes GoPros)
- You CAN bring a plastic or metal water bottle 24 oz or less to refill on site (but NOT anything glass!)
- You CAN bring a fanny pack: but if you do you’ll still need to go through the “with bag” security line
- You CAN bring sunscreen in lotion form only, NOT aerosol cans
- According to the US Open bot on the website: “Outside food or beverages (excluding alcohol) CAN be brought into the US Open grounds, but must fit into one sized bag. There are no exceptions.”
- There is storage outside both East and South Gate entrances if you need it: (in 2025 it was $10 per locker, $20 for large items including suitcases). Bag check for American Express cardholders is discounted (1 bag per card).
Be prepared to wait in a potentially long security line if you have any bag at all (i.e. an enclosed object that doesn’t fit in your clothes), whereas you can breeze through a separate express line for those without bags.
Before Leaving, Don’t Forget…
- Download your mobile tickets to your mobile wallet (e.g. Apple Wallet or something like WalletPasses on Android)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen (lotion not spray)! If you forget, La Roche offers free samples just inside the EAST gate entrance.
- A backup phone charger (e.g. a Mophie) if you have one – although there are Chase-sponsored free chargers on site.
- A lightweight white towel (and/or lightweight neck gaiter) to protect exposed skin from sun or to sit on when in unreserved seats, which can get hot and uncomfortable.
- Reusable plastic water bottle (to refill using any of the many water fountains).
- A small umbrella if rain may be in the forecast
- Dress in layers as it can get hot during the day and occasionally chilly at night
- Contacts wearers: A very small bottle of contact lens solution in case you get something in your eye
- FYI: There are two entrances to the grounds: (1) the main entrance, the “East Gate,” located near the Subway/LIRR; and (2) the “South Gate” entrance near the iconic World’s Fair “Unisphere” (globe) – see map above. While lines tend to be shorter by the South Gate, the wait may end up being about the same because there are fewer attendants and metal detectors.
▸ Can I exit and re-enter the US Open grounds?
DAY SESSION ENTRY TO US OPEN GROUNDS (Gates open usually 9:30 most days, 11:00am Finals weekend)
- With either a Grounds Pass (Day) or a DAY-session reserved ticket in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand), you can enter the US Open grounds as soon as gates open (usually 9:30am, 11am on Finals weekend)
- Enter the US Open Grounds through security with your ticket scanned at the East Gate or South Gate; if you have a reserved stadium seat, your ticket is re-checked entering that stadium. Once you enter the US Open grounds with any ticket, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
- Note: DAY-session reserved tickets for Ashe or Armstrong only entitles you to that seat for the Day-session matches — after which you will have to leave your seat but can remain on the US Open grounds and access general unreserved seating on every court except Ashe (which has no unreserved seating).
- You can exit the grounds and re-enter as much as you’d like before 6:00pm (you can’t re-enter the Grounds after 6:00pm).
EVENING SESSION ENTRY (6:00pm)
- If you only have an Evening session ticket, you have to wait until 6:00pm to enter the grounds.
- If you are already in the grounds and also hold an Evening reserved tickets (for Ashe or Armstrong) for the same day, you do NOT need to exit and re-enter the grounds.
- If you’re in Armstrong for the Day session (courtside or GA), you’ll leave your seat between sessions while they clean, but you can stay in the Armstrong concourse.
▸ What if it rains?
The good news: since both Arthur Ashe and the new Louis Armstrong have roofs, far more fans can keep watching even
if it rains.
The bad news: if you’ve invested in Grandstand seats or just a Grounds Pass, there’s less consolation. Keep in mind weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable and change by the hour — there’s always hope showers pass quickly.
In the rare event of an all-day rainout (or under 60 minutes of play), the session may be rescheduled to the next day and your ticket honored then — or, if you bought directly from Ticketmaster, you may be able to trade tickets for another session this year or next (see the US Open’s somewhat complicated 2026 Inclement Weather Policy).
Worst case, look for the silver lining: you’ll be among thousands of fans you can grab a specialty cocktail with, huddle under shelter, and watch an Ashe match together on the big screen.
▸ Is grounds admission free on the second Thursday (Sep 10)?
One of the best-kept secrets: for years the US Open has quietly offered free grounds admission on the second Thursday of the main tournament (gates usually open 11am or noon; you must arrive before 5pm) — a chance to see the Men’s Doubles Semifinals plus all-star wheelchair players, the world’s top juniors, and standout collegiate players.
If you’re a serious fan — especially a doubles player — this is a day not to be missed.
▸ Food
FOOD: There are a bunch of options on site, but they aren’t cheap! See my chart outlining examples of the food stands by area on the grounds.
- This PDF includes several menus from past Food Village stands. Every year there are some new additions and substitutions, but many of these will still be around in 2026.
- Korilla BBQ is one of my favorites, but lines are usually among the longest.
- Poke Yachty is absolutely delicious and lines move quickly because they’ve nailed their system.
- Oyster Bar behind Grandstand has killer ceviches and lobster rolls.
- Hill Country BBQ, Curry Kitchen, Fish Shack and Fly Fish are also delicious.
- Restaurants in Queens not on the grounds
▸ What are perks for cardholders?
- AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDHOLDERS: Bring your Amex card if you have one! See full Amex Benefits at US Open here. Perks from 2025 likely to be repeated in 2026:
- (1) Amex Card Member Lounge on the 2d Level of the Amex “Fan Experience” (where anyone can also play a “Glow Tennis” mixed reality interactive game and get a complimentary manicure with tennis themed nail art).
- (2) Centurion Suite in Armstrong (Exclusive to Platinum and Centurion Members). Book in advance on Resy
- (3) Book complimentary court time in NYC area at over 500 tennis and pickleball courts and unlock special access to peak reservation times when using your Amex.
- (4) Check your bag for a reduced fee at East or South Gate
- (5) Get a one-time $20 statement credit when you spend $100 with your enrolled card at participating US Open merchants
- (6) Get a free earpiece/radio to hear ESPN match commentary
- (7) Skip lines and grab concession items quickly (checkout-free shopping) at the Amex Shop in South Plaza .
- CHASE CUSTOMERS? Check this Chase site for updates on perks for 2026.
- Click here to make a reservation to access the “Chase Lounge”
- Other past perks have included offering cool video+mobile “Chase Charge & Watch” chargers
▸ Recommended places to stay?
This is not an area of expertise for me, but I trust fellow tennis fanatic Melissa, who maintains a great list of hotels appealing to all budgets here.
Fellow fan Mark recommends staying in Queens and biking, based on his experience: “We packed our bikes and stayed at a nice AirB&B on Queens Boulevard, a little over 2 miles from the stadium. Queens has a great network of dedicated bike lanes and a friendly attitude toward bikers, and best of all – the terrain is flat! Once at the grounds, there are bike racks across from the South Gate entrance and in front of the security tent that handles baggage claim. It is a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute for anyone that so inclined!”
▸ Grounds access on Finals Weekend?
Grounds Admission tickets usually get issued at some point over the summer for Finals Weekend (Fri-Sun Sep 11-13) on Ticketmaster.
You can’t access Ashe with these tickets, but you can walk the grounds, see juniors and wheelchair finals, and watch Ashe matches on the big screens.
Final Tip: Pay It Forward When You Can
If you have the opportunity, consider a random act of kindness for fellow fans during the tournament. Our tennis community is big, but in a way it’s small — and our passion is infectious; do something kind for someone today, and they’re likely to pay it forward.
For instance, if you’re leaving your great Ashe (or Armstrong or Grandstand) seat for the day/night while matches are still going, as you exit consider consider gifting it to a fan who’s waiting outside the entrance hoping someone like you might offer. Giving someone on grounds your seat when you’re done isn’t as easy as it used to be, given tightened Ticketmaster restrictions preventing transferring after the ticket is scanned and preventing screenshots from within the Ticketmaster app… But with a little creativity and effort you can pretty easily make it happen, and the gesture might create a lifelong memory for someone else. Here’s how:
- Take a screenshot of your ticket in your phone’s WALLET (Ticketmaster will block screenshots from within the app).
- For Armstrong or Grandstand, simply text someone else the screenshot and it should hopefully suffice.
- For Ashe:
- If gifting to someone already IN the stadium, a screenshot from your wallet should suffice — including if you’re leaving the Courtside/Club level area entrance and you want someone already in Ashe to benefit from your seat (from Loge or Promenade.
- If gifting to someone already in the Open grounds but not in Ashe already: You’d need to walk with them to the Ashe entrance, re-scan your ticket (telling the ticket scanner that you’re letting your friend go to your seat) AND give them a screenshot (which they’ll need to show to ushers or for entry to Club level); OR you’d need to walk with the friend(s) as if you were going to re-enter with them, hand the friend your phone to get scanned, then have the friend discreetly pass the phone back after they are “in” (then just turn around as though you changed your mind about entering themselves at this time).
I’ve gifted a lot of tickets over the years, and it always feels wonderful.












Hey PJ and crew. I’m giving away some tickets for today’s action. Grandstand and they are first/second row. Let me know if interested and I can transfer them.
Hey Jason, thank you! Sorry just seeing this – I will be away from computer for much of afternoon at work but will try to connect anyone who may be able to take advantage of your kind offer. P.J.
Dear kind Jason & PJ, if you have extra tickets for any QuarterFinals session, please let me know :-). Thanks a ton to this blog and everyone in the comments section.
Hello . Thanks for all the useful tips . I have a tinny shoulder bag .for the mobile and chargers . Shall I still go through the security line ? Thanks
Hi Maria, if you can fit the bag and your chargers in your pockets, then you can choose the “speed line” for those without bags and just put those things in a tray like you would anything else in your pockets… But if you’re holding a bag of any size you’ll need to go through the line with bag check. P.J.
Hi, PJ. ESPN commentators are saying this (Wednesday) morning that masks are now “encouraged” when the Ashe roof is closed. They are wearing them themselves. Is that a recent change? I’m not finding anything on the Open website. I plan to wear mine anyway, but I’m interested in whether those around me are likely to be masked. Thanks.
Hi Beth, Yes on Monday they changed the policy that masks are REQUIRED if Ashe roof is closed… (posted in my updates at top of this page). Here’s the language from this page under FAQs at bottom:
“Are there any locations where a mask is required?
When the roof is closed in Arthur Ashe Stadium, masks are required, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, certain indoor locations (e.g., retail stores) may require a mask for entry. It is recommended that all fans, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask while indoors (unless actively eating or drinking).”
No one wore them in Ashe today when roof was closed. No enforcement for sure. Seems like it is unofficially optional.
They did make several announcements and the crowd camera guy was showing mainly masked people. There is no enforcement though and majority aren’t wearing a mask. I wore mine.
Thanks so much for your site, P.J.! I check it every year and really appreciate all of the updates. One quick question about water bottles–I’m seeing conflicting information about whether metal bottles are allowable. Glass is prohibited and plastic is allowed, but metal is listed on your site as both allowable and not allowable. Which is it?
Hey Randall, you’re so welcome! I must have not updated every part of my site (sorry for confusion!) because they DID change the policy this year and metal IS allowed as long as under 24 oz. I’ll look now and change. P.J.
No problems getting right in this morning. Not raining on site now so they are trying to dry the courts.
Tamara, what time did you arrive?
10:20. They cleaned the courts and lots of matches have played even with a few drops of rain here and there.
I have Ashe tickets for Friday night, which from what I can tell allows me entry at 6:00pm. I also have tickets to the Overlook, which on the ticket says 5:00pm. Is there a seperate entry into the overlook that allows me in at 5, or will 6:00pm be the earliest I can get in?
Hi Thomas, Overlook and special hospitality ticketholders can enter earlier – and I believe there’s a fast-track line you can use, but not sure where this year. I’d recommend doing a chat here with a US Open representative (you’ll have to talk with a bot first, then when you say “no” multiple times after it asks if it answered your question you’ll be able to chat with a representative). P.J.
The hospitality special line is at South Gate. It’s clearly marked.
On east gate, I know there’s a special entrance for credentials. I believe it’s also for hospitality ticket holders but not 100% sure.
Good point, Tom – that’s probably the one. I think the other special entrances on the N and S sides of Ashe are limited to credentialed, players, and President’s Suite ticket holders. P.J.
One question about the Ticketmaster refund:
I purchased two orders on Ticketmaster. One is about 150$ and I saw it shows your refund has been issued after I submitted the request. Another order is about 500$ Which shows your request is submitted and will be reviewed. It can take up to 30 days. I am worried about if this request is successful for such a long time, maybe will after the event. I don’t know why it shows different. Anything goes wrong here? I don’t know if fellow fans experienced the same when submitted refund request. Thank you.
Since when can you ask for refunds through ticketmaster?
Corey, here’s the email Ticketmaster sent out on 8/30 following the eleventh-hour announcement by USTA about the vaccine requirement: __________________ Attention fans! Please note that there has been a change in health and safety protocol to your event. As stated in our August 28, 2021 email, the US Open now requires all fans 12 years of age and older to show proof of at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to attend in order to facilitate compliance with recent NYC Executive Orders. If you purchased your 2021 US Open tickets before August 28, 2021, and you are unable to… Read more »
I have never seen such low prices. Courtside Ashe Wednesday as low as $200.
And good Loge seats rows, a, b, c, d for less than $50. Is this normal?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining 🙂
I’ve been buying or looking at ticket prices for over a decade. These are definitely the lowest I’ve seen in years. The last time I saw deals like these were usually pre-roof when several rainy days through off the schedule for days and people who just came for Labor Day weekend or finals weekend had to unload tickets because they couldn’t stay longer. But still nothing really like this…
Absolutely, Maura – I’ve never seen anything like it either. Now is definitely the time for folks to aim for seats they couldn’t afford in previous years!
This had to have been an act of god, but after the Murray-Tsitsipas match had started, I found on StubHub Ashe courtside seats for $35 each. Somewhere is a beautiful soul who made my dreams come true.
(I was sure to ‘pay it forward’ to some other people today. Tennis karma is a real thing!)
How wonderful that it went to someone who would truly appreciate it!!
where are you looking? StubHub? Cause I haven’t seen any courtside Ashe that low, and I’ve been looking daily.
Stubhub. AFTER the match has started. Or just shortly before. Check obsessively, not just a few times a day.
It’s easier to find pairs, not single tickets (which is usually me) but I had a friend with me this week.
Good luck and feel free to ask other questions if I didn’t provide a good answer.
Rob, an Addition to my answer- if you are looking for a single ticket for yourself, let me know. If we pair up there are better prices for two tickets.
If you are already going with people, good luck and enjoy!
I’ll be going solo from Sunday – Tuesday, then with friends from Wed – Friday. I have tix, but not stellar, so I’ll be on the lookout for courtside tix right before the matches start. Congrats on the courtside tix for $35, that’s AMAZING!
Rob get in touch if you want to discuss getting tickets sold in pairs. It’s hard to find great deals for single tickets (but not impossible). Are you going Friday night? I’m looking for someone to go in on a pair.
PJ can connect us via email if he has time.
Hi PJ, thank you so much for this amazing info. Quick question – I have tickets for tomorrow’s 2nd Round Men’s / Women’s – does this give me access to both matches or just the 7 pm match?
Hi Sravan, both matches. Enjoy! PJ
Thank you so much.
PJ I can’t say enough how much I appreciate you sharing your insight and attention to details. My wife and are are making our first trip to the US Open for our anniversary and your blog has been vital in our planning to make the most of our budget. Continuing being a bright light for tennis fans everywhere!
Byron, you made my night. Thank you so much! Let me know how it goes, and Happy Anniversary!! P.J.
Hi! I am looking to buy tickets for the women’s semi finals next Thursday (9/9) at 7 pm. Is late entry allowed for ticket holders (I have a friend who can’t get there until 7:30)? I don’t see any information online so any advice would be helpful!!
Yes absolutely! The only rule is you can’t walk to your seat during an active game – only during changeovers (when players change sides), which occur between each set, as well as after the third game of every set then every other game after that when the combined score is an odd number (e.g., score at 3-0, then at 3-2 or 4-1, or 5-2). P.J.
In the picture of the bags allowed, it looks like there is a small designer like backpack, I have a similar one, and i have measured, it is much smaller than the limit. should i take the chance? it is a relatively expensive bag. Worst case I have an amex and can store it at the gate?
Hey Matt, in previous years I’ve literally watched them turn away people with backpacks that meet the size dimensions – and I’ve also seen folks get through. The issue with storage is that it’s a walk back from security (esp at the East Gate), so you’d likely lose your place in line if you had a stickler tell you you have to check it. Personally, I’d avoid the potential hassle and bring another bag. P.J.
PJ – thanks for the great tips! First time this year and I’m wondering about the Centurion Suite. I know I reserve through Resy, but how pricey are items in the suite? Or is it complimentary like Delta Sky Club?
Hi Caroline, you’re welcome! All complimentary – see details here. P.J.
I have a question on Armstrong Stadium. For the folks who do not have a reserved ticket, do we just get in line for first come first serve to enter the stadium? Do we have to wait for the folks with reserved tickets to go in first or everyone lines up at the same time?
Hi, yes there will be a line for non-ticket holders trying to access GA/ first-come seating — ticket holders for Armstrong enter a different way. Signage is pretty clear but lots of staff around to direct if you need help. P.J.
Hey P J
I have Friday Day Session tix and it looks like Thursday might be a rainy mess.
How does US Open handle rain outs ? Will they schedule a ton of matches on Friday (regular Friday matches plus makeups) ?
Also, fingers crossed the security lines are sorted out by Friday.
Thanks so much for this blog !! Amazing info here.
Hey Carter, yes they will schedule a ton of matches to try to catch up– both on Thursday after it stops raining (to make up for matches that get postponed on Wed, also supposed to be a rainy mess) and Friday! And you’re so welcome, glad you found it helpful! P.J.
Hi, thank you for this wonderful blog. Huge help to so many people. Any update on how lines are looking for day 2? I am heading there shortly. Any help is appreciated. thanks everyone.
Hi Sean, see encouraging updates below from Tom!
Day 2 entry update: Day 2 East Gate everybody walking right up to security at 10:20am.
What a world of a difference from yesterday.
Smooth flow of traffic, no issues today from what I can see.
The line was moving when I got here this morning around 11; no real delays and lots more visible staff directing people. I think they fixed a lot of the kinks yesterday.
SO great to hear this today from multiple sources!! Thanks, Maura. P.J.
All:
Day 2 entry update
Relativity Long line by 9:20 at South Gate but nothing like yesterday. Maybe 300 people. Gates opened 9:32 and line starting moving quickly.
Security efficient.
No vaccine check today.
They don’t check vaccine status? Well that’s messed up! I’m not happy about that at all! I was kinda freaked out being in such a brig crowd without a mask on for so many hours.
They’re sending emails reinforcing that they’re checking, so this morning may have had moments where they were lax following yesterday’s unprecedented lines. I suspect (hope!) they check more going forward. P.J.
We survived day 1!
Sadly Murray didn’t 🙁
when will they post the court scheduling for Wednesday now that we know who will and won’t be playing?
Thanks for all your wisdom on this blog. So often my mind recalled tidbits of what I’ve read over the years. Could not survive the Open without you!
Hey Courtney, so good to see you there yesterday! What a match… Typically the schedule is posted for the next day around 4:00-5:00pm the day prior (i.e. today) – sometimes before, usually not much later unless there are rain-related issues, which can throw it all out of whack – and which we can certainly expect this week. Sometimes they’ll post just the Ashe lineup first then the others later. Sometimes they are quicker to update the actual website page than the app so I usually keep checking the site. In short, I usually start checking around 1pm in hopes it’s… Read more »
I had an entirely different first Open experience. I followed PJ’s advice, took the subway from Brooklyn, and arrived at the South Gate about 9:10. A convivial crowd waited twenty minutes, had our tickets scanned and smoothly entered the grounds. I was maybe in the first 100 people through the gate. I spent a leisurely hour and a half walking around getting my bearings, caught some practices with an iced coffee, chatted on the phone with a friend, and made my way to the shady (west) side of Grandstand. (I had courtside tickets but opted for the shade of GA.)… Read more »
Beth I’m so happy you had such a great and relaxed experience!!! Apparently the % of folks showing up before 10:30am yesterday was a small fraction averages from previous years and surprised security… Thrilled you had a great day. P.J.
PJ. How was your entry experience today?
Hey Allen, it was pretty miserable (this NYT article and this Gothamist article sum it up). But in the grand scheme of things, I just kept thinking: “I’m so grateful there IS an Open with fans this year, I’m so grateful I’m vaccinated and alive, and the people doing security right now must be as miserable as we are…” And once in, I quickly forgot the mayhem and just got absorbed in great matches. The Open has gotten slammed with bad media for not preparing better and things being so rough today — so I’m sure they have every incentive… Read more »
PJ – how was your experience today? More crowded than usual for opening day? In your opinion, is Sunday or Monday (Labor Day) a better day to go? Are both days equally crowded? I am just as interested in seeing outer court matches as I am seeing matches on Ashe, LA, and GS.
Hey Beau, I had an amazing day. This NYT article kind of sums up how I felt about it all… The lines were 10x worse than I have ever seen – took us 90 minutes to get in, and many folks waited well over 2 hours. It was mayhem. And no one really understands exactly why, apart from someone saying there’s a new security company this year overseeing. They were speedy about checking vaccination proof (they weren’t particularly vigilant), so can’t be blamed on that. The “speed line” for those without bags was crawling slowly too. The Open says they’ll… Read more »
Maybe they were understaffed at the security checkpoint. That’s where the choke point was. The Gothamist article says some metal detectors were not working. I was told by an employee that it’s a new security company + they had the vaccine requirement to contend with. It just became so bad at the security checkpoint, that the line, or whatever that resembled, stretched all the way back to the subway station, and then started looping back around in the direction of the grounds. That line then vanished, and those people that were at the back of the line, now were towards… Read more »
Hey Tom, sounds like another factor was that a much lower percentage of fans showed up before 10:30am than in the past. Let’s hope today is smoother!
I’ll be there Labor Day Monday evening. I know PJ will be there too. I have purchased upper Courtside tickets for 450$ average. I was just looking at the ticket prices for Monday afternoon, and they were higher compared to the evening session. Looking at the 2017 schedule – No.1 seed coupled with high ticket prices, Djokovic might play in the afternoon? I know scheduling is unpredictable and I don’t mind watching other stars.
Hey Sandeep, that is great – you will be so happy to be sitting down there! Yes, historically Monday Day session tickets are more expensive than Monday Eve sessions — a function more of when the majority of fans are available to come due to travel/work. Over the years I’ve seen them put big “headliners” on both day and night: in 2018, they put Djokovic on Day and Federer on Night; in 2019, Osaka was on Day and Nadal was on Night. I promise you whoever is on you will love being there! I’m super psyched myself, always one of… Read more »
Hi PJ – Thanks for such incredible insight about all things US Open. I have Ashe tickets for Wednesday and I am wondering if there was a way to upgrade the seats, without having to first resell them/buy new?
Hi Amy, you’re welcome! Only at the physical box office on site as far as I know. PJ
I am looking to do the same, Amy. I have Ashe tickets, but was planning on spending most of my time at the Grandstand for the up close action. Now with heavy rain forecasted, I don’t want to be stuck up in the rafters at Ashe. So disappointing ! I have 8 tickets and I have no idea how to do the upgrade.
Great Article! I am looking to purchase tickets for a day ticket on LA for Friday. I was wondering how easily it would be to move forward if nobody is sitting in the first couple rows? Thanks
Hi Casey, probably pretty easy – just be prepared to move on a moment’s notice if the actual ticket holder show up! PJ
I bought courtside Armstrong seats for the evening, will there be other matches still going on the smaller courts at 6 pm when we can enter? Can I watch them with an evening ticket? BTW, your site was so helpful
Hi Brad, yes absolutely – lots and yes you sure can (just not Ashe). So glad it’s been helpful! Have fun!
Any suggestions for vegetarian food?
Hey Beth, Check out the article I posted 8/29 at top under “NEW” items – some great options this year. P.J.
Limited, especially if you are on a budget. My go to budget food is Curry Kitchen. A piece of Nan Bread $3.50 and a Mango Lassi $9.50. Very filling. This recent article may give you more ideas. 2021 US Open diverse lineup of dining options Just some of the items it lists: Stacked Sandwich Shop: Vegan muffuletta URBUN: Baos and boba tea (Fried eggplant bao) San Matteo Pizza: I saw a vegetarian pizza ‘Wichcraft: Chopped chickpea and roasted pepper sandwich FIELDTRIP: Veggie bowl Curry Kitchen: Naan, Samosas Standbys found everywhere: Costly waffle cut fries, $8 bag of potato chips, $7 ice cream cone… Read more »
P.J.,
Do they still have a shop where used match balls are sold. I guess it was located behind Court 11 in the past. Was able to purchase used balls when I attended Wimbledon in 2019, hoping to due the same at this year’s US Open. Thanks
Hi Sean, there is still a US Open collections store by court 11 but I’m not sure they sell match balls there and sorry couldn’t check tonight. Please let me know if you have any luck. P.J.
I can confirm they are selling match used balls in the US Open Collections shop by the practice courts for $10 apiece. Not sure of other locations but definitely saw it there!
Thank you!!
Awesome, thanks!
Hi, I’m looking at tickets for Sept. 3 7pm at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the tickets says “3rd Round Men’s / Women’s”. How does two games play at the same time and same court?
The session features 1 men’s and 1 women’s, played back to back.
HUGE UPDATE: THEY ARE NOT GIVING OUT PAPER RECEIPTS THIS YEAR AFTWR SCANNJNG TICKETS. I am so sorry to everyone I assured that they would. Big policy change. Please prepare accordingly!!! P.J.
Yeah I haven’t figured out how I can give up my Ashe seat if I don’t want it once I’m on the grounds. In the first week I usually don’t go to the Ashe matches unless a close match or player I really want to see (I try to spend first week on smaller courts to see my lower ranked faves). Let me know if you find a way!
Hey Maura, I’m here and just experimented – you actually can still transfer your ticket via Ticketmaster to someone else electronically even after it has been scanned. You would just need to be absolutely sure you are done with it! You wouldn’t need it to enter the other courts for GA seating. PJ
Ok thanks. Good to know.
Hi! If I purchase grandstand tickets am I still able to watch games on the smaller courts aka similar to a Grounds ticket?
Yes!
I have a few tickets to Grandstand today if someone needs tickets. There is some exceptional tennis on the schedule. Second row on the aisle. Just behind the Umpire tower.
They are free. Just need an email to transfer them via TM.
If someone replies I can email you both so you don’t have to publish your emails…
Update on entrance: In one hour, I moved from the subway station, to the LIRR station.
people are taking a day off from work, paying a lot of money for tickets, and this is a complete disaster. I really hope they learn from this boondoggle.
I realize they received the vaccine mandate on Friday but completely unprepared for this. It was anticipated.
still looks to be a minimum half hour wait to get to the gate. Line barely moving
Day One entry experience — I arrived a bit before 11 and the line was back to the subway and no visible staff directing people to correct line (bag/no bag). (I have a credentials pass so could skip but noting for others to plan more time. I showed my vaccine pass before reaching the security screening. Also if you use the chase chargers, Download the chargeFUZE app and use promo code Chase to activate the system they are using now. Day 1 is always a bit more disorganized in my experience but I would plan more time for lines if… Read more »
All:
This looks to be about a 1.5 hour wait to get in. East Gate entrance is an absolute disaster. Posting with picture this time
Ugh. I planned myself to arrive late because I thought it might be bad but not this bad. We aren’t arriving for another 10 min. Ugh.
Unbelievable mess. They had one line that was looping around several times. Suddenly line disappeared. People cutting. One staff member here only. No one monitoring the line. It’s just one big mess. Out of 1 lines, it became 2. No order.
the one staff member tells me the South Gate is just as bad
When joining the South Gate line about 20 minutes ago, I thought it did seem to be at least then a decent improvement on just waiting for East with all others there (we were told an hour’s wait at that point on arriving at South). Not sure what the comparison is now though—good luck to everyone!
All:
The line to get in from the East Gate is a nightmare
It goes back to the subway stop at Citi Field and loops around
Absolute disaster
From what I saw both gates ridiculous and very little to guide people (I mentioned when I go up close) they needed to deploy a few more
Visible staff for the lines by subway, etc.
I expect they will improve a bit (day one always messy and new staff don’t always know answers to the type questions they’ll get… but yes a real mess.
PJ, so grateful for this blog. You helped me tremendously the last few years. I love being there the first week to watch great matches on outer courts and I want to bring my daughter this year but we are navigating the weather and her own HS tennis schedule. Do you anticipate the weekend and Labor Day will be as crowded as usual, or will COVID and vaccine requirements lighten the crowds? And as you are there the first few days, please give updates on how crowded it is. Thanks!
Hi Beau, that is just wonderful to hear, thank you! I just got an email from someone there and apparently lines by the east gate are unprecedented – all the way across the boardwalk to the subway… Heading there now myself. I’m hopeful that it will get better as the week progresses and the security folks get better about checking vaccine cards etc. I do think crowds are still gonna be pretty intense this coming weekend… PJ
Love your informative site!! can anyone tell me where to go for Mercedes parking? I know there are various roads that circle the complex and I’m hoping to go the most direct route but can’t find which lot they use. Also wondering how early you can get into the lot. Thanks!!
Hi Suz, thanks! I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure the traffic police will be able to direct you… If any other readers know, please chime in! P.J.
Just here now – there is no special lot for Mercedes drivers, just free parking in whichever lot you are directed to park in. Today, there’s a lot of parking still available at Citi Field because the Mets are not playing. The police will direct you.
thanks! ps Sorry to read the lines are chaos; you’d think they’d have more staff keeping things moving!
Update to Face Mask Policy:
When the roof is closed in Arthur Ashe Stadium, masks are required, regardless of vaccination status.
Seems like Armstrong is exempt due to the natural ventilation system from the terracotta louvers.
Thanks Tom!
Does the parking pass allow for multiple entry and exit?
Hi Hardik, I’m not sure, have never tried and you’re the first to ask. We are driving today so I can be able to answer questions about the experience and will ask! P.J.
Hehe. We are also driving today as well.
I asked and there is no multiple entries for parking.
Great to know thank you!
P.J. – is there re-entry privilege with a grounds pass? Thanks
Hi Charles, yes there is — however there may be a “re-enter by X time” requirement before the evening session begins… Double-ccheck with the ticket takers when you leave the grounds just to be sure. I believe in previous years you had to re-enter by around 5pm with a day session or grounds ticket, but not 100% sure. P.J.
Thank you very much for your prompt answer.
I have read your site and it has been so helpful as a first-time attendee to the Open. Can I ask you to clarify, I have tickets for Ashe evening session on the 4th, can I only enter at 6 pm and not earlier to walk the grounds? Does that require me to purchase a separate day grounds pass? Seems crazy I know I can’t get into the stadium earlier but wanted to arrive by 4 or 5 to check out the facility. Thank you so much P.J…. Elisa
Hi Elisa, yes unfortunately night session tickets only allow entry at 6:00pm. Check for the day you’re going if there are any Ashe seats available that are cheaper than a grounds pass – some extraordinarily low prices on many resale tickets. P.J.
Got it. Thank you very much.
Still the best place to go for everything US Open. Grateful PJ keeps this going.
Huge thanks for the incredibly kind words :). It’s such a pleasure I look forward to every year given the passion that comes through from so many fellow fans and how many folks generously share their goodwill and insights. Thanks again, P.J.
Thank you PJ! To watch any of the US Open Juniors Matches, do you have to buy the regular grounds pass? Eg. For mon sept 6 to watch the US open juniors, do you need to buy the grounds pass. Thank you!
Hi Drew, you’re welcome! A Day session ticket of some kind (Ashe Day, Armstrong, Grandstand, or Grounds Admission) is required to enter the US Open grounds for every day of the tournament, including that Monday (the only exception in the past has been a free community day during the second week, which has been cancelled this year). P.J.
Hello!
It looks like the US open is not doing any grounds admissions for the 2nd week starting on the 2nd Tuesday. Any idea on why that is? Where is the confirmation of the no community day?
Was looking forward to community day on the 2nd Thursday to watch the juniors, doubles, and wheelchair athletes.
What about if I purchased tickets to Arthur Ashe for the evening session on the 9th. Could I show up earlier to see some matches around the grounds?
Hi Pat, this is actually the norm — there are very few matches on outer courts second week after Tues apart from juniors, wheelchair (and a few doubles matches). All remaining singles matches (QF through finals) take place on Ashe beginning on Tuesday, which is all reserved seating. I got confirmation from a US Open staffer about Community Day not taking place this year, as well as from a reader who heard the same. Haven’t seen anything in writing yet. Good question on the 9th – I’m not sure. I will try to find out and let you know! P.J.
Thanks for the help!! I get there are few matches. But would still pay to see some of the juniors/doubles/wheelchair players battle it out on the smaller courts via ground admission.
Keep me posted!
Sure thing, Pat – will try to find out definitively by the end of this week. P.J.
Great info as always. The Covid proof of vaccination has got to be a challenge for US Open. Can anyone report back on how that goes down tomorrow (Monday…long lines, confusion, picture on phone is legit, etc.)? Do we need to get there even earlier than in years past?
Thanks again for being the US Open guru!!
Thank you! I’ll be there tomorrow and will try to report back tomorrow night, hope others will share their experiences too. P.J.
I’ll report as well, I’ll be there tomorrow am and I am dreading what will probably be a logistical nightmare.
I do recommend that you get the NYC COVID SAFE app where you can store your photo image of your CDC card, if that is what you have as proof. It’s totally legit and safer than keeping it in your phone’s photo files since you need to log in to the app to access the photo. The Excelsior app (New York State’s app doesn’t work for everyone. The NYC app is easy.
Do you recommend going on a practice day like today, Sunday, Aug 29? Can you get in today and wander around?
Hi Linda, there’s unfortunately no access this year to practice days. P.J.
Thanks PJ. I am hoping to come on Friday, Sept 3. I read your recommendation to get seats in the grandstand between 9/3-9/6. What if there are tickets in the 100’s in Ashe for under $150? Also, does it make sense to buy a parking pass?
Hi Linda, Grandstand on Friday should be great – and at the moment at least, weather looks good. If you could do Grandstand Day then combine with an evening Ashe ticket for under $150, that should be an outstanding experience. If you can’t afford both, then I’d probably go for Ashe Loge Day session and just plan to spend some time trying to see some good outer court matches too in GA seats — that way you won’t feel like you’re “missing out” if they have some great matches on Ashe. P.J.
Hey PJ! Great write up, and super helpful, especially for a first time event visitor like me and my gf. I’m looking to get Day 3 (Wed) Courtside Ashe Day session tickets for sub-200$ per person. These are in sections 23 or 47. Any pointers on which one I should choose? Considering there’s a rain forecast for that day & potentially Ashe’s roof could be closed, so the sun-shade doesn’t matter I guess? Also, I see that there’s only one top-3 seeded player in the Day session on Day 1 (either men’s/women’s) and three top-3 seeded players in the Evening… Read more »
Hey Chandra, I’m so glad to hear that, thanks! Normally I’d definitely favor 47 for shade factor, but as you’ve noted Wednesday has (at the moment) lots of rain in forecast so being on east side would be preferred because there’s zero obstruction from the umpire chair (not really an issue at all from 23, but there’s something about that “clean” perspective from the east side that’s special). Either way you can’t go wrong. And in all my years tracking tickets, I’ve never seen courtside prices this low so totally recommend you seize the opportunity. As for who gets scheduled… Read more »
Have you noticed a sudden drop in prices for standard tickets just today? I’ve been following the Armstrong labor day weekend prices and noticed that standard tickets for row F seats on the sideline went from $374 to $295… Did this happen across the board?
Hey Cynthia, yes. They’ve been using “dynamic pricing” for standard tickets throughout – and prices have been all over the place… but the biggest shifts have happened in the past 24 hours. P.J.
Do prices going down on rainy days since people don’t want to schlep out there? Or will prices go up for Ashe and Armstrong b/c they have roofs. I’m seeing Ashe Loge wednesday am Tix for $40. That’s a really good price to have rain insurance. It’s a Medvedev day/night assuming he beats gasquet. But he might not be put on Ashe. If he ends up playing koepfer, it will be a fesity one. They played in 2019 in Armstrong I think and koepfer put up a fight! As always I am tempted to by a bunch of cheaper tickets… Read more »
Great question – not sure, haven’t done a comprehensive enough analysis over the years to offer any judgment. And this year is such an oddball one (some Ashe courtside seats for under $200?!) that I hesitate to predict – and the actual player lineups will influence. There are, however, SO many resale tickets still available for those day sessions that it would take an awful lot of new demand to push prices a lot higher. P.J.
thanks for your input. I feel like anything goes this year given the vaccine requirement and what may turn out to be a very long miserable process to get into the grounds, the absence of my own personal Big 3 (Roger, Rafa, Serena), and now rain from a passing hurricane! I wonder if that a few outdoor matches might be moved indoors to roofed Ashe/Armstrong to keep the tournament moving along which could be a nice perk for those going to Ashe or Armstrong. Anyway, thanks again as always. No need to reply, I know you are super busy. I’ll… Read more »
Has anybody had any luck in requesting for a refund through SeatGeek due to the latest change in the policy on vaccination? My ticket is for next Sunday 9/5 and I just sent them an email to request for a refund but SeatGeek can take more than a week to reply so I’m worried that it might not be processed in time.
Did you have any luck? I am SO upset that this process has not been easy.
Thankfully, SeatGeek refunded me in the end but it was only after I made multiple calls and finally got one of the supervisors to approve my refund. You can call them at +18885064101 but it might take 1-2 hrs on the average just to get connected to someone. They will try to turn down your request initially so you gotta be firm. Hope you get your money back!
I had called them 3 or 4 times before I posted this but never forced them to transfer me to a manager. Thank you so much for your comment because after 2 more calls and 2 supervisors later (and 3 hours on hold), I finally got them to refund me. What a nightmare this change has been!
PJ! Now that the full slates are up for Monday and Tuesday, are there any matches that YOU are particularly excited for, especially on outer courts? Maybe some lesser-known players that we should watch for? Or any potential round 2 matches that you hope come to pass?
Matt! So I just spent like 30 minutes typing this passionate and very long answer and then lost internet and the draft deleted (argh!)… Most importantly, I know there are many other readers here who are super passionate and knowledgable and hope others will weigh in. A few highlights for me personally: * First, super excited that the session I’m taking my parents-in-law to on Monday (Ashe Day) will feature Sloane v Madison (love them both, cheering for both); and Murray v Tsitsipas (will be cheering loudly for Andy in the front row) * Monday: Armstrong Day, great lineup. Muguruza… Read more »
I also think if Halep is off (she’s lost in first and second rounds of Us Open a couple times), Camila Giorgi on Grandstand could be an upset. I also like watching Feliciano Lopez since I love serve and volley and he’s close to retirement but fun to watch when he’s playing another Spaniard.
Great ones, Maura! Couldn’t agree more. PJ
I forgot to add I also look at scores and see which are tight, have tiebreaks if I’m trying to figure out which smaller court to go to if I don’t know much about players. I’ve watched a few really close hard fought matches up close that were a lot of fun.
YES! Excellent point.
Thank you! I went from being bummed that Tuesday got the top half to realizing there’s way too much to see!
Monday is especially exciting. I feel like a kid in a candy shop. My Manic Monday schedule: 11 am options Halep-Giorgi (Who doesn’t love Simona and Giorgi just won Cincy) Paire – Lajovic (Paire is on a roll these past few weeks and needs our love! Lajovic has the best tushy on tour!) Evans-Monteiro (Evans is a very entertaining player to watch. He actually goes to the net! Hardly anyone does these days!) Ashe AM Keys-Stephens (Quite the rivalry!) Murray-Tsitsipas (C’mon Andy! I’m a bit anti-Tsitsipas right now b/c of his vaccine stance, but this will be a very fun… Read more »
Amazing insights, Courtney, thank you!!
Happy to chime in! I have to say, for all the disappointment about Roger/ Rafa/ Serena/ Venus/ Thiem being out this year, the Monday and Tuesday lineups are ridiculously stacked. If anything, there might be TOO many fantastic matches all happening at once. Monday’s first matches of the day will simultaneously feature: Keys v. Stephens on Ashe; Muguruza v. Vekic on Armstrong; Halep v. Giorgi on Grandstand; Auger-Aliassime v. Donskoy on Court 17; Schwartzman v. Berankis on Court 5; and Kevin Anderson v. Vesely on Court 7. Even though I’m psyched for all of these, I hate that I only… Read more »
Just awesome, Chris, thank you!
Chris, great analysis, and yes Emma is all the rage! The new batch of ATP nextgen (now that the most recent nextgen have aged out except Sinner and FAA) are just great. The Race to Milan Top Ten are players I’d love to see if I had the time. Musetti for sure, Alcarez for sure, but I can’t make it to see them round 1. Too many other places to be! Hopefully in Round 2! Maybe we will be at some if the same matches! (I have my “schedule” posted here). I also love meeting new people at the Open,… Read more »
PJ/Chris/Courtney:
Excellent insights, all. A joy to read! It’s great to see so many passionate and knowledgeable fans.
Have fun at the Open!
After 2 years, I cannot wait!
So many great matches. As for me, I’m excited to see Norrie-Alcaraz and Korda-Basilshvili.
Have fun everyone!
Hey Courtney, it looks like we may be at the same matches for Monday (tomorrow) at least! I’ll be in Ashe section 48 for the day session, and Armstrong section 17 for the night session. (I had a loge ticket already for Murray/Tsitsipas, but decided to splurge for courtside when I saw how crazy the resale offers were – this could be my one and only chance to see Andy.) And I’ve already got a Tuesday night ticket for Ashe (what, you’re not a fan of either Novak or Bianca??) but as I mentioned, I went a little crazy seeing… Read more »
I’ll connect you by email now!
I have tix for the night session of the men’s semis. Any chance Djokovic plays in the day session rather than the night? I assume for TV ratings he’s a lock for the night session (assuming he’s still in) since it’s a Friday night. You agree?
Hey Marc, for Semis yes I’d put a very strong wager on Nole being scheduled at night. Never 100%, but I’d say almost certain. PJ