Inside the home of the US Open, before it turned to chaos
- The San Juan Daily Star
- Sep 1
- 3 min read
By HILARY HOWARD
Every year, throngs of fans descend on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the heart of Queens to watch star-studded matches at the U.S. Open, and to shop, consume and be seen.
So far this year, the tournament has drawn record crowds to the New York City borough, packing the stadiums and the stalls.
The U.S. Open shines a nearly monthlong spotlight on the tennis center, which is usually a very different place. For the rest of the year, the grounds are essentially a ghost town. The stands are empty, the promenades vacant and the food stalls abandoned.
The tennis center is a quiet place for stressed-out New Yorkers to stroll around or smash balls on the grounds of tournaments past.
“It’s a little oasis,” said Erli Perez, 29, who lives in Manhattan. “You can really escape from the city.”
Not including the stadiums, the center has 31 state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor courts. Here, regular players can hit lobs and chase balls on the same courts where Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams once did.
“You can feel the essence of all the players when you’re here,” said Perez, a singer and freelance designer. “It raises your level.”
Courts can be rented at a fraction of the cost of what some private clubs charge. The center also offers classes and children’s camps.
When there’s no U.S. Open, New Yorkers have their pick of outdoor furniture and trees to sit under at the tennis center, though a golden goblet of Moët & Chandon is hard to come by.
Mitchel Voloshin, 29, a data scientist from Manhattan who has attended the Open, said the grounds without the hullabaloo of the crowds took on an almost hallowed quality.
“There’s a feeling of freedom out here,” he said, adding that he could feel the majesty of the space as he walked through.
Perez added: “Sometimes I’ll just sit on a bench and watch people play just because the vibe is so relaxing.”
Come tournament time, the vibe shifts from relaxing to electric.
Fans flood the gates and snap up seats in the bleachers and at tables. Influencers and luxury car displays compete for attention, while the alfresco bars — abandoned husks just weeks ago — are crammed.
During a night session last week on Court No. 5, a French tennis star played an epic five-set match while spectators stood on their toes to watch. About a month ago, a local men’s league practiced there.
Now, the famous athletes are here, as are other celebrities and the news media. The ball people, in their Polo Ralph Lauren gear, run, stand and fetch like pros.
Fans wander in and out of shops and stadiums. The promenade can get as congested as Times Square. The goal is to navigate the long Aperol spritz or Honey Deuce lines that bleed into the walkways while keeping one’s composure.
Shuffle along. Breathe. Find a seat.
During the day, it’s all about hats, sunglasses and staying in the shade. At night, the hoodies and the sweaters come out. So do the partyers.
The grounds can give off the energy of the city’s biggest nightclub, with crowds that can surpass 30,000.
But soon it will be peaceful again. And New Yorkers will get their tennis oasis back.
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