How to Have the Best Experience at the US Tennis Open

The US Tennis Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City is unlike other sporting events. For the price of admission, fans have the opportunity to enjoy more than a dozen tennis matches during a single day. If being up close and personal with the best tennis players in the world isn't enough to excite you, there are plenty of other things which make attending the US Tennis Open a must for any sports fan. Here are some ways to get the best out of your experience.

Instructions

    • 1

      Get an American Express Card if you don't already have one. American Express is the official sponsor of the US Open and offers a pre-sale for tickets to the event. You can also use your Amex card at the open. Card members get a souvenir radio, have the ability to rent a hand-held TV for free (if the TV is returned) and receive discounts on souvenirs.

    • 2

      Buy tickets to (at least) one night session. Night sessions begin at 7 p.m. and last until the final match held at Arthur Ashe Stadium ends. There will still be several matches taking place on the outer courts throughout the night. The best part, however, is watching the last match underneath the lights.

    • 3

      Arrive 30 minutes before the gates open. This is especially recommended for those attending a night session. Gates open an hour before the night session officially “begins,” but you can attend matches on the outer courts as soon as you enter the complex. Getting into the Tennis Center as soon as possible ensures that you will get your money's worth by seeing all of the tennis possible.

    • 4

      Buy a jumbo tennis ball once you enter the Tennis Center. This is an excellent piece of memorabilia as well as perfect for collecting numerous signatures from the best tennis players in the world.

    • 5

      Stay for the conclusion of a few matches and get some autographs. Unless you're in the front row at one of the two stadiums, you probably won't get an autograph from the top player in the world. However, most players on the outer courts will sign anything at the end of a match. Use the jumbo tennis ball or a program as the home for your autographs.

    • 6

      Keep track of the different matches taking place on the concourse and move to more interesting matches during the session. There are three ways you can do this. If you get the American Express radio, you will hear updates throughout the session. You can also follow the large scoreboard located outside of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The final way is to watch the smaller scoreboards on the outer courts. During breaks in the action, the scoreboards will show updates on each match taking place. These updates will tell you where a match is taking place, who is playing in that match and the score for that particular match.

    • 7

      Eat at the Carnegie Deli booth. The best sandwiches in the entire Tennis Center can be found at this kiosk. Eating here is also far less expensive than having a meal at a restaurant. Best of all, grabbing a sandwich from the Carnegie Deli saves time, allowing you to get right back to the action.