2017 U.S. Open Preview

August 24, 2017 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
US Open Logo NEW

2017 U.S. Open Preview
August 28-September 10, 2017
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center ♦​ Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

What to watch for …
1. Can Garbine Muguruza find consistency?
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza captured the second Grand Slam title of her career with a straight-sets win over Venus Williams at Wimbledon. This U.S. Open will be a huge showcase for her to see if she can follow up her win with success in Flushing Meadows. When she won her first major at the 2016 French Open, she was bounced in the second round of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open afterwards. A successful run in Flushing Meadows will go a long way towards establishing consistency for her.

2. Can Kerber regain her 2016 form?
Defending U.S. Open champion Angelique Kerber has not had a good 2017 season up to this point. Now, it was always going to be tough for the German to follow up her fantastic 2016 campaign, which saw her win two Grand Slam titles. She has yet to win a title and only reached one final, in Monterrey, while failing to get out of the Round of 16 in any of the three majors. Kerber’s ability to return to her form from 2016 is a top storyline heading into the U.S. Open, and will play a major factor in how the women’s singles draw shapes out.

3. How much does Venus have left in the tank?
The resurgence of Venus Williams has been one of the best stories of the WTA Tour for the last 18 months, as the American has found a new start to her legendary career. She has reached the finals at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, and the Round of 16 at Roland Garros. She is a two-time champion in Flushing Meadows and is beloved by the New York fans. It will be interesting to see how her body holds up at this point in the season, but with her power game and ability to limit errors, Venus is certainly a solid contender at this year’s U.S. Open.

4. Women’s field wide open
The women’s tour has felt wide open for the last few months, and a lot of that can be linked to the absence of Serena Williams since the Australian Open. There have been four different finalists in the following two Grand Slams, and the current world number one, Karolina Pliskova, reached that pinnacle thanks to losses by other top players. As the musical chairs at the top of the WTA Rankings continue to turn, it only creates more excitement for the women’s singles draw at the U.S. Open.

5. Young Americans
The U.S. Open always serves as a nice showcase for young American players, and this year will be no different, on both sides of the draw. On the men’s side, you have young talents such as Frances Tiafoe, Jared Donaldson, Taylor Fritz and Reilly Opelka, all of whom are still under the legal drinking age. Tiafoe could be the most intriguing, and he pushed compatriot John Isner to five sets in the opening round at Flushing Meadows a year ago. Cici Bellis (pictured right) highlights the crop of young American women, as she won two main draw matches at the U.S. Open last year. Seventeen-year-old Kayla Day is the reigning U.S. Open Junior Champion and could take a major step forward in her career if she is able to play in the main draw. It is also easy to forget that Madison Keys is still just 22-years-old, while Coco Vandeweghe is just 25-years-old. The 2017 U.S. Open should be an exciting one for those fans of American tennis.

6. Djokovic and Wawrinka injured, Murray banged up
We already discussed the wide open women’s field, but the men’s field has become just as open as well. Two-time champion Novak Djokovic (pictured right) is missing the rest of the season to recover from an elbow injury, and defending champion Stan Wawrinka also announced he is shutting his season down thanks to a knee injury. There will be two new finalists this time around, leaving two of the top five players vacant from the season’s final Grand Slam. World number one Andy Murray has been slowed down by injuries, and all of these factors opens the door for someone to make a surprise run deep into the tournament.

7. Federer’s dominance
The facts written above point to Roger Federer having an easier path in his quest for a third major title of the year. Nobody has looked better than the Swiss Maestro thus far in 2017, and his legion of fans who will be in New York are hoping that the diluted men’s field creates a less treacherous path for the 36-year-old. His absence from last year’s tournament left something missing, and his presence once again in Flushing Meadows breeds excitement, as well as provides us with a clear-cut favorite to hoist the trophy at the end of the two weeks.

8. Will the reign of the Big Five continue?
Since Rafael Nadal won his maiden French Open title in 2005, only twice has there been a player outside the Big Five (Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Murray and Wawrinka) to win a major trophy. Both of those came at the U.S. Open, as Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic (picture right) have won trophies in Flushing Meadows. Two of the big five have already withdrawn from the tournament, so it will be interesting to see if that trend will continue, or will someone unexpected be able to topple a Federer, Murray or Nadal. Players like Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori (a former U.S. Open finalist) and Milos Raonic are due to have a deep run in Flushing Meadows, but can they overcome the mental obstacle that is playing the players who have dominated the men’s circuit for years.


 

2017 U.S. Open sleepers
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
The big Frenchman is a three-time quarterfinalist at the U.S. Open, but could this be the year he pushes his way into the final four? He has a game well-suited for the hard, fast Flushing Meadows courts. Injuries and inconsistency have led to an underwhelming year so far for Tsonga, but he has played well as of late and is capable of a deep run at the year’s final major.

 

Karen Khachanov
The 21-year-old Russian has shot up the rankings over the past year, and it began with his run at last year’s U.S. Open. After coming through qualifying, he won his opening round match and took the first set off of Nishikori in the second round before losing. But he is up to 30th in the ATP Rankings, and has the type of game that is successful on hard courts. If the big-hitting Khachanov can be consistent, he has the ability to take down just about any opponent.

 

Johanna Konta
Great Britain’s Johanna Konta has had success so far at Grand Slams in 2017, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals at Wimbledon. Konta doesn’t wow you with any particular aspect of her game, but is incredibly consistent and possesses the ability to beat any player on any given day. Look out for Konta to make a deep run in Flushing Meadows.

 

 

Svetlana Kuznetsova
In 2004, Svetlana Kuznetsova captured the title at the U.S. Open and now, 13 years later, could be a factor to do so once again. She is the eighth-ranked player in the world, and knows what it takes to win in Flushing Meadows. She recently reached the quarterfinals in Wimbledon before falling to eventual champion Muguruza. She was bounced early at the U.S. Open a year ago, but was dealt a tough draw by playing Caroline Wozniacki in the second round. Don’t be surprised to see the Russian to at least reach the second week in Queens this time around.


 

2017 U.S. Open prize money
The total prize money for the 2017 U.S. Open will be $50.4 million, making it the richest purse in tennis history, with a record $3.7 million going to the men’s and women’s champions. The total purse has increased about $4 million from a year ago, or roughly nine percent.

With this increase, the U.S. Open becomes the first tennis tournament in history with the total prize money compensation topping $50 million.

“Five years ago, we committed to the players that total player compensation for players would reach $50 million at the U.S. Open, and we are honoring that commitment,” said USTA President Katrina Adams.

The singles competition has seen an increase of 7.5 percent per round from last year, and the overall doubles prize money is increasing by 8.6 percent, with the men’s and women’s double champions taking home $675,000, the highest in U.S. Open history.

The US Open Qualifying Tournament has also seen a notable bump, increasing an unprecedented 49.2 percent, with total prizing now totaling more than $2.9 million dollars.

Besides the boost in prize money, the U.S. Open players will also have a host of new amenities to look forward to, including upgrades to Player Dining, a more generous meal allowance, upgrades to all player workout facilities and additional quiet room space.

2017 U.S. Open Prize Money
Singles
►Winner: $3,700,000
►Runner-Up: $1,825,000
►Semifinalist: $920,000
►Quarterfinalist: $470,000
►Round of 16: $253,625
►Round of 32: $144,000
►Round of 64: $86,000
►Round of 128: $50,000

Doubles
►Winner: $675,000
►Runner-Up: $340,000
►Semifinalist: $160,000
►Quarterfinalist: $82,000
►Round of 16: $44,000
►Round of 32: $26,500
►Round of 64: $16,500


 

2017 U.S. Open Restaurant Guide
Heineken Red Star Patio Café & Bar
Enjoy fresh selections of seasonal sandwiches and salads paired with summer specialty cocktails at this charming outdoor café located outside the US Open Club.

Mojito Restaurant & Bar
Features a menu inspired by Chef Marcus Samuelsson with Latin specialties and cocktails, offering indoor and outdoor seating. It’s located just west of the Octagon outside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Emirates Sports Café
The Emirates Sports Café is located near the South Plaza Fountains. Situated on the top level of a two-story building, it provides guests an ideal setting to unwind with gastropub fare in a laid-back atmosphere

Aces
Both are located on the Club level in Arthur Ashe Stadium between Gates 3 and 4 and are available to Courtside Box seat holders and Luxury Suite guests. You can access both restaurants by using the elevators on the east side of Arthur Ashe Stadium adjacent to the U.S. Open Club. Enjoy local and seasonal seafood creations at Aces by Ed Brown, creator of Ed’s Chowder House, and sushi prepared by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Loge and Promenade Subscription Series ticket holders may purchase passes for the duration of the tournament by calling the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Ticket Office at (718) 760-6363.

Champions Bar & Grill
BLT Steakhouse imagined by Celebrity Chef David Burke in the newly transformed Champions Bar & Grill.

The U.S. Open Club
The U.S. Open Club is located on the ground floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Club is available to all Subscription Series ticket holders for the duration of the tournament for a nominal entrance fee and is included for Silver Loge Box seat holders. Restaurant passes are required. To purchase passes, please visit the US Open Box Office.

Enjoy regional cuisine and specialty items at the US Open Food Village.

►Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop
►Curry Kitchen
►Farm 2 Fork
►Franks & Fries
►Hill Country BBQ
►Korilla BBQ 
►BLT Fish Shack
►Neapolitan Express
►Prime Burger
►Angry Taco
►Glatt Kosher
►Grey Goose Bar
►Jacob’s Creek Wine Bar
►Lavazza Café
►Fuku
►Franks & Fries
►Crepes
►JoJu Modern Vietnamese Sandwiches

South Plaza
►Pat LaFrieda Meat Company
►Dean & DeLuca

Grandstand Food Village
►Angry Taco
►Franks & Fries
►BLT Fish Shack
►Oyster Bar 7
►Hill Country Chicken
►Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop
►Neapolitan Express
►Prime Burger
►Grey Goose Bar


 

Five reasons to love the U.S. Open
5. Night tennis
Night tennis at the U.S. Open is where fans will create memories for years to come. Late-night tennis has been a tradition at the Open since 1975, when New Zealand’s Onny Parun defeated American great Stan Smith at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y.

Who can forget Andre Agassi, at the age of 35, coming back from two sets down to defeat James Blake in five sets in 2005? After the match, Agassi said, “At 1:15 a.m. for 20,000 people to still be here … I wasn’t the winner, tennis was. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this good here before.”

The magical run by Jimmy Connors at 39-years-old in 1991 included a five-set win over Patrick McEnroe that ended at 1:35 a.m.

You never know what to expect at the Open, but it is often worth staying up late to find out.

4. Celebrities
Celebrities, like the rest of us, love tennis. Spotting athletes, actors and musicians in attendance throughout the tournament becomes easy. The U.S. Open has attracted the likes of former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Ricky Martin, Eva Longoria, Michael Jordan, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Sean Connery, Ben Stiller, Michael Shannon (pictured right) and many more to Flushing Meadows. When you are on grounds this year keep your eyes open for your favorite celebrities!

 

3. Practice court viewing area
A two-story practice gallery debuted at the 2014 U.S. Open. This allowed fans a better view of their favorites stars as they warmed up for matches on the practice courts. What made this area even better is that you could view Courts 4, 5 and 6 from the same spot by simply turning around. The practice courts are always packed with fans looking to catch a glimpse of players or get autographs, but this new viewing area allowed people to be a bit more spread out. Make sure to stop by this new spot at the 2017 U.S. Open.

2. Entertainment
From live music to interactive games and kids tennis sessions, there’s something for everyone at the 2017 U.S. Open. It starts with Arthur Ashe Kids Day on Saturday, Aug. 26, which features games and activities all over the grounds of the National Tennis Center, as well as a stadium show in the afternoon featuring top stars from the worlds of tennis and music.

The American Express Fan Experience offers great family fun for all ages throughout the tournament. Kids can take part in youth tennis sessions, while adults can have their swing analyzed by a teaching pro. Fans can also sit in on interviews with top players on the Fan Court or get an autograph from their favorite stars at the WTA booth.

The U.S. Open includes plenty of live music, with performers ranging from solo singers to jazz bands, which can be heard throughout the tournament at the South Plaza and President’s Gate.

1. The stars
Well this one is simple … the best players in the world are in our backyard, here in New York for three weeks (including qualifiers and practice days). Whether you are a fan, casual player or a serious tennis player, you will not want to miss out on your chance to get up close with the best players when they come to town for the biggest and best tennis tournament in the world!


 

2017 U.S. Open Schedule
Monday, August 28: Men’s and Women’s First Round
Tuesday, August 29: Men’s and Women’s First Round
Wednesday, August 30: Men’s and Women’s Second Round
Thursday, August 31: Men’s and Women’s Second Round
Friday, September 1: Men’s and Women’s Third Round
Saturday, September 2: Men’s and Women’s Third Round
Sunday, September 3: Men’s and Women’s Round of 16
Monday, September 4: Men’s and Women’s Round of 16
Tuesday, September 5: Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals
Wednesday, September 6: Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals
Thursday, September 7: Women’s Semifinals
Friday, September 8: Men’s Semifinals
Saturday, September 9: Women’s Final
Sunday, September 10: Men’s Final


 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Bethpage
Oneononedoubles banner art resize

March/April 2024 Digital Edition