2023 U.S. Open Preview

It’s that time of the year again, when the stars of the tennis world arrive in New York to compete on the world’s biggest tennis stage. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens hosts the world’s greatest tennis players here in New York to compete under the bright lights of the city that never sleeps, and carries with it a thrilling three weeks of tennis action.

A year ago, the U.S. Open delivered amazing moments and thrilling matches, which included the final professional match in the legendary career of Serena Williams, as well as the crowning of two new U.S. Open champions.

Carlos Alcaraz won the Men’s Singles title, his first career major, and Iga Swiatek won the Women’s Singles title, her third major title overall (at the time), and the two victories gave the tennis world a glimpse into the future. Alcaraz added to his count by capturing the Wimbledon title earlier this summer, and Swiatek won the French Open to add a fourth major title to her resume.

“There were a lot of tough moments for me, tough matches. They were there all the time believing in me, supporting me,” Alcaraz said of the impact the New York crowd had on him winning. “I finished the match against Jannik [Sinner] at almost 3:00 a.m., and they were there supporting me until the last ball. I could say this trophy is for them, as well. It’s thanks to them. Maybe if I hadn’t had them supporting me all the time, I couldn’t have this trophy today.”

It’s those special moments and the unique relationship that forms between the New York crowd and the players that makes the U.S. Open such a thrilling event, and we expect no less in 2023.

Contenders – Men’s Singles

Carlos Alcaraz

When examining the men’s singles field for this year’s U.S. Open, look no further than top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard is the event’s defending champion, and he backed up that maiden Grand Slam victory by winning Wimbledon in July, dethroning Novak Djokovic in one of the most exciting tennis matches in recent history. That victory was notable both in the sense that it earned Alcaraz a second major trophy, but also showed he has the toughness to take down an all-time great like Djokovic in a big spot. His unparalleled athleticism combined with his massive forehand make him a dominant hard-court player, and with his new found confidence from that Wimbledon title, Alcaraz is the betting favorite at this year’s U.S. Open.

Novak Djokovic

The aforementioned Djokovic is always a threat when he is in the draw, and should be motivated to avenge his defeat to Alcaraz at Wimbledon, as evidenced by his thrilling win over Alcaraz in the Cincinnati final. Djokovic is arguably the greatest player of all-time and has not shown any signs of slowing down, despite being 36-years-old. He won both the Australian Open and French Open titles earlier this year, and still remains at the top of his game. While the U.S. Open only accounts for three of his 23 major titles, Djokovic knows what it takes to succeed under the bright lights of New York City, and rises to the occasion of those big matches while his opponents often shrink in these same moments.

Frances Tiafoe

The United States is starving for a men’s singles major champion, and it would be an unbelievable story if that champion was crowned right here in the States. Frances Tiafoe could be just the person to snap the 20-plus year drought, as he has shown he has what it takes to succeed here in New York. A year ago, he knocked off Rafael Nadal in the Round of 16 and Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals to reach the final four of the U.S. Open. He would end up losing to the eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, but it was still a successful run for the American, one he aims to follow up this year.

Contenders – Women’s Singles

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka is one of the best hard- court players on the women’s side, and after capturing her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open to begin this year, she will be out to bookend her year with a title here at the U.S. Open. Her powerful groundstrokes thrive on the fast hard courts in New York, and with her serve troubles deep in her past, Sabalenka has found the all-around game that makes her a threat at the majors. She will be a difficult out for any of her opponents as she attempts to win a second career major.

Elena Rybakina

Another power player on tour is Elena Rybakina, and she is certainly one of the favorites heading into this year’s U.S. Open. She showed she has what it takes to win a major, winning the Wimbledon title a year ago and then reaching the finals of the Australian Open earlier this year. Rybakina is a player that primarily plays from the baseline, has a big serve and forceful groundstrokes which make her an effective hard-court player. Rybakina is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon and is playing good tennis thus far in 2023, something she will look to continue when she gets to Queens.

Iga Swiatek

She has been at the peak of the women’s rankings, so Swiatek is used to having that target on her back, which will be the case again at this year’s U.S. Open. Swiatek is a four-time major winner who captured the title here in New York a year ago, and she will seek to become the first back-to-back women’s singles champion at the U.S. Open since Serena won three straight between 2012-2014. Swiatek will use her aggressive, all-court game to try and defend her title, as Swiatek aims to continue the incredible run she has been on to start her young career.

Pretenders – Men’s Singles

Stefanos Tsitsipas

One of the most talented players in the world, Tsitsipas has still not been able to win his maiden major title. The Greek star has been a mainstay in the Top 10 for several years now, and is always one of the most talked about players. He has the game to compile a great two-week run, but the U.S. Open has always been an enigma for Tsitsipas. He has never made it past the third- round making the U.S. Open his least successful major event. Do not be surprised if Tsitsipas suffers an early exit again this time around in Queens.

Cameron Norrie

Despite being a fixture in the Top 15 of the ATP World Tour rankings, Cameron Norrie has not been able to see that success shine through at the U.S. Open. The best result of his career in New York came last year when he reached the fourth round, but the Brit has still yet to reach the second week of the year’s final major. Norrie is a player with consistent groundstrokes who likes to counter punch, but he lacks the type of weapons that would make him a feared player on hard courts. He was a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year, but other than that has not reached the second week at any of the other majors.

Taylor Fritz

The highest-ranked American is still out to bring glory back to American men’s tennis, but the U.S. Open has been the major where he has had the least success in his career. Whether it’s the pressure of being an American competing at his home event or something else, there is something about Fritz and the New York courts that don’t connect. Out of his seven times competing in the U.S. Open main draw, his best results are two appearances in the third round. In 2023, Fritz has not been successful at the majors, reaching the second round, third round, and second round at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, respectively, a trend that could continue at the year’s final major.

Pretenders – Women’s Singles

Coco Gauff

One of the most exciting young stars we have in the game today, Coco Gauff is an easy player to root for, and has the game to back it up. But since ascending into the Top 10, Gauff has struggled a bit at the majors. While she did reach the French Open quarterfinals, she followed that up with a first-round exit at Wimbledon, a disappointing loss for someone who broke onto the scene at Wimbledon a couple of years ago. Gauff is still trying to find consistency with her forehand and until she does so, her game has a flaw that can be attacked by her opponent. Future major success could very well be in Gauff’s future, but it may not show at this year’s U.S. Open.

Maria Sakkari

The ninth-ranked Sakkari reached the semifinals in Queens two years ago, and has one of the most powerful games on the women’s tour, but 2023 has not been kind to her in terms of success at the three Grand Slams. She was bounced in the third round at the Australian Open, and then did not win a match at either the French Open or Wimbledon events. Prior to her semifinal run in 2021, Sakkari had never made it out of the fourth-round here in New York, and a year ago saw her tournament come to an end in the second round, an early exit that could happen again in 2023.

Marketa Vondrousova

The darling of Wimbledon put her best tennis forward for two weeks in London. In doing so, she became the first unseeded and lowest ranked Wimbledon champion in the Open Era. It was a resurgence for a player who missed much of 2022 with injuries after she was a finalist at the French Open back in 2019. But the Czech has never found much success at the U.S. Open with her best result being a fourth-round showing, and her game style is more suited to the clay with her crafty approach lending itself to a slower surface. Coming off her first major championship, Vondrousova may face an early exit in New York.

Sleepers – Men’s Singles

Matteo Berrettini

Injuries have been the name of the game for Berrettini in the last two years which temporarily derailed his career. In 2021, Berrettini peaked in the world rankings at No. 6 after reaching the quarterfinals at the French Open and the U.S. Open, and the finals at Wimbledon. His two main weapons are his forehand and serve, which suit him well on the fast U.S. Open hard courts. With him feeling healthy once again, Berrettini is a threat. He reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in July which showed that he was back and ready to compete with the world’s best.

Karen Khachanov

A year ago, the 27-year-old reached the semifinals before falling to Casper Ruud, which set him on a successful course at the majors that proceeded it. He reached the semifinals at the Australian Open at the beginning of this year, and then the quarterfinals at the French Open. He had to withdraw from Wimbledon with an injury, but Khachanov has seemed to find his footing. If he is healthy, look for Khachanov to be playing into the second week of the U.S. Open.

Alexander Zverev

While Germany’s Alexander Zverev is a former finalist at the U.S. Open, his name isn’t one that is mentioned much when discussing the best players in the world. But perhaps that could be something that works to his benefit. Zverev was the face of the Next Gen when he broke out and was supposed to be one of the players to carry the torch for tennis’ future. With that pressure now subsided, Zverev is playing more relaxed tennis which has resulted in more success. He reached the semifinals at the French Open earlier this year, and with a deep U.S. Open run in his past, Zverev could be due for another one this September.

Sleepers – Women’s Singles

Belinda Bencic

A quarterfinalist two years ago, don’t besurprised if Belinda Bencic returns to that stage of the event in 2023. Bencic has returned to form over the last year-or-so, after injuries ravaged what was a promising young career. She is still only 26-years-old and has began playing like the player she was when she first broke onto the scene, which saw her reach the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open back in 2014. She is up to No. 15 in the world rankings and has been playing consistently well all year long. Bencic has shown she can succeed at the U.S. Open, and will aim to do so once again.

Victoria Azarenka

The veteran Azarenka has a deep resume that features a lot of Grand Slam success, and she is prepared for a second-week run at this year’s U.S. Open. Azarenka has returned to the form that made her one of the top players in the world for years. She reached the Australian Open semifinals at the beginning of this year, reaching that milestone for the first time in a decade, and will look to continue that major success in Queens. She is a three-time U.S. Open finalist, so she won’t shy away from the bright lights of New York.

Madison Keys

A former finalist at the U.S. Open, Madison Keys knows what it takes to go far at this tournament. A powerful player with big groundstrokes, her game is suited to the hard courts, and she will look to build on the success she has had thus far in 2023. Keys reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon which came on the heels of her title at Eastbourne the week before. If Keys can remain consistent and cut down on her errors, she is a force to be reckoned with, especially with the American crowd support behind her.

Reasons to Love The U.S. Open

Fan Week

US Open Fan Week will return in style in 2023, providing six days of amazing tennis, star-studded events and activities for all—with most free to the public—in the lead-up to the final Grand Slam of the year. Whether it’s your first time or your 10th time visiting the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the slate of events scheduled from Tuesday, Aug. 22 through Sunday, Aug. 27 will give you a savory sampling of the US Open’s unparalleled electricity.

Tennis under the stars

There is something special about summer nights in New York City, and that only gets amplified during the U.S. Open’s fortnight. Late-night tennis featuring star-studded matchups have become synonymous with the U.S. Open. The tennis stars always deliver big performances under the stars late into the early morning hours in the city that never sleeps, which provides unmatched energy not found anywhere else in the tennis world.

Practice court access

A two-story practice gallery debuted at the 2014 US Open, which allowed fans unprecedented access to see their favorite players as they prepared for their matches. In addition to the viewing area of the practice courts, the gallery is also adjacent to Courts 4, 5 and 6 where matches are taking place, giving fans 360 degrees of tennis.

New York, New York

Tennis is an international sport with fans and players from all over the globe. But for a three- week period in the late summer, tennis’ home is located right here in our backyard. New York City becomes the sport’s host site and welcomes the best players and millions of fans to come celebrate the sport, and the city’s energy always brings out the best in the players.

Star Power

The U.S. Open is the best way to witness some of the greatest athletes in the world, right here in our backyard in New York. The intimate access to the practice courts are always packed when the top players are training, and walking around the vast USTA Billie Jean King National Center grounds, you can stumble on tons of great matches, especially in the early rounds.

U.S. Open Fan Week Kicks Off 2023 Event

US Open Fan Week will return in style in 2023, providing six days of amazing tennis, star-studded events and activities for all—with most free to the public—in the lead-up to the final Grand Slam of the year. Fan Week is a celebration of tennis and all the sport has to offer, as well as the players, fans and New York City—the tournament’s home. With tennis activities as well as entertainment for the whole family, the events that anchor each day of this beloved tradition offer something for everyone. The experience tries to break down any barriers to the sport, such as cost, equipment and knowledge of the game. Tennis is for everyone, so there’s something on offer for all ages and skill levels.

Nearly 112,000 visitors attended US Open Fan Week in 2022, with a record-setting 35,000 enjoying the atmosphere and activities on Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.US Open Fan Week will include the following events in 2023:

US Open Qualifying Tournament

From Tuesday, Aug. 22 through Friday, Aug. 25, 128 men and 128 women will compete for the final 16 spots in both singles main draws, with matches scheduled around the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Legends of the Open presented by Moderna

Fans can watch top players and former US Open favorites Kim Clijsters, James Blake and Caroline Wozniacki play an exhibition match in Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 7:00 p.m.

Stars of the Open Exhibition Match

Carlos Alcaraz, Christopher Eubanks, Elina Svitolina, Frances Tiafoe, John McEnroe and more will take to Louis Armstrong Stadium for a ticketed exhibition match at 7:00 p.m. on Aug. 23, with all proceeds benefiting Ukraine relief efforts.

Flavors of the Open

Returning for a second year, the US Open’s signature culinary event will delight attendees with the wide range of food and beverage offerings available, coupled with celebrity chefs and top tennis talent. The chefs will interact with the crowd while serving up signature US Open dishes served at their on-site restaurants, but the action in Louis Armstrong Stadium isn’t limited to food. Fans will have the opportunity to meet—and potentially rally with—Bob and Mike Bryan, while the concourse features games, music and even a photo op with the US Open’s Tiffany trophies. Flavors of the Open takes place on Thursday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m., and chefs scheduled to participate include Alex Guarnaschelli, Josh Capon, David Burke, Pat LaFrieda, Masaharu Morimoto, Kwame Onwuachi, Melba Wilson and James Kent.

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day

Oriented toward kids and families, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day celebrates the life and legacy of tennis icon and civil rights activist Arthur Ashe. Fans of all ages can play tennis, enjoy performances and participate in other fun activities starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Open Practice Day

The grounds are open on Sunday, Aug. 27, as players put in their last hours of practice before the tournament officially gets underway the next day. Visitors can watch some of the top talent while enjoying concessions from the Food Village.