2018 U.S. Open Preview

What to Watch for at the 2018 U.S. Open
Will the youngsters turn the corner?
On the men’s side, the Grand Slams have been dominated by just a handful of players for the better part of the last decade, but will that change at this year’s US Open? Players like Alexander Zverev, 21, and Dominic Thiem, 24 (pictured), have been mainstays inside the Top 10 now, and both had their best Grand Slam showings earlier this year at the French Open, Thiem a finalist and Zverev a quarterfinalist. It will be interesting to see if they can translate that onto the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, and add their name to the list of Grand Slam champions.

Defending champ Stephens seeks repeat
The 2017 U.S. Open women’s final was a dazzling display of American tennis, as Sloane Stephens defeated Madison Keys, and Stephens hoisted the first Grand Slam trophy of her career. Stephens has followed that big victory up with some successful tournaments in 2018, winning the Miami title and reaching the French Open final, but has since been up-and-down with her play. She lost in the opening round of Wimbledon and bowed out early at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. Stephens is the type of player who embraces the big matches, and as the defending champion, she hopes to have plenty of big matches over her two weeks in Flushing Meadows.

Can Djokovic double up in second half of 2018?
It was a welcome sight seeing Novak Djokovic back in top form at Wimbledon, where he won his first major title since the 2016 French Open.

“I had many moments of doubt, I didn’t know if I could come back to this level to compete,” Djokovic admitted afterwards.

The Serb may have climbed back to the level that saw him dominate the ATP Tour for a stretch of time in 2015 and 2016. The U.S. Open will be a big test for Djokovic to see if he can maintain that level over the course of back-to-back Grand Slams.

How will Halep follow up on French Open title?
World number one Simona Halep won the first Grand Slam of her career at the French Open this year after three previous defeats in major finals. Although she bowed out early at Wimbledon, the Romanian is without a doubt a contender at this year’s U.S. Open. With championship pedigree under her belt, one key thing to pay attention to will be if she can avoid having a letdown in the early rounds of the tournament as she looks to double up on her maiden Grand Slam title.

Which version of Andy Murray will show up in Flushing Meadows?
When you pull up Andy Murray’s page on ATPWorldTour.com, it looks strange to see his ranking listed as 375th in the world. But before June of this year, Murray hadn’t played a match since last year’s Wimbledon as he battled a hip injury. He played inspiring tennis at the Citi Open where he fought through three consecutive three-set matches, one of which didn’t end until 3:00 a.m. He did not compete at Wimbledon because he said his body wasn’t ready to take on best-of-five set matches, but will be ready to do so at the U.S. Open? A former U.S. Open champion, Murray will be eager to show that he still has what it takes to compete for Grand Slam titles as he begins his run at the U.S. Open.

Anderson seeks continued success in the Big Apple
After winning the inaugural New York Open in February, Kevin Anderson said one of his goals for the year was to win more titles. Now he hasn’t won any titles since his triumph on Long Island, but he has still played great tennis this year. Anderson has reached the quarterfinals in Miami and Indian Wells, and the semifinals in Madrid, before powering into the Wimbledon finals. His last two tournaments in New York have seen him reach the U.S. Open final and win the New York Open title, what will this tournament bring out of Anderson?

With Serena back in fold, is she the favorite?
Despite a lack of match play and just a year removed from giving birth to her first child, Serena Williams enters the women’s field at the U.S. Open as one of the favorites. The key question will be how her body handles the two weeks, especially considering her time off the court leading up to the tournament. If her run to the Wimbledon finals a couple of months ago is any indication, be on the lookout for a deep run at the National Tennis Center by the now 26th-ranked Serena.

​Isner and the American men
It seems that every time we preview a Grand Slam, one of the talking points is whether or not we see the drought of American men come to a close. John Isner seemed poised to do that at Wimbledon earlier this summer when he reached the semifinals, before falling in one of the most epic matches in tennis history, a six-and-a-half hour defeat to the aforementioned Kevin Anderson. There is certainly pressure on the Americans every time they step out on the court of their home turf at the U.S. Open, and this year, the ninth-ranked Isner will feel that pressure to a greater degree.

Revamped Louis Armstrong Stadium to Debut at 2018 U.S. Open
Photo credit: Ashley Marshall/USTA​
At the 2018 U.S. Open, the brand new Louis Armstrong Stadium will be unveiled, a revamped 14,000-seat court with a built-in retractable roof. The new Stadium will feature nearly 40 percent more seating than the previous capacity of 10,200. A total of 7,400 seats in the upper bowl will be general admission, while the remaining 6,600 seats in the lower bowl will be reserved for Louis Armstrong Stadium ticket holders.

A key feature of the new Stadium will be a retractable roof, complete with natural ventilation that allows for air flow throughout the entire Stadium, making it the first ever naturally-ventilated tennis stadium with a retractable roof.

The opening of Louis Armstrong Stadium marks the completion of a five-year, $600 million transformation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, a project privately funded by the USTA. Other upgrades over the past two years include a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium as well as LED lighting, a new 8,125-seat Grandstand Stadium, a new Food Village adjacent to Grandstand Stadium, and an expanded southern campus that includes new tournament courts and enhanced fan amenities, including platform seating for 3,000 so that fans could enjoy an unobstructed view of U.S. Open-seeded players while practicing.

“The new 14,000-seat Armstrong, with its built-in retractable roof, gives the U.S. Open a second stage that is second to none,” said Katrina Adams, USTA President and Chairman of the Board. “It allows us to present a reliable and predictable schedule that will be unaltered by weather. Now, with two stadiums with roofs, you know that if you’ve got a ticket to the U.S. Open, you’re going to see tennis regardless of the weather conditions.”

Armstrong Stadium will feature 14,250 individual terra cotta louvers on the exterior to help circulate air throughout the venue, similar to horizontal window blinds. The louvers keep driving rain and some direct sunlight out, while allowing for fresh air to come through and ventilate the seating bowls. Even when the roof is closed, air will circulate around both the upper and lower seating bowls.

The USTA announced that Armstrong Stadium will feature five matches per day, one more than Arthur Ashe Stadium—including two Night Sessions for continuous tennis action all day long.

U.S. Open to Have Electronic Line-Calling for All Matches
The USTA has announced that U.S. Open will become the first Grand Slam to have electronic line-calling for every match this year. Last year, the tournament had seven courts with the capability of electronic calls.

Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand and Court 17 will all have an instant-replay team within the arena, and there will be a centralized office to handle the electronic review process for matches on all other courts.

“We think it’s the right thing to do,” said U.S. Open Tournament Director David Brewer. “It’s the fair thing for the players. We should provide a tournament where the conditions from court to court, no matter whether it’s Court 15 or Arthur Ashe Stadium, are as close to identical as possible.”

Where to Eat at the U.S. Open
Along with the best tennis and entertainment in the world, the U.S. Open offers premium dining experiences—from Mojito Restaurant & Bar, to Champions Bar & Grill, a classic American steakhouse. Whether you are in the mood for a light snack, lunch, dinner, meeting friends for cocktails or satisfying a sweet tooth, the restaurants on the grounds at the U.S. Open can cure any craving.

►Aces: Located on the Club level in Arthur Ashe Stadium between Gates 3 and 4, Aces is available to Courtside Box seat holders and Luxury Suite guests. Loge and Promenade Subscription Series ticket holders may purchase restaurant passes. Enjoy local and seasonal seafood creations by Chef/Innovator of Restaurant Associates and creator of Ed’s Chowder House, Ed Brown, with sushi prepared by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Open for lunch, dinner or after the matches.

►Champions Bar & Grill: Also located on the Club Level in Arthur Ashe Stadium between Gates 3 and 4, Aces is available to Courtside Box seat holders and Luxury Suite guests. Loge and Promenade Subscription Series ticket holders may purchase restaurant passes. Champions Bar & Grill is a modern take on the traditional clubhouse atmosphere, with classic leather and wood accents in a contemporary setting. The Grill features premium steaks, hearty salads and fresh seafood prepared by Michelin Star Awarded Chef Marc Forgione of American Cut. You won’t miss a moment of the action with live matches on our many TVs.

►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 a nominal entrance fee and is included in select Loge seat subscriptions. With its striking contemporary décor, the U.S. Open Club is famous for its Chef’s Table and seasonal selections of eclectic American cuisine. Open for lunch, dinner or after the matches.

►Heineken Red Star Patio Café: Soak up the beautiful surroundings of the US Open grounds at the charming outdoor Heineken Red Star Patio Café, located outside the US Open Club. Enjoy fresh selections of seasonal foods paired with a Heineken or a summer specialty cocktail. The Heineken Red Star Patio Café is available for all ticket holders. Stop by for lunch, dinner or after the matches.

►Mojito Restaurant & Bar: Located on the ground floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium near the Heineken Red Star Patio Café, Mojito features a menu inspired by Chef Marcus Samuelsson. Experience Mojito’s luscious flavors with Latin specialties in our whimsical garden enhanced by multiple TVs showing the live matches. Mojitos is available for all ticket holders. Join us for lunch, dinner or after the matches.

►Emirates Sports Café: The Emirates Sports Cafe is located on the west side of the South Plaza, adjacent to Court 7 and positioned above the U.S. Open Collection Store. With a spacious, ideal setting to unwind and keep track of the matches, guests can enjoy the café’s laid-back atmosphere and assortment of food and drink offerings. Emirates Sports Cafe is available for all ticket holders.

Food Village
Enjoy regional cuisine and specialty items at the U.S. Open Food Village where you can grab and go or find a seat to relax and take in the U.S. Open atmosphere, including:

►Angry Taco
►Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop
►BLT Fish Shack
►Creperie​
►Curry Kitchen
►Farm to Fork
►Franks & Fries​
►Fuku
►Grey Goose Bar
►Hill Country BBQ​
►Korilla BBQ
►Lavazza Cafe
►Melt Shop
►Neopolitan Express

Kelly Clarkson to Headline Opening Night Ceremony at NTC
Music superstar Kelly Clarkson will headline the Opening Night Ceremony at the 2018 U.S. Open during a special celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the event. The Grammy Award-winning artist and first-ever “American Idol” winner will take the stage inside Arthur Ashe Stadium prior to the Evening Session on Monday, Aug. 27.

Clarkson’s performance will be the centerpiece of a ceremony that will include former U.S. Open champs and other special guests. The ceremony will conclude with a special rendition of the National Anthem by a performer to be named later.

“We are honored to have such a talented performer join us in this very special year,” said USTA Chairman of the Board and President Katrina Adams. “Kelly Clarkson’s musical versatility, her unparalleled presence and, of course, her voice will make this a night to remember.”

Texas-born Clarkson, who recently released her eighth studio album, “Meaning of Life,” is among the most popular artists of this era, with total worldwide sales of more than 25 million albums and 36 million singles.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter first came to fame in 2002 as the winner of the inaugural season of “American Idol.” Clarkson’s debut single, “A Moment Like This,” followed and quickly went to number one on Billboard’s Hot 100, ultimately ranking as the year’s best-selling single in the U.S.

This past year, Clarkson hosted the “2018 Billboard Music Awards,” in addition to appearing and winning as coach on the 14th season of “The Voice.”

Top reasons to love the U.S. Open
Celebrity sightings
Celebrities, like the rest of us, love tennis. Spotting athletes, actors and musicians in attendance throughout the tournament becomes quite common, with the U.S. Open bringing out celebs such as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Ricky Martin, Alec Baldwin, Michael Jordan, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Sean Connery, John Hamm, Bruce Willis, Ben Stiller, and many more to Flushing Meadows. When you are on grounds this year, keep your eyes peeled for your favorite celebrities!

Entertainment from start to finish
From live music to interactive games and kids tennis sessions, there’s something for everyone at the 2018 U.S. Open. It starts with Arthur Ashe Kids Day on Saturday, Aug. 25, 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 Grounds Festival will feature Net Generation Tennis on 14 courts, and a wide range of activities for children of all ages and skill levels. The Stadium Show will feature musical performances from Echosmith, In Real Life and more, along with appearances from defending U.S. Open Champions and world number one Rafael Nadal, 2018 Wimbledon Champions and past U.S. Open Champions Novak Djokovic and Angelique Kerber, and 2017 U.S. Open Finalist Madison Keys, with co-hosts Skai Jackson, Alex Aiono and Radio Disney’s Morgan.

Tennis under the stars
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.

Practice court access
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 and track down your favorite stars on the grounds of the National Tennis Center.

The stars shine brightly in Flushing Meadows
The best players in the world are in our own backyard, competing here in New York for three weeks (including qualifiers and practice days). Whether you are a fan, casual player or a serious 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 final Grand Slam of the year.

New Yorker Rubin, Wawrinka, Azarenka and Kuznetsova Headline U.S. Open Wild Cards
Former U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka, Americans Tim Smyczek, Michael Mmoh, Noah Rubin, 2018 USTA Boys’ 18s National Champion Jenson Brooksby and U.S. Open Wild Card Challenge winner Bradley Klahn have been awarded Men’s Singles Main Draw Wild Cards into the 2018 U.S. Open. Nineteen-year old Frenchman Corentin Moutet was awarded a Main Draw Wild Card by the French Tennis Federation as part of its reciprocal agreement with the USTA, and Tennis Australia awarded its reciprocal agreement Main Draw Wild Card to Jason Kubler.

On the women’s side of the draw, former world number one Victoria Azarenka, 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, and rising American teenagers Amanda Anisimova and Claire Liu will receive Main Draw Wild Card entries into the U.S. Open, joining USTA Girls 18s National Champion Whitney Osuigwe and U.S. Open Wild Card Challenge winner Asia Muhammad as Main Draw Wild Card recipients. France’s Harmony Tan and one Australian woman to be announced at a later date will also receive U.S. Open Main Draw Wild Cards, by virtue of the wild card exchange agreements between the USTA and those two Grand Slam nations.

The 2018 U.S. Open Main Draw will be played Aug. 27-Sept. 9 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Both the men’s and women’s singles champions this year will earn $3.8 million.

The 33-year-old Wawrinka of Switzerland is a three-time Grand Slam champion, winning the U.S. Open in 2016. The former world number three is currently in the midst of a comeback from a knee injury that forced him to miss the opportunity to defend his title in 2017. Wawrinka has won 16 career titles, including victories at Roland Garros in 2015 and Wimbledon in 2014.

Twenty-two-year-old Long Island native Rubin is currently ranked a career-best 139th in the world. He returns to the U.S. Open Main Draw for the second time, after receiving a wild card in 2014 as the USTA Boys 18s National Champion, the same year he won the Wimbledon Boys Singles Title. To date, Rubin’s 2018 season includes a title at the $75,000 USTA Pro Circuit Challenger in Tallahassee, Fla., which clinched him the Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge and a berth in the French Open Main Draw.

Smyczek, 30 of Milwaukee, Wis., is making his seventh appearance in the U.S. Open main draw. Once ranked as high as 68th in the world, he reached the semifinals of the ATP 250 event in Newport, R.I. earlier this summer, as well as the second round of the Australian Open in January.

Twenty-year-old Bradenton, Fla. native Mmoh is making his second U.S. Open Main Draw appearance after receiving a wild card in 2016 for winning the singles title at the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships. He earned his first two ATP-level wins at the ATP event in Brisbane, Australia in January. This summer, Mmoh qualified for the main draw at Wimbledon and reached the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 event in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Brooksby, 17, of Sacramento, Calif., earned the wild card allotted to the USTA Boys 18s National Champion. He has been successful at nearly every rung of USTA junior competition, having won the 12s National Singles Title, been the runner-up at the 16s level, and won the 18s Singles Title at the prestigious Easter Bowl junior tournament earlier this year. Brooksby is committed to play college tennis at Texas Christian University. 

The 27-year-old Klahn of Poway, Calif. is a former NCAA champion and made his last appearance in the main draw of the U.S. Open in 2014. Multiple back surgeries then kept him out of the game from February 2015 to November 2016, during which he contemplated retirement, before eventually returning to competition on the USTA Pro Circuit. He qualified and reached the second round at Wimbledon this summer, marking his first Grand Slam main draw appearance since 2014.

Moutet, 19 of Boulogne-Billancourt, received his wild card as part of the USTA’s reciprocal agreement with the French Tennis Federation that allowed Noah Rubin to make his Grand Slam main draw debut at Roland Garros this year. Twenty-five-year-old Kubler of Brisbane, Australia received his wild card as part of the USTA’s reciprocal agreement with Tennis Australia, which allowed Tim Smyczek to play in January’s Australian Open.

Azarenka, 29 of Belarus, is a two-time U.S. Open finalist (2012 and 2013) and is a two-time Australian Open champion. She has won 20 career WTA singles titles and is currently ranked 87^th in the world.

​Kuznetsova, 33 of Russia, won her first of two Grand Slam Singles Titles at the U.S. Open in 2004, at 19-years-old. Currently ranked 88th, she’s a former world number two and won her 18th WTA title this summer in Washington, D.C.

Sixteen-year-old Anisimova of Aventura, Fla. is the second-youngest player ranked in the Top 200, at 173, and the 2017 U.S. Open Girls Singles Champion. She earned her first Top 10 win this year by defeating world number nine Petra Kvitova to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells.

Eighteen-year-old Liu of Thousand Oaks, Calif. is a former junior world number one and the 2017 Wimbledon Girls Singles Champion. Currently ranked 158^th in the world, she qualified for the 2017 U.S. Open and Wimbledon this summer, where she reached the second round and pushed eventual champion Angelique Kerber to three sets.

Osuigwe, 16 of Bradenton, Fla., won the USTA Billie Jean King Girls 18s National Championship and will make her U.S. Open Main Draw debut. Osuigwe won the French Open Girls Singles Title in 2017 and was the world number one junior.

Twenty-seven-year-old Muhammad of Las Vegas won the U.S. Open Wild Card Challenge to earn her first U.S. Open Singles Main Draw appearance in 10 years. Muhammad reached the U.S. Open doubles quarterfinals with Taylor Townsend in 2016.

Tan, 20, will make her Grand Slam main draw debut after winning the French Federation’s Wild Card Playoff. The USTA and French Federation exchanged Main Draw Wild Cards into the French and U.S. Opens this year for one man and woman from the opposite country. American Taylor Townsend earned the reciprocal wild card into Roland Garros this year, where she reached the second round. The USTA and Tennis Australia have the same arrangement with the 2018 U.S. and Australian Opens. The Australian women’s wild card recipient will be announced at a later date.

2018 U.S. Open Schedule
Schedule subject to change