U.S. Open Tickets
The U.S. Open, otherwise known as the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a historical event in the world of tennis that has been around since 1881. It has evolved over the years to become the fourth and final major of the Grand Slam; the other three events including the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon. The U.S. Open occurs every year, starting on the last Monday in August and lasts for two weeks. Five championship events makeup the tournament including Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. Since 1978 the event has been hosted on acrylic hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, NY. The U.S. Open is a little different than the rest of the Grand Slam events in that “tiebreakers are played in the deciding set instead of continuing play in the final set until a player has won by two games.” This year the U.S. Open kicks off on August 27th. Be sure to get your tickets here and catch all the action live in Queens, NY.
History of the U.S. Open
The contemporary U.S. Open evolved from the U.S. National Championship which was first held in 1881 in Newport, Rhode Island. The event was first held on grass courts at an establishment where only members of the United States National Law Tennis Association could enter. The first championship was won by Richard Sears. From 1881 to 1914, the competition was held at the Newport Casino, until 1915 when it was moved to the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, NY.
Before 1968, the U.S. National Championship was only open to amateur players. Starting in 1968, all events in the tournament became open to professional players as well. That year saw the most contestants yet with 96 men and 63 women to enter the event. Two years later, the U.S. Open became the first (and only) Grand Slam tournament to use a tiebreak in the deciding set. Then in 1973, the U.S. open became the first Grand Slam tournament to give equal prize money to men and women.
In 1978, the tournament location moved to Queens at the USTA National Tennis Center (later renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center). This move also meant that the tournament would be played on hard courts from now on instead of clay courts. The grounds of this location holds 22 courts, with four “show courts” – Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, Grandstand, and Court 17. The remaining courts include 13 field courts and 5 practice courts. The main court, which is also the largest, is Arthur Ashe and can seat 22,547 spectators.
U.S. Open Records
- Most Total Titles Men: Bob Bryan (9)
- Most Total Titles Women: Martina Navratilova (16)
- Most Single Championships Men: Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Jimmy Connors (5)
- Most Single Championships Women: Chris Evert and Serena Williams (6)
- Most Doubles Championships Men, Team: Bob Bryan - Mike Bryan (5)
- Most Doubles Championships Women, Team: Martina Navratilova - Pam Shriver (4)
- Most Mixed Double Championships, Team: Margaret Smith Court - Marty Riessen (3)
