The US Open Tennis Championships is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. It is held annually in Flushing Meadows Park in New York City.
US Open
The US Open Tennis Tournament is one of the biggest and most-watched competitions in the tennis world, with the world’s best players coming to compete every year. It’s a genuinely iconic event known for its vibrant atmosphere and dramatic night sessions under the floodlights.
It is also one of the tennis calendar’s four major ‘grand slam events. It takes place at the beginning of September and is the last of the four majors to be held on the tournament calendar. This post will discuss the US Open’s historical background and some important facts you will need to know if you ever want to visit. Finally, we will look at the format, size of the event, scheduling, venue, and cost.
What Exactly Is the US Open?
After the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon, the US Open marks the end of the Grand Slam season. Traditionally, the tournament is held over two weeks in late August and early September. It is hosted in the metropolitan city of New York, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows.
The center court Arthur Ashe Stadium was built in 1997 and is the largest tennis stadium in the world, with over 23,771 seats. The largest venue at the National Tennis Center is the 23,711-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium, followed by the 14,053-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium, the 8,125-seat Grandstand Stadium, and smaller side courts.
All courts are lit and hence suitable for night play, and the inner courts are painted blue to help with ball tracking. The U.S. Open, like most major championships associated with professional sports, is a media spectacle and tourist attraction as well as a sporting event, with special musical acts and family activities organized throughout the two-week duration.
Each Grand Slam event is held on a different surface. While the US and Australian Opens use hard courts, the type of hard court used varies, with the US using “ProDecoTurf”—a form of acrylic hard court.
History
The US Open first took place in 1881 on the beautiful lawn courts of the Newport Casino in Rhode Island, and it was limited to men’s singles competition. The format of the tournament was slightly different at the time. The previous year’s champion received an automatic entry into the final match, while the challengers competed for the opportunity to dethrone the previous champion in the final.
The US Open was initially called the US National Singles Championships for Men. Richard Sears dominated the US Open for the first seven years, winning the trophy every time. Later the US Open had expanded to include a Women’s Singles event, Men’s and Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles by 1900.
The various tournaments were not unified into one event until the Open Era began in 1968 when the US Open as we know it today was born. The US Open was played on grass and clay in the 1970s before being relocated to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York, where it now resides.
Records
Pete Sampras is the current youngest champion, having won the title at 19 years and 28 days in 1990. Tracy Austin, the youngest female singles winner, won the championship in 1979 at 16 years, eight months, and 28 days.
Chris Evert and Serena Williams have a record-setting six Open Era titles each. Roger Federer, Jimmy Connors, and Pete Sampras have the most titles in the Open Era, each with five.
FAQS
Where is the US Open?
The tournament is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, in the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park area, close to Citi Field, home to the New York Mets.
When is the US Open?
The US Open is held every year around Labor Day and is currently scheduled for August 29 – September 11, 2022.
Who Won the US Open In 2022?
Here is the list of US Open champions of the 2022 US Open.
- Men’s singles: Carlos Alcaraz
- Women’s singles: Iga Swiatek
- Men’s doubles: Ram/Salisbury
- Women’s doubles: Krejcikova/Siniakova
- Mixed doubles: Sanders/Peers
What Surface is the US Open Played On?
The US Open is played on an acrylic hard court. Specifically, it’s Pro DecoTurf that is replaced each year after the tournament. It has a medium-fast playing surface that is painted blue.
What is the Prize Money for the US Open?
The total prize money for the 2022 US Open is $57.4 million (USD).
- Singles Champion: $2,500,000 (USD) per player for both the men & women
- Singles Runner-up: $1,250,000 (USD) per player for both the men & women
- Doubles Champion: $660,000 (USD) per team
- Doubles Runners-up: $330,00 (USD) per team
US Open Ranking Points for ATP & WTA
Below are the points for each round for both the singles and doubles draw of the US Open.
| Men’s Singles & Doubles | Women’s Singles & Doubles | |
| Winner | 2000 | 2000 |
| Finalist | 1200 | 1300 |
| Semi-Finalists | 720 | 780 |
| Quarterfinals | 360 | 430 |
| Round of 16 | 180 | 240 |
| Round of 32 | 90 | 130 |
| Round of 64 | 45 singles / 0 doubles | 70 singles / 10 doubles |
| Round of 128 | 10 singles / No doubles | 10 singles / No doubles |
Social Media Presence
Basic Information
- Founded: 1881
- Location: New York, U.S.
- Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
- Surface: Hard-Court
- Ball Brand: Wilson
- Prize Money: $48,800,000 (2022)
- Sponsors: American Express, Chase, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., Wilson, Emirates, J.P. Morgan, Chubb
Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.