Tennis fans from across New York and around the world are descending on Queens this week for the start of the U.S. Open, and QNS/Queens Post spoke with some of the jovial attendees outside the iconic Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
The two-week sporting extravaganza — which runs from Aug. 28 to Sept. 10. — sees the best in the world battle it out for Grand Slam glory with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz defending his men’s championship title and Polish star Iga Świątek also looking for back-to-back US Open wins.
The NYPD estimates that more than 900,000 fans will attend the country’s preeminent tennis spectacle with nearly half traveling from outside of the tri-state area while about 25% are expected to visit from abroad.
The majority of fans QNS/Queens Post spoke to were from the New York area with others from the UK, Germany, Ireland and Italy.
There was a mix of hardcore tennis fans, casual fans and those just attending to soak up the atmosphere. Thousands of fans could be seen streaming off the 7 train at the Mets-Willets Point station and making the short walk over to the complex.
Jurgen Schmieder, who is originally from Germany and lives in California, said he has been coming to the tournament for the last 10 years and will attend every day of the tournament this year. Schmieder said that the U.S. Open is unique compared to other sporting events.
“I think it’s the greatest sporting event to watch because if you get a grounds pass, you get to watch 15/20 matches whereas if you go to baseball or soccer you pay $100/200 and see only one game and it might be zero-zero,” said Schmieder. “But, if at Court 12 something is going on, you go there, if your favorite player is at Louis Armstrong [Stadium] you go there, so you have a great day and it’s the best bang for your buck.”
Schmieder said he is supporting Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who won the tournament in 2021 after defeating…
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