The biggest names in tennis will head to Queens on Monday to kick off the 2023 U.S. Open, and thousands of fans are preparing to watch with honey deuces in hand.
City officials estimate that 880,000 people will make the pilgrimage to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the days ahead of the tournament and during the two weeks of scheduled games.
The festivities begin with prime-time appearances on the court from two of the sport’s biggest stars. Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic returns to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the first time in two years for this year’s Open. He’ll square off against France’s Alexandre Muller in the Men’s Singles game at 7 p.m.
Djokovic failed to appear at last year’s Open because he wasn’t vaccinated against COVID-19, which made him unable to fly to the U.S. and compete.
During the same time slot, 19-year-old Coco Gauff – who first came to prominence in 2019 after defeating Venus Williams in the opening round of Wimbledon at just 15 years old – faces German tennis player Laura Siegemund.
Ahead of the games, the MTA added five extra 7 trains to the subway schedule to help serve the additional riders expected during the Open. The extra trains run express from Mets-Willets Point to 74th Street-Broadway, and then make all local stops to 34th Street-Hudson Yards.
The Long Island Rail Road also added additional stops ahead of the U.S. Open for travelers from farther afield. Between 8 and 9 a.m, Port Washington branch LIRR trains will stop at Mets-Willets Point.
This year’s competition also marks the 50th anniversary of prize money parity among male and female athletes. The U.S. Tennis Association has $65 million to give to players who compete in 2023, marking a new high for tournament winnings.
Those who secured tickets to any of the games are permitted to bring one bag onto tennis center grounds. Backpacks, coolers, video cameras and even tennis rackets aren't allowed on the premises. A full list of banned items is available on the U.S. Open’s website.
