the u.s. open

played at: usta national tennis center; flushing, new york, u.s.a.

number of spectator courts: 18, including 3 show courts (arthur ashe stadium, louis armstrong stadium and the grandstand)

surface: composite (hard court)

opened: 1978

attended: 4 & 5 septmeber, 2004

it's big. it's loud. it's the u.s. open.

the glitz and energy of the big apple carry over into this, the fourth and final grand slam event of the year. just a 25 minute "7" train ride from the heart of manhattan, the national tennis center is the perfect setting for the classic battles that have taken place here in years past. tradition and reverence take a back seat to show and technology...and that is not necessarily a bad thing. it's always buzzing. always thumping. and the players seem to eat it up. and therefore, so do the crowds.

my take

accessibility: overall, pretty good. it is impossible to get near the enormous ashe stadium without a reserved ticket, but everything else in the complex is accessible with a grounds pass. all tickets can be purchased in advance (good) but can be pricey (not so good.) there are some reserved seats available in armstrong, but the views from the general admission sections are quite nice as it is. there are also a number of quality field courts with ample seating (courts 4, 7 and 11 eg) as well as excellent matchups on the grandstand. the third and smaller show court.

atmosphere: chaotic and crowded. just as it should be in new york. there is plenty to do around the grounds when not inside ashe stadium, so this means that there are people everywhere. add that to the fact that the usta tennis center isn't that big...well, it gets a bit crazy. but it's the u.s. open and again, it is new york, so it is right on par with any other major sporting event. loud and boisterous.

overall asthetic: while arthur ashe stadium is a modern day cathedral for tennis worshipers, the complex as a whole lacks a bit of warmth. but it is only 25 odd years old (ashe stadium did not open until 1997) and that is not to understate the overwhelming sense of beauty and tradition you can't help but feel walking the thoroughfares. besides, all you have to do is look just outside the grounds to find some spectacular views. it is situated right in flushing meadows-corona park, where remnants from the 1964 world's fair stand guard at the south entrance.

bottom line: as american as apple pie and the superbowl. it's loud. it's crazy. it is sheer spectacle.

personal highlights:

-after seeing the complex many times, the chance to finally enter the south gate was pretty darn cool.

-watching the great andre agassi defeat jiri novak in ashe stadium. right in the prime of his remarkable twilight run.

-watching amelie mauresmo (my favorite women's player) play.

-an excellent general admission seat and a steady stream of top tier players on armstrong court (including, lleyton hewitt, justine henin-hardienne and a post wimbledon maria sharapova.) made for a very entertaining afternoon.