In Love With Match Point - U.S. Open Tennis 2014
The start of the U.S. Open Tennis in New York City is always a little bitter sweet - great fun for the tennis enthusiasts from near and far, but invariably spells the end of the summer.
We are fortunate to live close to this world class event and have been attending it for the last twenty five years! It never disappoints. The facilities have been evolving over this time period. We’ve witnessed lots of [noisy] construction and even makeshift bathrooms in portables. And, there is more on the way... Armstrong and my beloved Grand Stand are to be demolished to make room for a new, larger stadium, which, along with Ashe, will have a covered roof. A new Grand Stand is to be built on the grounds as well, as the last phase of new construction slated to be completed by 2018.
We like to go on the first day, as ALL the players are still there. Even if we don’t catch them playing matches, we get to see them on the practice courts. Aah, the PRACTICE COURTS - a huge improvement this year in being able to view the players! Kudos to the designers - well done. There are now real bleachers with reasonably comfortable seats, from which all the practice courts are easily visible. AND, from the other side of the bleachers, once can watch up to three actual matches in progress on the newly-built courts 4, 5 and 6; there is even a new media booth in back of court 5.
We were able to witness a virtual parade of tennis stars practicing either with their hitting partners or with each other as we also closely followed Andrea Petco eking out a win from an unknown first-timer to a major. Thus we were fortunate to see from fairly close-up the timeless Roger Federer, the Glamazon Ana Ivanovic, Stan-the-Man, Azarenka, the Williams sisters, Kvitova, Nishikori, Bouchard (hitting with Pennetta), Djokovic, Raonic, “baby Fed” Grigor Dimitrov, Sam Stosur and many others.
The large stadiums are nice, but lack the intimacy of the smaller courts, where many matches were also happening and practices going on. Ashe was definitely the “safer” place to brave Milos Raonic’s 140-mile-ah-hour serves. And where was the other half of the Bry-Bry bro’s? Lefty = Bob, right? I nearly bumped into Melanie Oudin... and could reach out and touch Fernando Verdasco.
If you go, drive your Mercedes - parking is free, as the auto maker is one of the sponsors. To get a better, closer parking spot at Citi Field (nee Shae Stadium), go on a day when the Mets are not playing. Enjoy the plentiful food and drinks, but be prepared to shell out - ‘tis part of the experience.
Wear a hat and strong sunscreen. But most importantly, enjoy good tennis and HAVE FUN!!!
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