It’s showtime! The U.S. Open’s superstar-stuffed singles tournament starts on Sunday. The early days of the Open are my favorite time to go — every court is occupied and every player is still in the mix. Here’s how to ace the early rounds without pushing your bank account to break point. The best seats are not in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
No need for the Rolex Suite. For next week’s action, I’d want a seat in the grandstand. It’s the smallest of the three show courts, but it has outsize aura. Given that it’s sold out, I’d shop the secondary market for the best deal. (As of earlier this week, the cheapest tickets were going for a couple hundred bucks.) Matches there tend to be electric, whereas the early contests at Arthur Ashe Stadium are frequently big-name blowouts. And, as The Times noted this week, ticket prices for good seats at Arthur Ashe are already climbing on the secondary market. Any stadium ticket gives the holder access to not only the purchased seat, but also all 13 field courts — with bleachers just feet from the action — and the upper, unreserved sections of Louis Armstrong Stadium and the grandstand. Grounds passes, which retailed for $65 but are now selling for hundreds on resale sites, get you almost the same access, minus the reserved seat. Lines can be long when there’s a big star or a dramatic match on court. Feeling lucky? Try for a $25 day-of deal.Through Sept. 6 the tournament also offers a limited number of passes to the grounds during the evening for $25. However, they can be purchased only on-site the evening of entry and on nights that Louis Armstrong is sold out (not including resale tickets). They also do not include admission to Arthur Ashe, but late-night thrillers often take place elsewhere, including in Louis Armstrong and the grandstand. Neither has a bad seat, though the unreserved sections fill up fast. Bring your own food, or splurge on caviar chicken nuggets.
Don’t worry if you blew your entire U.S. Open budget on tickets. You don’t need to spend another dime on food or drinks. Coolers aren’t allowed, but you can bring sandwiches, snacks and water. Check the official rules for permitted bag and container requirements. If you’ve got money to burn, Coqodaq is back with its internet-famous $100, caviar-topped chicken nuggets. Use the U.S. Open app to see all the on-site food options. Sip like a champ.The pink-hued Honey Deuce, the Open’s signature vodka-lemonade concoction, is in its 19th year. Prepare to see people sipping them in your stories and reels for weeks. At $23, it generated sales of more than $17 million in 2025, becoming, as The Times has noted, “by many measures the most profitable cocktail in sports.” Call it sociological research if you want to treat yourself, and keep the commemorative cup. Also, there’s tennis.
The draw — the bracket that shows which players will face off and their paths to the tournament’s $5.5 million prize — came out today. Look out for the defending champs Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz. He enraptured crowds this week in mixed doubles with Serena Williams, but is coming in cold after a wrist injury sidelined him for four months. Also watch for Linda Nosková and Mirra Andreeva, the more recent Grand Slam champs, and for 21-year-old Alexandra Eala, who has been thrilling crowds and making tennis history for the Philippines. I’ll also be following the Frenchman Arthur Fils on the heels of his recent title over Frances Tiafoe in Cincinnati. Consider these pro tips.
We’ll be back next week with advice on how to turn up for the semis and finals, even without a ticket.
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