The U.S. Open is the best grand slam major in tennis and it isn't even close and the tournament in Flushing at the National Tennis Center might be one of the best sporting events in the world and the 133rd edition of the US Open is no different.
There are many things about the US Open that make it amazing, including the grandstand, the beautiful stadiums of Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, but also because of the night matches and the fact that it's the final slam of the year. Players like Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and more have spoken about the fans and how great they are as well as the magic at night matches.
There is nothing like going to the US Open for a night session and watching until the wee hours of the morning as players go at it for five sets or when fans gather after matches to get autographs. The players love the fans at the US Open and even though the audience has become more uppity and high class after ticket prices have been going up, true fans still make it there. American players love playing in front of home fans and players like Andy Roddick have said that winning the tournament was the most precious memory of his career. Once I was there for a night match with Andy Roddick, it may have been the fourth round or maybe even the quarters, but it was a middle round and after playing five sets into the night, a fatigued and tired Roddick stayed on court for an hour after the match, walking around the stands around the court in his socks, signing every single autograph of those who waited. He didn't miss a single person.
Upsets happen all the time, including like last night when Victoria Duval upset Sam Stosur and players have some of their toughest matches in Flushing. The night tennis, the prestige of the tournament and more is what makes it the best. There isn't the pomp of Wimbledon and while it has been improved over the years, the grounds still have that New York flavor. There's no place quite like it.
That is what makes the US Open great.
