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While a seat in Arthur Ashe Stadium watching the men’s or women’s final might still cost more than a few dollars, there will be plenty of free events leading up to the tour’s Grand Slam. Attending a qualifying tournament match is free, as are many of the festivities at Kids’ Day on Aug. 29.
Tim Curry, a spokesman for the USTA and a native of Woodhaven, used to be in awe of his ability to play tennis on the hard courts in Flushing Meadows before he worked in professional tennis. On those same grounds, champions had held serve.
“I hate to seem like I am bragging about the place I work, but the National Tennis Center is a world-class facility,” Curry said.
The free events leading up to the 2009 U.S. Open are another aspect of the public’s access to the grounds. For no charge, a spectator can be five feet away from the action as 128 men and another 128 women compete for 16 spots in their respective main draws. A million dollars will be split between the losing competitors in the qualifying tournaments, and the winners advance to the U.S. Open for a shot at even more prize money and national acclaim.
For example, a 15-year-old Anna Kournikova qualified for the 1996 U.S. Open and would go on to lose to a top-ranked pro, Steffi Graf, in the fourth round. This year’s qualifying tournament will be a mix of older players trying to re-establish themselves in the top 100 rankings and younger players, such as the 20-year-old American David Young, who want to make a name for themselves.
Following the tournament will be Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, where there will be face painting, hair braiding, serve speed testing and QuickStart Tennis, which Curry describes as a “tee-ball” for tennis, which makes the sport easier for children to learn.
Access to a Jordin Sparks’ concert during Kids’ Day, featuring comedian Will Ferrell, will be available for $10 to $20. And for $5, grounds passes will be available for the men’s final day on Sept. 13.
“We want to make this game accessible,” Curry said. “If you can’t come to the main draw, you can still come and watch world-class tennis.”
