There's something about walking the grounds of the US Open that makes total strangers act like old friends. Everyone's there for the same reason, and somehow that makes people warmer with each other than they'd be anywhere else in New York. We spent a full weekend out there, and it gave us a lot to write about.
The shops
The merchandise pavilions are their own kind of chaos. People swap opinions on hats with strangers, compliment each other's outfits, laugh about how fast the good stuff sells out. It's genuinely one of the best parts of the day.
There was exactly one exception to all that goodwill. We both went for the last small US Open sweater at the same time.
Nobody got hurt, but it was close for a second.
What we wore
For wandering the grounds all day, a striped maxi dress did the job. It's the kind of thing that works whether you're posing next to a giant stack of tennis balls or standing in front of a designer gown.
The oversized tennis balls made for the day's best photo op.
Ashley Giraldo's tennis-inspired gown, made with FIT students for IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Lime green and cream, a lattice bodice that mimics court lines, a skirt that puffed out in tiers. It was the most photographed thing on the grounds all day, and it made the case pretty clearly that tennis has plenty to offer fashion beyond the usual polo and pleated skirt.
The matches
We watched Taylor Fritz play Francisco Cerúndolo on Arthur Ashe, and for two sets it looked exactly like the win everyone expected. He had it two sets to love. Then it fell apart over the next three, and Cerúndolo closed it out 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that ran three hours and thirty-nine minutes in front of a full stadium.
Word got around that Madison Keys had gone out at the Grandstand at almost the same time. She held a match point serving at 5-1 in the third set, one game from the fourth round, and still couldn't finish it. Zheng Qinwen, ranked outside the top 100 and still working her way back from elbow surgery, won five straight games to take the third set 7-5. Keys wasn't the only seed to fall that day either. Amanda Anisimova lost to Anastasia Potapova, and Flavio Cobolli went out to Alexander Blockx.
We ended the day still at Ashe, with Coco Gauff's straight-set win over Cristina Bucșa, 6-3, 6-4. She's chasing her second US Open title, three years after her first, and she looked comfortable doing it, in control, sharp at net, with rallies long enough that you could actually settle in and watch a point develop instead of just watching serves.
The bag question
A few people stopped us during the day to compliment our tennis-ball ink and our INK + ALLOY beaded clutch, which we appreciated more than we probably let on.
It got us thinking about how differently we used to pack for this. The first year we came, our tote weighed something like thirty pounds by the time we got through the gates. Sunscreen, snacks, extra shoes, a book we never opened. These days it's lip balm, sunscreen, phone, credit card, ID. That's the whole list. Honestly we'd rather carry a big bag home at the end of the night than deal with one all day.
One more thing
On the way out, we got a quick photo with Carlos Alcaraz on the steps outside. He was gracious about stopping for a picture, and it was a good note to end the day on.
A quick photo on the way out. A good note to end the day on.
Day two: a slower start and a lucky turn
Day two started on the wrong foot. We were still curling our hair when my husband pointed out, gently but firmly, that we weren't making the 9am Long Island Rail Road train to Queens. He was right. So we scrapped the rush and decided to take the morning slow instead.
Since we had time to spare, we walked over to the Plaza to see their tennis-themed centerpieces, which we'd heard were beautiful this year. We got as far as the entrance before finding out it was hotel guests and patrons only. Fair enough. We turned around and started walking back.
That's when the day turned around with us. Rounding the corner, we spotted an official US Open car parked with a small crowd already gathering around it. A few seconds later, Carlos Alcaraz stepped out. Our favorite player, right there on the sidewalk, on a day we hadn't even planned to be near the hotel.
It felt like the kind of thing that only happens when you stop rushing.
We're headed to his match against Tommy Paul later today, fourth round, though Sabalenka plays first to open the session. Hard to imagine topping that morning, but we'll see what the afternoon has in store.
Ninety Perfect Days: The Best Tennis Season of the Year Starts Now