With the main draw for the U.S. Open a week away, tennis fans are flocking to the tennis grounds for "fan week."
A bright late summer day at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center greeted the swarms of fans Monday (August 24). They represent a unique cross-section for the global sport, according to a retired professional present for Fan Week.
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"What's different about this is that there's a lot of people just coming to the US Open just as… they're not even so much in[to] tennis," said Brenda Schultz McCarthy, a retired professional player who's now a coach. "So you get a little different crowd, sometimes a little louder than some of the other Grand Slams."
Entrance to the grounds is free, though select events require payment. The large corporate presence the U.S. Grand slam has become known for is on display as well. So brands like IHG, Emirates Airlines and Tiffany offer stands that gear their showings to a tennis audience with offerings like a tennis ball pit.
And on Tuesday (August 25), Roger Federer will make a long-awaited curtain call for his adoring fans at Flushing Meadows.
His final U.S. Open match in 2019 lacked the romantic send-off that fans have come to expect for former champions, as the Swiss exited in the quarter-finals with many expecting him to return to play at the event again.
Federer will play alongside fellow retired greats Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where newly un-retired American Serena Williams is due to play mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz earlier in the day.
The event also offers a taste of the magic to the up and comers.
"It's good to learn from these pros at the U.S. Open. So hopefully we'll be there one day playing," said Grayson Prince, a 15-year-old fan week attendee from Long Island, New York.
Fan Week runs through August 29th.
The U.S. Open men's and women's singles main draw begins on Sunday (August 30).
(Camera by: Hussein Al Waaile. Production by: Dan Fastenberg. Editing by: Amy Tennery and Dan Fastenberg)