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6 things you didn’t know about the US Open, according to Grand Slam champions

September 5, 20240
Sabalenka said center court at the US Open is especially loud.

Mike Stobe/Stringer/Getty Images

Sabalenka said that when fans get really loud cheering at the main stadium, “it’s crazy for players to handle” because all the noise “goes right on the player.”

“I never felt that way on the other stadiums,” she added.

A possible explanation for Sabalenka’s experience is the sheer size of Arthur Ashe Stadium, the US Open’s main stadium. It has a capacity of 23,771 people, almost 9,000 more than other center courts at Grand Slams.

Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic told the Washington Post in 2023, “It’s the size. It’s the echo because of the roof construction. It’s everything combined.”

Brands are usually responsible for choosing players’ on-court outfits.
Wawrinka won the 2016 US Open for his third-career Grand Slam championship.

Angela Pham

In 2021, the USTA created a Mental Health Initiative that gave players access to quiet rooms, licensed mental health providers, and other services at the US Open.

“The US Open is intense, with the energy from the crowd and the challenges on the court,” Wawrinka told BI. “Mentally preparing is just as crucial as physical training. I use the quiet rooms provided to reset before matches, which helps me focus.”

In 2023, Forbes reported that a feature of these quiet rooms is beds, so players with late-night matches have an opportunity to rest.

Wawrinka also added that “staying hydrated and maintaining balance” is central to his preparation.

The USTA has continued to highlight the importance of mental health in more recent years. At the 2023 US Open, it hosted the “Mental Health and Sport: Why It Matters” panel featuring Naomi Osaka, Michael Phelps, Dr. Brian Hainline, the NCAA’s chief medical officer, and Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the US surgeon general.

Players often share indoor warm-up spaces.
Maestro Dobel Tequila is the official tequila of the US Open.

Courtesy of Maestro Dobel Tequila

The Honey Deuce, the signature drink of the US Open, may be a popular choice that generates millions of dollars in sales, but it’s not the only cocktail available to spectators.

This year, Sabalenka has her own cocktail, the Marg-Aryna, which was made in collaboration with Maestro Dobel Tequila, and is available to US Open attendees. It’s a play on a traditional margarita, featuring light agave, tropical fruit Olipop, and a Tajín rim.

Sabalenka told BI, “I feel like it’s kind of like a little piece of me, something I like, something I like to have to celebrate some big wins.”

She will take on American Emma Navarro in the semifinals on Thursday. As reported by the Associated Press, in an on-court interview after her quarterfinal win on Tuesday, Sabalenka shared her plan to convince the crowd to rally behind her over New York-born Navarro.

“Drinks on me tonight?” she joked.

People have to try out to be on the famed ball crew.
People have to try out to be members of the ball crew at the US Open.

Elsa/Staff/Getty Images

And the tryouts are more competitive than you might think.

In 2023, The New York Times reported that of the 1,200 applications filed online, only 500 people were selected to compete in person for a chance at making the final crew of fewer than 200.

Those selected for in-person tryouts must complete a series of drills designed to assess a person’s agility, speed, and knowledge of tennis.

Tiahnne Noble, then the director of the US Open Ball Crew, told the outlet, “I don’t think people understand, it’s a highly sought-after job.”