Experience at the US Open ’18

As I got off the plane at LaGuardia Airport, I walked out to hundreds of posters and advertisements for the US Open, one of the largest tournaments in the world.

On top of taxis, on billboards. everywhere I looked I saw the blue and gold of the US Open’ signature tennis balls.

Throughout my childhood, I only watched professional tennis on television. I looked up to all those players, especially Nadal and Serena Williams, but the possibility of seeing them only seemed like a dream. My dream had finally come true.

When I arrived at the stadiums, the environment was incredible as people from different countries met up in New York to experience the Open. This was so different than any other games I have ever been to: here, people from all walks of life and all ages joined together for the love of the sport. Not only were the people sundry, but the environment was inclusive to everyone.

While obviously the stadium was hectic, nothing stopped me from seeing all of the players I looked up to throughout my childhood.

Before all of the major matches in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, there were other matches in different stadiums. I walked into a little smaller stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, to experience my first live tennis match between Kevin Anderson and Dominic Thiem. I was jubilant to see the best University of Illinois player, Kevin Anderson, play in one of his most important majors of all time.

The environment was buzzing with an energy even prior to the players coming out of the locker room. This energy subsequently grew as the players walked out with their tennis bags and gear waving to the crowd. Seeing these players seemed like a dream come true as I never imagined seeing them in person, let alone watching them in a tennis match.

As the match wrapped up, the bigger matches were beginning in Arthur Ashe stadium, with Nadal playing first, followed by Serena Williams.

Although my seats were much higher for the larger matches, as they were extremely expensive and reserved for coaches and family, all I was focused on was seeing my heroes.

While some people look up to Superman and Batman as children, I looked up to Nadal and Serena as inspiration for greatness and perseverance. So when they walked out I was starstruck with nothing to say, in awe to be watching two of the greatest tennis players play at the US Open.

To properly experience professional tennis it needs to be in person., A television doesn’t replicate the buzzing energy and positive environment. Thus, if you love tennis, I recommend you take the hike to the next US Open. If it is too much work, another alternative is to support the University of Illinois tennis team at the Atkins Tennis Center because you could potentially watch the next Kevin Anderson.