Writer: Yerelyn Cortez Hidalgo
Monday, August 18, 2025
Day 1: Opening Serve - US Open Fan Week Begins with Energy and Anticipation 🎾
The gates of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center swung open today to welcome fans from across the world for Day 1 of Fan Week at the US Open. With free grounds access, practice sessions on every court, and special activities across the venue, opening day set the stage for a week that blends world-class tennis with the festival-like energy of New York City.
Players in Action
The highlight of Fan Week is always the chance to see top players practicing up close — without the pressure of official match play. On Day 1, fans gathered to watch Taylor Fritz, one of America’s leading men’s players, fine-tune his baseline power and precision at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Crowds erupted when Venus Williams stepped onto the practice court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, her presence as commanding as ever. With her legacy spanning decades, Venus continues to draw admiration and applause, proving why she remains one of the most beloved figures in tennis. On the men’s side, Reilly Opelka’s towering serves and dynamic presence gave fans a preview of what’s to come as the tournament heats up. He was practicing along with Venus Williams for an exciting doubles practice match. Alongside them, an array of international stars rotated through the practice schedule, each stop offering fans another chance to see elite talent only steps away.
Atmosphere on the Grounds
Beyond the courts, the grounds pulsed with activity. Families strolled through the food village, sampling signature New York favorites and tournament classics. Sponsors and luxury lounges activated pop-ups — from interactive photo moments — blending lifestyle and sport in a way only the US Open can.
Music spilled across the promenades, young fans lined up for autographs, and selfie stations captured the thrill of being part of tennis’s grandest stage. Whether it was a child watching Venus hit volleys for the first time, or long-time followers comparing notes on upcoming draws, the spirit of tennis culture was alive everywhere.
The LUXXELIVING Lens
For LUXXELIVING, Fan Week is not just about matches; it’s about the culture of the Open — the convergence of sport, fashion, food, and experience. The style in the stands, the energy of Arthur Ashe Stadium as it loomed in the background, and the buzz of anticipation for Opening Night all contributed to a quintessential New York moment.
✨ As Fan Week continues, today’s kickoff reminds us why the US Open is more than a tournament — it’s a celebration. And this is only the beginning.
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Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Day 2: Mixed Doubles Thrills at Arthur Ashe Stadium Day 2 at the US Open
Daytime practice gave way to electrifying match play as Arthur Ashe Stadium came alive with mixed doubles action at the US Open. Fans were treated to a showcase where star power met teamwork, highlighting the excitement of men’s and women’s players sharing the court.
Spectators had the chance to see some of tennis’ biggest names — Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Emma Raducanu, Mirra Andreeva, and Olga Danilovic — as they sharpened their games and energized the crowd. Each brought their own flair: Alcaraz with explosive speed, Djokovic with masterful control, Medvedev with unpredictable tactics, Andreeva with fearless poise, and Danilovic with striking power.
However, when it came to results, the night belonged to the mixed doubles champions, Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, as they continued to play and punched their ticket to the next round. Their chemistry on court, combined with bold shot-making, carried them through in style and earned roaring applause from the New York crowd.
From legends to rising stars, the US Open’s mixed doubles spotlight proved once again why Arthur Ashe is the grandest stage in tennis.
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Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Day 3: US Open Fan Week - Mixed Doubles Brilliance, Star Power and a Night to Remember
Arthur Ashe Stadium radiated with electricity on Wednesday night as Day 3 of US Open Fan Week brought the city’s energy courtside. The stands were packed, every seat claimed, as fans, fashion icons, and culture-makers gathered for one of the week’s most anticipated showcases: the Mixed Doubles Invitational.
Among the full house, the spotlight often shifted from the players to the front row. Anna Wintour, Christie Brinkley, and Lin-Manuel Miranda were all in attendance, adding their own kind of starlight to the evening. It wasn’t opening night, but it might as well have been — the atmosphere carried the glamour of a gala with the intensity of a championship.
A Format Made for Drama
The Mixed Doubles event has been reimagined this year with pace and spectacle at its core. Short sets, super tiebreaks, and a record $1 million prize for the champions ensured that every point counted. It’s a format designed not just for tennis fans, but for the broader audience — fast, thrilling, and perfect for prime time under the Ashe lights.
The Road to the Final
The semifinals delivered on every promise of unpredictability. Iga Świątek and Casper Ruud edged past Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper in a nail-biter, while doubles maestros Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori proved their pedigree with a commanding straight-sets win over Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison. Singles stars showed grit and athleticism, but it was the doubles expertise of Errani and Vavassori that hinted at what was to come.
The Final: A Clash of Styles
The final match was pure theater. On one side, Świątek and Ruud brought explosive singles power; on the other, Errani and Vavassori played with surgical doubles precision. The momentum swung back and forth — Świątek’s sharp angles, Ruud’s heavy forehands, Errani’s wily net play, and Vavassori’s clutch serving.
Ultimately, it was the Italians who seized the night. Errani and Vavassori lifted the trophy with a 6–3, 5–7, [10–6] victory, sealing not just a win, but a moment. Their chemistry and experience in doubles proved decisive against two of the sport’s brightest singles stars.
Why This Night Mattered
This wasn’t just another match on the US Open calendar — it was a statement. Mixed doubles, often tucked into the margins of major tournaments, commanded the spotlight in front of a sold-out stadium and a global audience. With its new format, bigger stakes, and undeniable glamour, the event carved out a space as one of Fan Week’s Crown Jewels.
Court-Side Style
Of course, it wouldn’t be New York without a touch of runway flair. Wintour’s trademark bob and oversized shades, Brinkley’s effortless Hamptons style summer chic, and Miranda’s understated cool look reminded everyone that tennis in this city isn’t just sport — it’s culture, it’s fashion, it’s theater.
The Lasting Impression
As fans spilled out into the Flushing Meadows night, one thing was clear: Day 3 wasn’t only about who won. It was about a city that thrives on spectacle, a sport embracing reinvention, and a crowd that knows when it’s witnessing something fresh. Errani and Vavassori may have taken home the million-dollar prize, but everyone in Ashe took home a memory of a night when mixed doubles became the main event.
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Thursday, August 21, 2025
Day 4: From Qualifying Triumphs to Star-Studded Evenings: Thursday’s Story at the US Open
Thursday, August 21st, 2025 captured everything about the U.S. Open—grit, joy, and star power—delivered in two contrasting but equally compelling halves.
Daylight Drama: Qualifiers Who Turned Dreams into Reality
High-stakes tension defined the outer courts, where persistence met opportunity:
On those courts, every rally carried the weight of a season—matches decided by inches, yet changing lives in an instant. A select few seized their shot and transformed possibility into the main draw.
Nighttime Brilliance: Stars of the Open Illuminate Ashe
As twilight deepened, Arthur Ashe Stadium became the ultimate stage—where legend, celebration, and flair converged in exhibition.
Closing Note
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· Thursday at the US Open was more than a day of matches — it was a celebration of what makes this tournament unlike any other. From the grit of qualifiers fighting for their very first shot, to the glamour of legends lighting up Arthur Ashe, the day captured both the struggle and the spectacle of tennis. In New York, every player has a story, and every moment has the power to become unforgettable.
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Friday, August 23, 2025
Day 5: US OPEN FRIDAY - A Prelude of Passion, Glamour, and Grand Expectations
Friday at Flushing Meadows wasn’t merely a day of tennis — it was an overture to the fortnight ahead, blending athletic drama with the unmistakable buzz of a New York summer evening. On the courts, underdogs carved their names into the draw; off the courts, the Open transformed into a cultural stage where music, fashion, and anticipation intertwined.
Underdogs with Unshakable Composure
On Court 9, the crowd leaned in as Katie Volynets, America’s unassuming warrior, rewrote her story. Down a set against Jana Fett, she refused to fade. Instead, she summoned a baseline ballet of resilience — turning the match with precision groundstrokes and steel-edged poise. The scoreboard read 5-7, 6-2, 6-3, but the moment read something larger: a hometown player clawing her way into the spotlight of the Grandest Stage.
Nearby, Zachary Svajda delivered a clean, sharp 6-3, 6-2 victory over Marc-Andrea Hüsler. No dramatics — just ruthless efficiency, the kind that hints at a player not content to be just a qualifier, but a disruptor of brackets. For fans watching from shaded courtside seats, it was clear: the future of American tennis was on full display.
Then came Claire Liu, who made qualifying look less like a trial and more like a coronation. Dispatching seeded opponents with a quiet elegance, she carried herself like a player already accustomed to Arthur Ashe’s glare. And in one of the day’s sweetest surprises, Janice Tjen — a collegiate standout turned tour revelation — powered her way through with a decisive 6-1, 6-2, announcing herself as one of the tournament’s fresh faces to watch.
When the Sun Set, the Stage Changed
As the matches concluded, the grounds of Flushing Meadows shifted from arena to amphitheater. The US Open Block Party unfolded across Fountain Plaza, where music pulsed against the Manhattan skyline. Legendary producer DJ D-Nice spun a set that transformed tennis fans into revelers — blazers and cocktail dresses mingling with tennis whites, Honey Deuce cocktails raised under the glow of city lights.
The US Open has long been more than a championship; it is where sport collides with culture, where a Friday night feels like both a gala and a street festival. On this night, the Open hummed with the glamour of New York itself.
Voices of the Champions
Earlier in the day, Media Day gave us another layer of theatre. Coco Gauff, radiant yet grounded, spoke with the ease of a champion who knows she carries both the weight and the wonder of a nation’s hopes. Jannik Sinner, sharp and understated, framed his ambition with the calm of a man who expects deep runs, not hopes for them.
And then there was Aryna Sabalenka, smiling as she reminded everyone of a tantalizing statistic: “Over the last 11 years, there have been 10 different women’s singles champions. My thought is to change that… should we?” It was part jest, part promise — the kind of line that sends whispers through the press room and ripples across the grounds. Into revelers — blazers and cocktail dresses mingling with tennis whites, Honey Deuce cocktails raised under the glow of city lights. The US Open has long been more than a championship; it is where sport collides with culture, where a Friday night feels like both a gala and a street festival. On this night, the Open hummed with the glamour of New York itself.
The Curtain Rises
Friday was not just a day on the calendar; it was the overture before the symphony. From the grit of Volynets’ comeback to the glamour of D-Nice’s block party beats, from Sabalenka’s playful confidence to the electric hum of a New York night, the US Open reminded us why it’s unlike any other sporting event in the world.
It is not only about who wins and who loses, but about the experience: the champagne clink between strangers, the whispered predictions courtside, the way tennis in this city becomes part of the cultural fabric.
As the main draw looms, one thing is clear: the stage is set, and Friday’s prelude has already promised a tournament of unforgettable proportions.
Friday was not just a day on the calendar; it was the overture before the symphony. From the grit of Volynets’ comeback to the glamour of D-Nice’s block party beats, from Sabalenka’s playful confidence to the electric hum of a New York night, the US Open reminded us why it’s unlike any other sporting event in the world.
It is not only about who wins and who loses, but about the experience: the champagne clink between strangers, the whispered predictions courtside, the way tennis in this city becomes part of the cultural fabric.
As the main draw looms, one thing is clear: the stage is set, and Friday’s prelude has already promised a tournament of unforgettable proportions.
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Saturday, August 23, 2025
Day 6: US Open Saturday - A Festival of Tennis, Culture and Celebration
Saturday at Flushing Meadows was less about scorelines and more about spirit. The grounds transformed into a playground of possibility — where tennis collided with culture, performance, and the unmistakable pulse of New York.
Arthur Ashe Kids' Day unfolded as a grand celebration, its atmosphere blending family fun with the glamour of the Open. The Media Garden buzzed with anticipation as top players sat for interviews, offering a rare, up-close glimpse into the mindset of champions before the first ball of the tournament is struck. It was access not often granted, and it elevated Fan Week from festival to true insider’s experience.
For me, the day carried an even more personal resonance. I invited a friend and his young daughter, both of whom were experiencing the US Open for the very first time, with nothing more than a Fan Week pass. They were able to step into this world — courtside practices, entertainment spilling across the plaza, and the chance to see the stars not just from a distance but within reach. At just 10 years old, she confessed that she is interested in taking tennis lessons. As she stood watching the players warm up, I told her: " If Coco Gauff could rise from being a young girl with a racquet to an US Open champion, then you too can reach that stage -with time, effort, perseverance, and belief in yourself you could be up there also playing at the US Open and beyond."
The highlight was pure theatre: Dude Perfect’s trick-shot spectacle filling Ashe with gasps and laughter, while chart-rising performers electrified the Fountain Plaza Stage. Between the courts and the concerts, Saturday became a portrait of what makes the Open unique — a cultural festival draped in the language of tennis, a place where community, glamour, and anticipation meet under the late-summer sky.
For LUXXELIVING, it was a finale that felt like more than just the close of Fan Week. It was a celebration of sport as culture, of tradition renewed through fresh eyes, and of New York’s gift for turning every gathering into a moment.
New York, we are ready for the US OPEN 2025!
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