Writer: Yerelyn Cortez Hidalgo
Monday, August 18, 2025
Opening Serve - US Open Fan Week Kicks Off with Energy and Anticipation 🎾
The doors to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center opened today to greet the fans from all over the world for Day 1 of Fan Week at the US Open. With free grounds admission, practice sessions on all courts, and special events throughout the venue, opening day sets the tone for a week that takes the best of both worlds: world-class tennis and the spirit of New York City.
Players in Action
Fan Week this year was on another level. The US Open did an amazing job bringing a full-fleshed tennis experience during fan week. Attendees had an opportunity to see top players practice in close range without the anxiety of official match play. Day 1, fans gathered to witness the American tennis player Taylor Fritz working on his baseline power and precision at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Venus Williams drew a wild crowd as she walked through Arthur Ashe Stadium's practice court and was as powerful as ever. With a legacy that spans decades, Venus continues to captivate and inspire, serving as a testament to her enduring popularity and contributions to the world of tennis. On the men's side, the towering presence and dynamic gameplay of Reilly Opelka provided fans with a foreshadowing of the intense battles to come as the tournament reaches its peak. He was hitting with Venus Williams for a fun doubles session. Accompanying them was a variety of international stars, who rotated through the practice schedule, giving fans another opportunity to get a glimpse of some of the world's top talent within mere feet.
Atmosphere on the Grounds
Outside the courts, the grounds were throbbing. Families walked through the food village, savoring the signature New York dishes and tournament favorites. Sponsors and luxury lounges powered pop-ups from interactive photo moments fusing lifestyle and sport in a way only the US Open can.
The air filled with music, autographs were lined up by the young fans, and selfie stations preserved the excitement of being part of the biggest stage in tennis. Whether it was a kid's first time watching Venus hit voleys, or long-time fans sharing their thoughts on the next big draws, the feeling of tennis culture was everywhere.
The LUXXELIVING Lens
For LUXXELIVING, Fan Week is more than matches; it's about the culture of the Open - the intersection of sport, fashion, food, and experience. The flair in the stands, the vibrancy radiating from Arthur Ashe Stadium as it loomed in the background, and the electric anticipation of opening night made it a quintessential New York experience.
As Fan Week ramps up with today's opening day, we're reminded of why the US Open is more than just a tournament; it's a celebration. And this is only the start of the story.
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Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Thrills of Arthur Ashe Stadium Day 2 at the US Open
Daytime practice was replaced by electrifying match play and Arthur Ashe Stadium was buzzing with mixed doubles at the US Open. To fans, this was a spectacle where star power and teamwork intersected, demonstrating the thrill of men and women players coming together and sharing the court.
Tennis enthusiasts had the opportunity to witness some of the sport's biggest names, including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Emma Raducanu, Mirra Andreeva, and Olga Danilovic, as they honed their skills and electrified the crowd. Alcaraz with lightning-fast speed, Djokovic with masterful control, Medvedev with unorthodox strategies, Andreeva with a fearless flair, and Danilovic with striking power - each contributed their unique style to the court.
However, when it came down to results, the night was dominated by the mixed doubles champions, Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, as they played on into the night and stamped their ticket to the next round. Their on-court chemistry, coupled with their billiards-shaking shot-making, propelled them in style through the New York crowd, as roaring ovations and cheers echoed throughout the stadium.
From legends to rising stars, the US Open mixed doubles stage revealed yet again why Arthur Ashe Stadium is tennis' grandest stage.
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Wednesday, August 20, 2025
US Open Fan Week - Star Power, Mixed Doubles Brilliance and a Night to Remember
On Wednesday night, Arthur Ashe Stadium was electrifying, as the heartbeat of the city resonated throughout Day 3 of the US Open Fan Week. The stadium seats were full to their capacity, every seat taken, fans, fashion icons and culture-makers gathered to see one of the most anticipated events of the week: the Mixed Doubles Invitational.
From the front row, the spotlight used to change from the players to the front row. Anna Wintour, Christie Brinkley and Lin-Manuel Miranda all made appearances, contributing their own brilliance to the night. It wasn't opening night, but it might as well have been -- the mood had the glamour of a gala but with the intensity of a championship.
A Format Made for Drama
The Mixed Doubles event has been re-envisioned this year, by putting pace and spectacle at the center of the event. Short sets, super tiebreaks and a billion dollar prize purse for the winners made every point matter. It's a format that is targeted not just for tennis enthusiasts, but the general public -- fast, exciting, and ideal for prime time under the Ashe lights.
The Road to the Final
The semi-finals lived to the letter of all the expectations of unpredictability. Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud kept their nerve against Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper, while doubles masters Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori confirmed their class with a captain's straight sets victory against Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison. Singles stars showed good strength and athleticism, but it was the doubles excellence of Errani and Vavassori that showed the future of things to come.
The Final: A Clash of Styles
The last match was outright theater. On one side, there were Errani and Vavassori with their robotic doubles, and on the other Swiatek and Ruud with their explosive singles. The momentum swung to and fro - Swiatek's crisp angles, Ruud's thumping forehands, Errani's wily net play and Vavassori's clutch service.
In the end, the Italians took over the night. Errani and Vavassori won the trophy with a 6-3, 5-7, [10-6] victory, marking not only a win, but a moment. They were a formidable doubles pairing with more than enough chemistry and experience to beat two of the brightest singles stars in the sport.
Why This Night Mattered
This wasn't just another game at the US Open -- it was a proclamation. Mixed doubles, which were once relegated to the margins of major tournaments, took center stage before a full house and a worldwide television audience. With its revamped format, increased stakes, and undeniable glamour, the event carved a niche as one of Fan Week's Crown Jewels.
Court-Side Style
Of course, it would be New York without some runway flair. Wintour's bob and oversized panache, Brinkley's breezy Hamptons summer style, and Miranda's minimalist cool brought home the message that tennis in this city is more than sport -- it's culture, it's fashion, it's theater.
The Lasting Impression
As the crowd poured outside into the Flushing Meadows night, the one thing we knew was this: Day 3 wasn't just about who won. Vancouver is a spectacle-based city, a sport that likes to reinvent itself and an audience that can recognize novelty. Errani and Vavassori may have won the million-dollar prize, but everyone who attended Ashe went home with a memory of a night when mixed doubles were 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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