I went to the U.S. Open for the first time; here are 5 things that surprised me

You’re a lot more likely to find me in the auditorium of a Broadway theater than in the bleachers of a sports game, but when I got a chance to attend the U.S. Open Tennis Championships in Queens this year, it was an easy yes. I attended on the tournament’s opening night where I got to see American Learner Tien put up an impressive fight against the famed Serbian Novak Djokovic. 

I had no idea what to expect. I’ve been to hockey, football, soccer, baseball and basketball games before—and even roller derby matches and NASCAR races. But to me, tennis was a virtual unknown, other than the two weeks in high school gym class when we were forced to try the sport. I found myself constantly surprised by the experience and delighted by much of it. Even if you’re not typically a sports fan, the U.S. Open is definitely worth your time, and you can still get tickets (I spotted some for under $200). Here are five things that surprised me as a newbie to the sport. 

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1. The sounds—and lack thereof

The last time I heard shushing, it was in a library. That is, until last night when a few rogue fans started making some noise during the match point that could propel Djokovic to victory. Their outburst drew a brief admonishment from the announcer and shushing from the crowd. Imagine being shushed by 23,000-some people! 

I was awed by how quiet the sport was. During gameplay, the crowd watched in reverent silence, breaking into dignified applause between games. It was so quiet, you could hear the players’ grunts and their shoes squeaking along the court. 

That’s a far cry from the sports I’m accustomed to. For example, I attended a New York Liberty game last week and couldn’t help but scream “Let’s go, Liberty” and boo when the opposing team got a free throw opportunity. I grew up watching Steelers games where being quiet was practically forbidden. And I delighted in learning Arsenal chants when I got to see a match at Emirates Stadium. Despite all of that, I loved the quiet of Arthur Ashe Stadium, a peacefulness which helped me really focus on the match.  

2. The duration

When I arrived at the stadium right on time for the 7pm match, I skipped the concession stands and the bathroom because I didn’t want to miss a thing. Turns out, I could have spent a few minutes in the bathroom line. This naive newbie didn’t realize that the men’s singles match would be going for nearly three hours (which is nothing compared to the record of 11 hours set in 2010 at Wimbledon).

Be prepared that tennis is unpredictable. Unlike a neat four quarters in football or 500 laps at Daytona, tennis runs for as long as it takes to get a win. 

3. The bougie bathroom amenities

When I finally realized I could excuse myself for a few minutes to use the restroom without missing too much, I was pleasantly surprised by the smell. Yes, the smell in a stadium bathroom was, dare I say, pleasant. That’s thanks to the Bath & Body Works Autumn Drive candle burning on the counter. Fancy! Also available on the bathroom counter: tampons, pads and perfumes.

The bathroom itself was fine—a normal stadium restroom—but those little amenities elevated the experience, along with the hard work of several bathroom attendants who kept everything tidy.

4. The food and drink prices  

I may not have known much about tennis prior to yesterday, but I did know all about the tennis-themed cocktail the Honey Deuce. This popular beverage is made with Grey Goose Vodka, fresh lemonade and raspberry liquor, topped with a trio of honeydew melon balls adorably meant to look like tennis balls.

I’m used to paying high prices for cocktails (and even mocktails) in New York City, but I was shocked by the $23 price tag on the Honey Deuce—even if it does come with a collectible cup. I was even more shocked to see people carrying stacks of Honey Deuce cups, meaning they’d spent around $100 on liquid. Yes, you’re going to want to get one. Just be prepared for the sticker shock. 

Those high prices pervade the other concessions, too. For example, a basket of three chicken tenders, waffle fries and a small Coke cost $35. So either be prepared to shell out some dough or eat before you go. 

5. The outfits 

Unprepared for what to expect and with no player allegiances, I picked a green-and-blue dress for the occasion because I thought it would match the court. I’m used to being overdressed in just about every social situation, but here I was happy to fit right in. While there’s certainly no dress code, lots of people got dolled up for the event in dresses, collared shirts and chinos.

As I quickly learned, unlike other sports, it’s not the type where you’d wear an athlete’s jersey, for example. Instead, smart casual and preppy (that’s the “old” definition of preppy, not the Gen Alpha definition, to be clear) looks won the day. So take the chance to get dressed up a bit and head over to the Open—maybe just have a big meal first.