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The U.S. Open isn't the only place where you'll be able to watch world-class tennis in New York this summer. For one very glamorous evening, one of the city's most famous ballrooms is swapping black-tie galas for backhands.
On August 27, the newly restored Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria New York will be transformed into a full-size tennis court beneath its glittering chandeliers for the inaugural Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club: Ballroom Tennis Invitational. The one-night-only event will bring ATP and WTA stars Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Leylah Fernandez and Maria Sakkari into a room that's better known for hosting presidents and movie stars
The Grand Ballroom has hosted some of New York's biggest cultural moments over the decades, including the first Tony Awards, early Met Galas and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. But this will mark the first time anyone has played competitive tennis under its crystal chandeliers.
"The Grand Ballroom has always been one of New York's great stages, a room created for moments people remember," said Waldorf Astoria New York managing director Luigi Romaniello in a statement. "For one night, we are doing something it has never seen before: bringing world-class tennis beneath the chandeliers. It is playful, elegant and unmistakably New York."
The exhibition matches are only part of the evening. Guests can also expect Champagne from Moët & Chandon, interactive chef stations, seafood, tennis-themed cocktails and dishes from Lex Yard, the hotel's restaurant led by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Anthony. The hotel's Guerlain Wellness Spa will also offer wellness experiences tied to the event.
Tickets start at $1,500 and include the live matches, food and beverage programming, player meet-and-greet opportunities and exclusive event merchandise. For anyone looking to lean fully into the fantasy, Waldorf Astoria is also selling overnight packages that pair the event with hotel stays, spa treatments and even the chance to rally with a touring ATP or WTA player inside the ballroom the following day. Five percent of net proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, with the donation matched by the Hilton Global Foundation.
It's all part of the launch of Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club, a new global hospitality program built around tennis, padel and racquet sports across the brand's luxury hotels. Still, it's hard to imagine any future stop topping the image of Ben Shelton serving an ace where New Yorkers once spent decades dancing the night away.