A variety of celebrities and athletes were sighted on the grounds of the US Open this week, held at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, across from Citi Field in Queens, as a point of reference.
Jay Z, Beyoncé, Phil Collins, Mike Tyson, Odell Beckham Jr., Alec Baldwin, Dean Winters, Damon John, Vanessa Williams, Michael Shannon, Nicole Ari Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Queen Latifah, Olympians Simone Manuel and Tina Charles, Shaquille O’Neal, Ben Stiller, Hugh Jackman and Norm Lewis were sighted in boxes, the Presidential Suite, player’s quarters, in the stands and even around the fountain area in front of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Beckham was actually sitting in the Louis Armstrong Stadium Sunday afternoon, four rows behind our photographer, Margot Jordan, who captured all of our great photos for the 2016 Open event.
There’s nothing like playing in New York,” said Venus Williams after winning her second‑round match Thursday.
New attendance records were set, with 40,000-plus attending both Saturday and Sunday, the Labor Day weekend. Tonight (Thursday), the Open hosts Community Day, a free United States Tennis Association event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You won’t get to see the new $150 million roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium retract from the inside, and neither Serena Williams nor Venus Williams is on the Community Day schedule, but men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles and USTA junior tennis competition are. Some really good tennis, as well as exhibitions, will be played.
There will also be a special farewell tribute to Louis Armstrong Stadium, which will be torn down and rebuilt in time for the 2018 US Open season. Tennis pros James Blake and Gigi Fernandez will host the special exhibition in the stadium’s honor. Also there will be DJ RAC and other featured guest to join in the scheduled activities.
In the Ashe Stadium, around the corner from Armstrong, are the Women’s Semifinals, being held tonight (Thursday), Mixed Doubles Finals and Men’s Semifinals Friday, Men’s Doubles Finals and the Women’s Championship Saturday, concluding with the Women’s Doubles Finals and the Men’s Championship Sunday.
