What was Media Day (Friday, Aug. 25) like for me at the US Open, having not attended for the past three years?
The same thing only different. Everything at the Media Center is digital now. And there seem to be a few new tournament sponsors, including now LVMH-owned Tiffany & Co., maker of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Singles Championship trophies, and Mount Sinai Health System -- which also has a booth at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, where the US Open runs Monday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Sept. 10.
One thing that never changes is the at-times tropical storm-like weather, a persistent companion this summer in particular. With things getting underway a bit later due to the rain, I checked out the offerings in one of the US Open Collections stores and noted that this year’s signature design by illustrator Camille Pinheiro of tennis legend and civil rights activist Billie Jean King in her prime in 1960s-‘70s’ psychedelic colors -- with the Chrysler Building and the Statue of Liberty as the backdrop -- celebrates 50 years of equal prize money for the men and women. For this tournament, they’ll be splitting a pot of $65 million.
Unlike past years in which a big press conference with stars and select fans was held in the “Louie,” as Louis Armstrong Stadium is affectionately known, the presser was confined to the Media Center’s interview rooms, while fans watched stars practice at the covered Louie and Arthur Ashe Stadium and the outer courts dried out for the end of the qualifying tournament. I opted for Arthur Ashe, where stars like the number three-ranked men’s player Daniil Medvedev and the top women’s player Iga Swiatek dropped by for informal interviews for the fans.
After a while, chatter went up in several languages in the stands with one unmistakable name – “Djokovic, Djokovic, Djokovic.” A German man sitting in front of us leaned over to his wife across the aisle and, smiling, said, “Perfect timing.” No sooner said than Djokovic – number two in the men’s rankings -- walked out on the court to warm applause for an hour-and-a-half practice session with Finnish player Emil Ruusuvuori, ranked 56th. For those used to the Djoker playing to the crowd in exhibitions and even tournaments, practice was all business, giving fans and journalists alike a window onto how players actually prepare. It was not just about baseline rallies – although there was enough of those – but breaking down each component of the game.
So each player had a chance to practice his serve, return, overhead, drop shot and skills at the net. It was also an opportunity to get out the kinks literally as Djokovic stretched his neck and loosened his shoulders. You realized how much job performance in sports or the arts depends on your day-to-day physical well-being. If you’re injured, all the talent in the world doesn’t matter – although players like Djokovic are known for powering through occupational hazards like heat exhaustion, which he did to defeat world number one, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, at the USTA’s Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati Aug. 20.
I wqas surprised that there was less grunting in practice – less effort involved or less gamesmanship perhaps? One thing there was a lot of was perspiring and towel breaks. Despite this, Djokovic never looked less than professional, a reminder to us all that if you want to succeed, look the part. He was crisp in a navy T that he later changed for a powder blue one with pink streaks across the chest, white shorts and powder blue tennis shoes. His clothes were fitted and his hair was in his signature brush cut so nothing detracted from the game.
At 36, and possessing many of tennis’ records – including most Grand Slam titles by a man (23) and most weeks at number one, man or woman (389), the Serbian Djokovic has little to prove. At his press interview, it was clear that he’d like to tie and then surpass Margaret Court Smith, who has 24 Grand Slam titles. He’s also entered into a complementary – and complimentary -- rivalry with last year’s champion Alcaraz, who at 20 not only has prodigious talent but astonishing poise, which he displayed again in his press interview.
After the practice session, there was time for some camaraderie as Djokovic and Ruusuvuori thanked each other and welcomed the next practice pair, who included the number 10-ranked American Francis Tiafoe. Djokovic then lingered to sign autographs for the youngsters who clustered courtside with their oversize Wilson tennis balls.
The late Arthur Ashe forever serves for the match in this bronze nude by Eric Fischl that stands in the tranquil Arthur Ashe Commemorative Garden, a respite from the jazzy atmosphere of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Photograph by Georgette Gouveia.
Outside for a late lunch, I had a hot dog and lemonade from Pat LaFrieda Meat Co. – one of a veritable United Nations of food vendors on site – and a Van Leeuwen ice cream cone in the Arthur Ashe Commemorative Garden, dedicated to the late tennis champion, civil rights activist and Armonk resident. It’s a serene spot in a place that seems perpetually jazzed, particularly during Fan Week, which ended Saturday, Aug. 26 with Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, with Djokovic and seventh-ranked American Coco Gauff among the headliners.
On Media Day, I joined those singing along with Ball Crew Karaoke, who performed John Denver’s “Country Roads” on Center Stage. Then it was more tennis, this time on the outer courts where Russia’s Diana Schnaider was up a set and 3-2 in the second to France’s Elsa Jacquemot in a qualifying match when play was suspended due to more rain. (Jacquemot would come back to prevail 6-7, 7-5, 6-3.) So I headed inside again, this time to the Louie and more crisp practice from world number seven, Russia’s Andrey Rublev, and 98th-ranked Diego Schwartzman of Argentina. The Louie is a more intimate arena than Arthur Ashe, and fans entertained themselves in the toweling-off breaks by doing the wave.
Rain- and wind-swept or not, the buoyant US Open remains undefeated.
For more, visit usopen.org.