BY MARVIN A AZRAK
The 142nd edition of the. US Open is upon us, residing in the robust confines of Flushing, NY, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Last year, we had an all-teenage final between Emma Radacanu and Leylah Fernandez on the women’s side. The 19-year-old qualifier culminated in a historic chalice, with the Great Britain native Radacanu defeating 18-year-old Fernandez 6-4,6-3. On the men’s side, the imbued final that lured coveted celebrities showed, as Novak Djokovic looked to acclaim himself as the GOAT of male tennis by surpassing Rodger Federer for his 21st grand slam but would do. It was in the fashion of a calendar slam, which no male had done since Rod Laver in 1969. But what we got was the sport’s version of the 2007 “Imperfect Patriots” transpired as Danil Medvedev staked history of his own with a 6-4,6-4,6-4 triumph. The 2022 field presents refuse 12 months later, but one that bears a sense of exigency as we seek the stars of tomorrow once faces of the current standard put their racket down for good as Serena Willams is now. That’s where we’ll begin this preview of the 2022 US Open.
As Serena Williams prepares for her last US Open before retirement, tickets to see the tennis legend play are in high demand.
According to the organization, the US Tennis Association sold over 16,500 tickets alone on Aug. 9, when the tennis champion announced her upcoming retirement — more tickets sold than the previous seven days combined. The tournament kicks off Monday, Aug. 29.
“We are now basically sold out for Monday (Opening night), Tuesday, and Wednesday nights,” a USTA spokesperson told CNBC.
The USTA would not disclose financial projections for the famed Queens tennis tournament.
Secondary ticket reseller site Stubhub said daily average sales in dollars have more than doubled, and the number of tickets sold per day has more than tripled. The popular ticket site said it had seen a 40% jump in sales since Williams’ announcement.
Serena Williams burst onto the scene as a 17year-old with beaded braids and potent power winning the first of 23 majors at the 1999 US open. Aided by her twin sister Venus, Williams transcended the female forum, inspiring black women everywhere they could make a difference in their endeavors. But to tennis, she was the most laudable player this game has ever seen in its illustrious history.
“I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me,” including working with her venture capital firm and growing her family, she said.
Williams asked what motivated her now, “the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Lately, that’s been it for me,” she added. “I can’t wait to get to that light.”
Williams had won the US Open singles title six times, beginning in 1999, when she leapfrogged her older sister Venus to claim the family’s first Grand Slam championship 23 years ago, a number that matches her career Grand Slam tally.
Williams’s athletic future has been in doubt since she suffered gruesome injury minutes into her first-round match at Wimbledon last year after she tore her hamstring. It looked as if her career would end in devastation.
This spring, though, Williams said she had the urge to play competitively again. In the Vogue story, she stated that Tiger Woods persuaded her to commit to training hard for two weeks and see what transpired.
She was defeated in her last grass encounter at Wimbledon, a three-hour, first-round match, losing to Harmony Tan of France, 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7). She portrayed conversant expertise but lacked the fortitude from being a regular on the WTA Tour.
William’s mark of 23 trails Australia’s Margret Court’s feat of 24 grand slam titles. A record she’s had an abundance of opportunities to break, especially in 2018 and 2019 when she lost four Grand Slam finals without winning a set. However, due to the profound impact on the game, it’s unlikely to tarnish Williams’s legacy as the greatest female tennis player, one of the greatest players, and one of the best athletes in sports history.
Serena has eclipsed 73 singles titles, 23 in doubles, and two in mixed doubles. She has played on four Olympic teams, winning four gold medals, inspiring today’s top guns such as Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Naomi Osaka, and 18-year-old American sensation Coco Gauff among others.
According to the organization, the US Tennis Association sold over 16,500 tickets alone on Aug. 9, when the tennis champion announced her upcoming retirement — more tickets sold than the previous seven days combined. The tournament kicks off Monday, Aug. 29.
“We are now basically sold out for Monday (Opening night), Tuesday, and Wednesday nights,” a USTA spokesperson told CNBC.
Secondary ticket reseller site Stubhub stated daily average sales in dollars have more than doubled, and the number of tickets distributed daily has more than tripled. The popular ticket site said it had seen a 40% jump in sales since the legend’s announcement.
ALEXANDER ZEREV, RILEEY OPELKA WITHDRAW:
Zverev has been sidelined since June after he suffered the injury against Rafael Nadal in the semifinals at Roland Garros when he rolled his right ankle while chasing a ball behind the baseline and was forced to leave the court in a wheelchair, retiring from the match. He later underwent surgery for three torn lateral ligaments in the affected ankle.
Zverev had played 27 consecutive Grand Slam main draws since his 2015 debut before this injury led him to miss Wimbledon. He was the runner-up to Dominic Thiem in 2020 and reached the semifinal in 2021, falling to Djokovic in five. Alex’s pursuit of his maiden grand slam championship must wait until the Australian Open come January 2022, though he does have a 2020 Olympic gold medal and a. 2021 ATP finales title. Opelka, ranked No. 28 and NO3 in. the USA rankings, has withdrawn due to injury.
Countrymen Stefan Kozlov moves into the main draw to replace Zverev, while Jack Sock fills the void left by Opelka. Kozlov, a 24-year-old Floridian, will make his US Open main draw debut after falling in qualifying on six previous attempts.
DJOKOVIC’S PARTICIPATION IN DOUBT:
Novak Djokovic’s COVID-19 vaccine stance has seen him miss this year’s Australian Open tournament; however, he did play French Open and Wimbledon events, winning the latter for grand slam #21, pulling within one of rival Rafael Nadal’s 22. Following Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic, while speaking to the media, said, “I’m not vaccinated, and I’m not planning to get vaccinated, so the only good news I can have is that they’re getting rid of the mandatory green vaccine card or whatever you call it to enter the United States or exemption. I’m not sure. I don’t believe exemption is a realistic possibility. If that is possible, I’m not sure what the exemption would be for”. The federal government has yet to budge for people traveling abroad.
MEDVEDEV RETURNS:
The reigning champ and world NO1(No points were given for success at Wimbledon this year due to the tournament possessing a “responsibility” to help “limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible”) was banned from this years Wimbledon as part of the attempt to support Ukraine when they were under fire from the Russians, forbade the representation of their country from participating.
Daniel was last in the Tennis spotlight in January when he lost a two-set lead against Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final 2–6, 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5.
PRIZE MONEY FOR THIS YEAR:
First round: $80,000/10 points Second round: $121,000/70 points Third round: $188,000/130 points Round of 16: $278,000/240 points Quarterfinals: $445,000/430 points Semifinals: $705,000/780 points Final: $1.3 million/1,300 points Champion: $2.6 million/2,000 points
