Discovering the US Open for the First Time
I’d never been to the US Open before, so when I saw that Will Boucek from TheTennisTribe.com was partnering with The Rose Gold Group’s Karen Rector and Leeanne Seely on a New York trip that included tickets and doubles lessons—all at an affordable price—I thought, why not?
I’d been to tournaments in Richmond, VA and Washington, DC (most recently the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open), but never to a major. I must say, the US Open was quite an event—well worth every penny for the experience and enjoyment I received.
It had also been years since I’d been to New York City. My last visit was shortly after 9/11, when I worked with the federal courts in assisting with disaster planning and continuity of government. I’d forgotten what the city was like, but I truly enjoyed being back, especially staying at the Grayson Hotel, which was both comfortable and conveniently located.
Day One: From Grand Central to Arthur Ashe Stadium
I arrived on Tuesday and met up with Karen and Leeanne, who were managing the trip. Our first stop? A tennis lesson at The Vanderbilt Club—inside Grand Central Station! Who knew there was a court hidden in one of the most famous buildings in the world?
Afterward, we headed to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. For anyone who’s only been to smaller tournaments, this place is on another level—gigantic compared to the DC venue.
Our first event was sitting in on Andy Roddick’s podcast, featuring Tracy Austin and Brad Gilbert (author of Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis—a book I’ve read and highly recommend). Tracy offered thoughtful insights from her playing career, but Brad Gilbert stole the show with his humor, intelligence, and tactical wisdom. I could have listened to him for hours.
We did get to see the Venus Williams, perhaps for the last time at the US Open, and Leylah Fernandez match loss to top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in the women’s doubles quarter-finals.
That evening, we took our seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium for the men’s quarterfinal match between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz. I expected Djokovic to win—and he did, 3–1—but Fritz put up a good fight. He even managed to take a set off Djokovic for the first time in his career, making for an exciting, competitive night.
Day Two: Lessons, Practice Sessions & Doubles Strategy
Wednesday started early with a morning lesson at the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. After drills, Will Boucek led a strategy session over breakfast, where we talked about doubles tactics and what separates strong partnerships from great ones.
Later, we headed back to the US Open grounds. There’s so much to see beyond the matches themselves—practice sessions, warmups, and behind-the-scenes energy. We missed the Alcaraz quarterfinal match since it ended up being over rather quickly. Later, a few of us watched Aryna Sabalenka practicing, and she was as intense and vocal in training as she is in matches. It reminded me of something I learned long ago: you play the way you practice. That’s a lesson I carried from my own high school tennis days and later applied as a youth soccer coach. My teams’ success often came down to how well we prepared for big moments.
From there, I caught part of the Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Alex de Minaur quarterfinal—an excellent, fast-paced battle that Felix ultimately won. I also dropped by the junior girls’ match between Jana Kovackova and Mika Stojsavljevic, which Mika won in three sets (5–7, 6–1, 7–5). The level of play among the juniors was truly impressive.
Later that afternoon, I rejoined the group at Louis Armstrong Stadium to watch two doubles matches:
- Siniakova & Townsend vs. Kudermetova & Mertens
- Dabrowski & Routliffe vs. Errani & Paolini
Since I mostly play doubles these days, I was eager to absorb as much as I could. I had previously taken Gigi Fernández’s online course on doubles, which provided a solid foundation in strategic play at the club level. But seeing professionals execute those same concepts live was truly inspiring—it brought those fundamentals to life.
With Will Boucek offering live commentary and match analysis, it felt like having a professional coach in my ear—pointing out nuances in positioning, teamwork, and shot selection. One key insight that stuck with me was the importance of playing to your strengths. As a former singles baseline player, I realized I could incorporate that comfort zone into doubles by staying back more often when appropriate.
One thing that especially impressed me was how, after nearly every point, the teams would pause to confer—briefly analyzing what had just happened and planning their next move. It was a small but powerful reminder of how communication and strategy can make all the difference in doubles play.
I came away with fresh ideas for improving my own game and a deeper appreciation for the sophistication of high-level doubles play.
Final Thoughts
In just two days, I learned a lot, met wonderful people, and watched some incredible tennis. The US Open exceeded all my expectations—an unforgettable experience for any tennis lover. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend going. Between the world-class competition, the buzz of New York City, and the chance to learn from pros like Will Boucek, it’s an experience that stays with you long after the final point.
Marc's Travels 