U.S. Open

Daughter and son-in-law V+M always go to the U.S. Open.  Matt's parents also get tickets for us, if we want to go.  This year we were able to do that, so we spent a Saturday filled with tennis!  It was the semi-finals, and there were two matches to be played.  I had no idea how long that would take.  We left home at around 10:45 a.m. to be in our seats in Ashe Stadium by noon, the start time!

One definitely needs to be prepared with a hat and sunglasses, with perhaps snacks and a water bottle.  V and M have done it enough times to know how to prepare.   I knew about the sunglasses and visor and sun screen.

  I  did not want to carry around a big bag all day, and have to keep up with that.   In past years, there has been a long long line for those who carry a bag or purse of any kind, to get through security.  Those without could walk right through.  I planned to not have a bag this year, but Vee assured me that there was no wait in the bag line.  And she was right.  I did take a small bag with a few snacks and my camera.

I am not usually one to watch tennis for hours.  I figured that if I got bored I would just go to the food court and sit in the shade and watch on the screen.  The first match was really exciting and thrilling.  I was cheering for the underdog  (Wawrinka).  Everyone else round me was cheering for Djokovic.   That match lasted for four and a half hours!  Though it was close the whole way, and Wawrinka gave him a run for his money, Djokovic won in the end.   It was much more difficult to get "into" the second match.  I was prepared to go the distance, and stay as long as V+M wanted to stay,  but everyone was ready to leave by 7:00 p.m..  That is seven hour of tennis in the hot hot sun!  Everyone did take a break at one point or another to go for food and drink.

Overall I very much enjoyed it.  I was worried that I would be challenged by all the climbing of stairs, but I managed to do whatever needed to be done.  It is a stadium of 22,000 people, and it was packed!   In fact, I was very much surprised to learn that the two week U.S. Open event is New York City's largest and most profitable.   (You'd never believe how much a sandwich cost!)