Tennis balls at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on 27 August in New York City. Photo: Clive Brunskill / Getty Images via AFP
By Dave Worsley*
Analysis - The US Open tennis Grand Slam in New York has rolled around with a significant milestone and a somewhat surprising one at that.
It is the 50th anniversary of equal prize money at the tournament. Back in 1973 the tournament decided, under pressure from women's defending champion Billie Jean King, to become the first world sporting event to give equal prize money. It caused an uproar at the time, particularly with the women playing best-of-three sets and men best-of-five.
However the tournament has continued, getting stronger with record crowds and record prize money as well. In 2023 the prize money has increased again with USD$3 million (NZD$5m) each to the men's and women's singles winners and a total USD$65m for the tournament. If a player loses in the first round of singles their reward is USD$81,500.
The discussion around best-of-three and best-of-five sets doesn't carry much weight or care factor as players are too busy in their own world to argue. The bulk of female players are content with three sets and the male players basically don't care - it's only four tournaments a year that best-of-five is used.
Around 140,000 fans have already been through the gates at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center prior to the main draw starting, including the behemoth that is the kids day where the freeway is packed and so is the venue as players ham it up for the young crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.
The opening night will have Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles paying homage to King, followed by the national anthem and presenting of the flag by the FDNY Color Guard and the NYPD Honor Guard, a US Open tradition.
There's a lot of to unpack around the tournament when it comes to tennis as the rivalry between Spaniard Carlos Alcarez and Novak Djokovic continues. Still only 20, Alcaraz is the defending champ and won against the odds at Wimbledon. Djokovic, 36, still has plenty to offer, has 23 Grand Slams and beat the Spaniard recently in the final of Cincinnati.
Former winner Daniil Medvedev and fourth seed Holger Rune (Denmark) appear to be two players in the men's draw who have the ability to really shake things up. Both have attitudes which can create their own weather patterns as well as shots to match. Andrey Rublev is the only other player standing out as a potential upset merchant with the power to make the last eight, which he has done on three previous occasions.
The women's draw has Iga Swiatek as the defending champion and world No 1. However the emergence of Coco Gauff, who won at Cincinnati, and fellow American Jessica Pegula, another recent winner, creates a bit of pressure on the Polish player.
There's also Anya Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, as well as Ons Jabuer in the top half-a-dozen rankings, but all in mixed form. There will be plenty of eyes on Venus Williams, and Caroline Wozniacki on her comeback.
Expect the unexpected and the showmanship to come through in the tournament just like the city it's based in. It's likely matches will continue well after midnight as crowds play favourites and potentially boo everything and anything they can.
*Tennis journalist Dave Worsley is an RNZ contributor. He has covered 43 Grand Slams.
