Tips to get the most out of the US Open

(Getty Images)
This week marks the tennis event of the year in the United States: The US Open in Flushing Meadows, NY. The event makes more money for the city of New York than any other sports event and the venue is one of the best.  Here's what to watch.

If you go, and this will be my 7th year, go in the first week.   You can see more good tennis on the outer courts.   One year I watched a doubles match where former US Open champion was playing doubles with Australian Alicia Molik.  I sat just behind a group of shirtless male Aussie fans (a treat in and of itself) and laughed nonstop.  Whenever Kuznetsova would hit a good shot, the Aussies would croon in unison "Ooooooh, Svetlana!"   Kuznetsova cracked up too. 

The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is one terrific venue.  It can get crowded but regardless there are good matches to be seen. And good practice hits to watch as well.  A group of giggly teenage girls and drooling gay men have been known to watch Andy Roddick hitting balls shirtless.  He loved it.

Unlike the French Open or Wimbledon, where you buy tickets for one stadium and feel relegated there, if you buy a ticket for Arthur Ashe stadium you can go to any of the courts.  You can also loll on the grounds and eat an overpriced meal in relative comfort while watching the main courts on the big screen.

If you are beginner or average player, there are some good tips to watch for as you view the matches.  Look first at how balanced each player is whenever he or she strikes the ball.  Even on a full run, you'll notice that  Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams are far more balanced than you could ever hope to be.  Also watch their eyes and heads as they hit the ball.  If they have their heads down and eyes on the ball even until a couple of seconds after they swing and make contact, they've probably hit a good shot. If they miss a shot, a good possibility is that they looked up to soon.  And count the number of strokes a point last.  Pros often are planning points out 4 and 5 shots in advance of the one they are hitting.  Most tennis players' points don't last 4 or 5 shots.

Doubles is particularly fun to watch  (The Bryan brothers are fun to watch for a multitude of reasons).  It has been described as the thinking person's game. Watch for where people serve, how the players move to cover the open spaces (it's all planned and practiced), and where the players stand (getting to the net is still generally a better play in doubles.) Again, the pros really construct points and try create and exploit the weaknesses they opponents have or they create. 

In addition to the dashing game and looks of Mike and Bob Bryan (the southpaw of the two), other good teams to watch for multiple reasons include Mahesh Bhupati and Mark Knowles, the Israeli team and Andy Ram and Jonathan Ehrlich, and the tall team of Jamie Murray (Andy's brother) and Max Mirnyi (aka The Beast, though Patrick McEnroe described him once as a total "sweetheart.") On the women's side, Cara Black and Liezel Huber are the top ranked women, though if you love classic doubles, former #1 Lisa Raymond (an out lesbian) and her doubles partner, Samantha Stosur, give a clinic every time they play.  Also, take a look at Lindsay Davenport playing doubles with Daniela Hantuchova. They've both won grand slam doubles titles.

Rafael Nadal is the top seed for the men. Roger Federer will try and salvage his year by winning here, which would be his only major. Don't count on Novak Djokovic either who won the Australian Open. Longer shots for the men include Andy Murray, James Blake, Juan Martin del Potro (who has had a terrific summer) or the more rested and less jetlagged Andy Roddick.  On the women's side, it's wide open with any of the top 7 women likely to win it all or lose early.  A long shot is Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki who just won last week in New Haven. 

If you do get to go, arriving early allows for easier access.  There is tight security at the US Open and everyone goes through screening. For what you can and cannot bring in, visit:  www.usopen.org.  I do recommend a good sunscreen and hat and comfortable shoes.  You'll find me more than likely on the Grandstand court which is intimate, shaded well, and has great viewing. Another plus, the tournament is going green and doing more about recycling.   

It really is a terrific place to watch some great tennis and enjoy the sights!