Preparing for the US Open

I kid, I kid. Who has that kinda change lying around?

Oh, right – The thousands of incoming travelers cashing in Euros like lottery tickets.

But, seriously – ticket prices for the most anticipated matches can be extremely intimidating to the more modest spender. You can easily get disheartened and tell yourself there is no chance you’ll get to see your favorite players in action.

Luckily, that’s not totally true. Yes, the Nadal or Sharapova matches might be out of your wallet’s league, but you just might be able to catch these 2012 favorites practicing on Sunday, August 26th.

Practice Day is a US Open standard and it’s TOTALLY FREE. The Tennis Center opens to the public at 11AM. Seated players spread out onto all of the courts, (except Arthur Ashe) to loosen up with their hitting partners. The hitting partners play a major roll, prepping their pro for the opponents to come by mimicking their styles. In many cases, watching these extremely intimate moments up close can be more thrilling than an actual match.

As long as you arrive at The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center early, (9AM is sufficient) you can get fantastic seats in the courts. It is never publicized in advance which player will be on which court, but if you are an all-around fan, you will undoubtedly be pleased by what you’re able to see.

It doesn’t stop there – Practice Day is universally regarded as the best opportunity for fans to actually meet the players, get autographs, snap a photo, etc.. Unlike Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day, which can be a bit of a mob scene, Practice Day is historically a much quieter day – The “hidden gem” of the Open, if ever there was one.

So if you, like me, are semi-broke or just don’t have what it takes for the big Slam seats, head over to Flushing on Sunday, August 26th for what could very well be a day to remember.

On Saturday, August 25th, The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will host “Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day,” where the countries youngest fans gather in hopes of practicing with the personal rackets of some of the highest-ranking players, checking the speed of their serve in “The Speedzone”, and even hitting the ball around with one of their idols.

It is the man for whom this event is entitled, however, who should truly be an idol to us all.

But why is ‘Kid’s Day’ named after Arthur Ashe? My return question: Why aren’t more days named after Arthur Ashe? 

Ashe was an American Hero in the truest sense. Not only was he the first African-American to play professionally AND win a Grand Slam title, but he won that title in 1968 – a year of historical significance, (The start of the “Open Era” – when professional players were allowed to compete for the first time) and personal. It was the same year Ashe completed his duty as a US Lieutenant. He’d go on to win two other Grand Slams, one apiece in Australia and Wimbledon.

I guess you may still be asking yourself: Sure, but why Kid’s Day?

Because Ashe impacted the lives of children on a GLOBAL scale. I first read about Arthur in a memoir of a South African child in the midst of Apartheid, entitled, Kaffir Boy. There, Ashe was described as an inspiration to every South African child – not only because he visited the country himself, hitting with some of its youngest Black players, or that he fought famously against apartheid in DC, but also because he spread hope for civil rights in a hopeless country – not just by competing in a sport with white Americans, but by beating all of them.

His devotion to American children can be seen in Philadelphia’s ‘Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center,’ and Richmond, Virginia’s ‘Arthur Ashe Athletic Center’ – both aimed specifically at promoting dedication and passion for a sport in underprivileged youth.

Still wondering why it’s called ‘Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day’?

Hopefully not! So this year, when your screaming kids pull you by the arm, begging you to take them to “Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day” on August 25th, TAKE THEM! But – be sure to explain the significance of the incredibly inspirational man for who the event is named.