Newport Casino, Rhode Island: 1881-1886 (Men's Singles and Doubles), 1887-1889 (Men's Singles), 1890-1892 (Men's Singles and Doubles), 1893 (Men's Singles), 1894-1914 (Men's Singles and Doubles)
In 1881, the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island, hosted the first tennis tournament, later called the U.S. National Championships (now the US Open). The name comes from the Italian word "casina" ("little house") and refers to a cozy place for elite social gatherings, not a gambling house. Interestingly, the complex was built after a ridiculous story. Two friends - the New York Herald publisher, James Gordon Bennett and his polo partner, British Cavalry Officer, Captain Henry Augustus Candy, place a bet that Candy would not ride his horse onto the veranda of the most exclusive club in Newport - The Reading Room. Candy did it, and, of course, was stripped of his membership. Then Bennett, outraged by this treatment of his friend, decided in 1880 to form his own social and tennis club. In 1881, players (only men in singles and doubles) competed on grass courts while classical music played. From 1881 until 1914, local grounds hosted competitions; after that, the tournament moved to New York, but other events, including the Davis Cup, continued in Newport. In 1954, to save the historic complex from demolition, club president Jimmy Van Alen founded the International Tennis Hall of Fame here.
The first and only national tournament (a men's doubles competition) in Orange Lawn Tennis Club was held in 1887. The club itself was founded in 1880, and the convenient location near the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad allowed wealthy residents and tennis players from New York and Newark to quickly reach the courts, a very important consideration at the time. The most famous club's representatives were William LARNED (who dominated the U.S. National Championship in the 1900s) and Holcombe WARD, one of the best American doubles players at the beginning of the century.
Philadelphia Cricket Club, Pennsylvania: 1887-1888 (Women's Singles), 1889-1891 (Women's Singles and Doubles), 1892-1920 (Women's Singles and Doubles, Mixed Doubles)
In 1887, a National Women's Tennis Championship was inaugurated at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. The first competitions were held in the St. Martin's section of Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill neighborhood. It was a tournament for women's singles only, and 17-year-old Ellen HANSELL became the first champion. Later, women's and mixed doubles events were added to the schedule. Players competed on grass courts until 1921, when the U.S. Open moved to New York.
Staten Island Cricket Club, New York: 1888-1889 (Men's Doubles)
The history of American tennis began on Staten Island, where the first match was played in 1872 in the St. George area. In 1880, the first national tennis championship was held on the club's courts. James DWIGHT, a staunch supporter of tennis and future founder and longtime president of the U.S. National Lawn Tennis Association, came to the competition with his cousin and new doubles partner, 18-year-old Richard Sears. In 1881, the first official U.S. National Championships were held at the Newport Casino, and young Richard Sears became the first champion, repeating his success six more times. To this day, Richard SEARS holds the U.S. record with a total of seven victories in men's singles. In 1885, with the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the club moved to a new location, the large Delafield estate in Livingston, Staten Island. It was here, on the luxurious grass courts, that the historic 1888 tournament was held.
St. George Cricket Club, Chicago, Illinois: 1893 (Men's Doubles)
West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills, New York: 1915-1916 (Men's Singles and Doubles), 1917-1920 (Men's Singles), 1921-1923 (Women's Singles and Doubles, Mixed Doubles), 1924-1933 (Men's Singes, Women's Singles and Doubles, Mixed Doubles), 1934 (Men's Singes, Women's Singles, Mixed Doubles), 1935-1941 (Men's Singes, Women's Singles), 1942-1945 (all events), 1946-1967 (Men's Singes, Women's Singles, Mixed Doubles), 1968-1977 (all events)
In 1915, West Side Tennis Club Stadium in Forest Hills, a quiet suburb of New York, became the home of the U.S. National Championships for the first time. The new 15,000-seat U-shaped tennis stadium with a grass surface was built in 1923, and the Main Clubhouse was designed in authentic Neo-Tudor style by the prominent architect Grosvenor Atterbury. In 1968, a historic event took place and the West Side Tennis complex in Forest Hills became the venue where all five events were combined into the US Open. Many significant changes in tennis took place on the West Side, including the introduction of a seeding system to avoid early matches between the top players in 1927, tiebreaks to prevent endlessly long matches in 1970, equal prize money for men and women, which was introduced under pressure from Billie Jean KING in 1973, and night games in 1975. In the same year, 1975, the US Open tournament was switched to Har-Tru clay courts.
Longwood Cricket Club, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts: 1917-1933 (Men's Doubles), 1935-1941 (Men's and Women's Doubles, Mixed Doubles), 1946-1967 (Men's and Women's Doubles)
From 1917 to 1967, the Longwood Cricket Club's grass courts hosted U.S. National Championships in Men's, Women's, and Mixed Doubles. Unlike the austere urban stadiums of New York, Longwood retained the pastoral atmosphere of New England - white uniforms, tea breaks, wooden rackets, and outdoor play. From 1964 until 1999, Longwood Cricket Club was the venue of the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships. Since 1999, due to significant financial expenses, the club has shifted its focus from managing professional tournaments to hosting national family competitions and age-category tournaments.
The club was founded in 1854, making it the second-oldest cricket club in the United States. By the turn of the century, tennis was becoming more popular with spectators than cricket, so the club underwent some transformations. By 1921, the club's cricket pitches had been almost entirely replaced by tennis courts. It was also decided that cricket should only be played when it did not interfere with tennis. A possible reason for this may have been the famous William "Big Bill" TILDEN, who played for the Germantown club and whose family lived nearby. He was the first American to win the Wimbledon title in 1920, and he repeated the success the following year.
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York: 1978 - present
In 1978, the US Open moved to the new USTA National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows in the New York City borough of Queens because the tournament had outgrown its previous venue in Forest Hills. In 2006, the USTA National Tennis Center was officialy renamed in honor of the great tennis player Billie Jean KING. Now, the tennis complex consists of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, and the Grandstand court (Court 3), with a seating capacity of 6000, 30 outdoor courts, 12 indoor courts, and 4 climate-controlled clay courts. In addition to courts within the tennis center, there are 11 courts at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park near the main entrance that are used as practice courts during the US Open Championships. Sidecourts 4, 7, and 11 are also used during the tournament. These courts have a seating capacity of more than 1,000. All courts have used the DecoTurf cushioned acrylic surface.
US Open Grounds Map
Arthur Ashe Stadium
Arthur Ashe Stadium was opened in 1997 and replaced Louis Armstrong Stadium as the principal venue for the tournament. The new arena was named in honor of Arthur ASHE, the first African American US Open champion (1968). After he retired from tennis and despite his illness, Ashe remained a public figure until he died in 1993. The four-level stadium, with a capacity of 22,547 individual seats and 90 luxury suites, has a DecoTurf hard court colored blue (until 2005, it was green). In 2006, Arthur Ashe Stadium became the first Grand Slam stadium to be equipped with the Hawk-Eye line-calling system, which allows tennis players to challenge the umpire's calls throughout the tournament.
Arthur Ashe Stadium Seating Map
The stadium's seating is divided into four main levels surrounding the court.
Courtside (Lower Level). These are the seats closest to the court and offer the best view. Also, the category offers premium hospitality enhancements, including exclusive access to restaurants/bars.
Loge (Middle Level). Located above the Suite level, it provides a wonderful panoramic view of the entire venue. Experienced fans often choose seats in sections behind the baseline to better see the ball's trajectory without constantly turning their heads.
Luxury Suites. Located between the Courtside and Loge levels, these are premium enclosed boxes. All suites here are air-conditioned and feature an indoor seating area, exclusive services and private balconies with outdoor seating.
Promenade (Upper Level). Seating here is the highest level of the stadium, where tickets are usually the most affordable.
Louis Armstrong Stadium
In 1978, Louis Armstrong Stadium became the main arena for the US Open before Arthur Ashe Stadium opened in 1997. Initially built by the Singer Sewing Machine Company for its 1965 World's Fair exhibit and called the Singer Bowl, the stadium was renamed for Louis Armstrong in 1977. In 1978, after renovation, the arena began hosting US Open matches. In 1997, Louis Armstrong Stadium was renovated again, reducing its capacity from 18,000 to 10,200. The court surface is DecoTurf, like the other courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In 2018, the revamped Louis Armstrong Stadium increased its capacity to 14,500 and was equipped with a retractable roof.
Louis Armstrong Stadium Seating Map
Courtside Reserved seats are located in the lower tier, offer the closest access to the court, and are assigned to ticket holders. During daytime sessions, the sections on the west and south sides of the stadium are the most likely to fall into shadow.
Loge Reserved seats are located in the upper tier of the stadium and offer a great view of the match at a more affordable price than Courtside seats.
General Admission seats are located exclusively in the Upper Bowl. These seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. It means that anyone with a valid Grounds Pass or a ticket to another stadium (such as Arthur Ashe) can occupy any available seat in this area on a first-come, first-served basis.
SLAM HISTORY
