NEW YORK CITY — The U.S. Open is underway in Queens, bringing international tennis stars and thousands of spectators to New York for the final Grand Slam tournament of the season.
The tournament began Sunday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka returning and Novak Djokovic pursuing a record 25th major title.
Queens Becomes Global Sports Center
The U.S. Open is one of New York's biggest annual international sporting events.
Fans from around the world travel to Flushing Meadows for the tournament.
The influx provides an important boost to businesses in Queens and throughout New York.
Hotels, restaurants, transportation companies and retailers can all benefit from the additional visitors.
The tournament also puts Queens on an international stage.
Matches are being played across multiple courts, while spectators move through the sprawling tennis center throughout the day.
The opening round already featured several high-profile players.
Jessica Pegula advanced after defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse, while Daniil Medvedev also won his opening match.
The competition features a particularly strong field.
Alcaraz and Sabalenka are attempting to defend their titles.
Djokovic is seeking another historic Grand Slam achievement.
The tournament is also notable for the return of Venus and Serena Williams in doubles competition.
For New York, the event is about more than tennis.
The U.S. Open contributes to the city's tourism economy and provides thousands of visitors with a reason to spend time in Queens.
Local businesses often prepare for increased customer traffic throughout the tournament.
Transportation networks also experience additional demand as spectators travel to Flushing Meadows.
With the competition now underway, New Yorkers can expect two weeks of international sports attention centered on Queens.
