U.S. Open Notebook: Experiencing Flushing Meadows in Person

This past Friday I had the privilege of attending the US Open day session featuring Men's Second Round and Women's Third Round matches. I just want to share with you some of my thoughts and experiences of experiencing the open in person! 

U.S. Open Notebook: Winner's, Sleeper's, and Toughest Road

The 2013 US Open officially kicks off today in Flushing Meadows, New York. At the Billie Jean King Tennis Center over the next two weeks, the best tennis players in the world will compete for the final grand slam championship. On the women’s side, Serena Williams looks to defend her 2012 US Open Championship as Andy Murray will be looking to do the same on the men’s side. This will be the first time Murray will ever have the role of defending his crown. With all the top seeds healthy on the men’s side, and the fierce new rivalry between Serena and Victoria Azarenka, the next two weeks should be full of surprises and wonderful play.

U.S. Open Notebook: Plans to Renovate Flushing Meadows

For five consecutive years, the final grand slam of the tennis season, the US Open, has terminated on the non-traditional Monday due to rain delays. These delays, along with safety issues facing the players if the courts are still wet, has called uproar amongst the players over the past couple years. The USTA has fallen behind the other major grand slam events in terms of updating their facilities. (Australian Open and Wimbledon both have roofs on their main courts.) This past week, the USTA announced their plan for renovating their facilities.

U.S. Open Notebook: A New Queen on The Rise?

In my last post, I discussed the state of male tennis in the United States, focusing on the lack of prospects and national coverage. Now in general, male sports are more famous and receive more coverage than female sports, however, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has made multiple strides in gaining popularity not only in the U.S. but throughout the whole world. Tennis is really the only sport where male and female competitions are televised together, receive equal prize money, and analyzed with equitable media coverage. A great deal of this is due to big names like Serena Williams (She also has a clothing line.) and Maria Sharapova (She also models). Needless to say, the WTA has found a way to gain more media attention, and it is through using individual players for not only their skills on the court, but their appearance as well.

U.S. Open Notebook: Is There a Male U.S. Tennis Star in the Making?

If you were to stop someone on the street and ask the question, ”Who is the best American tennis player?” what would be the most common response? Many people would say Andy Roddick (He retired last year). Others would say Andre Agassi (Has been retired for over 5 years). And even others would say that Roger Federer guy (He is from Switzerland). The point is, with start of the decline of the Williams sisters (Venus and Serena) and last year’s surprise retirement from Roddick, the US does not have a face of tennis and the U.S. Open is right around the corner.

What The US Open At Merion Teaches You About Your Sports Career

The US Open teed off from Merion Golf Club this morning with the players taking on an incredibly unique golf course far as US Open golf course standards go.  However, the uniqueness of Merion is not unlike the unique journey of a career in sports.  The pros may be teeing off for one of the PGA Tour's four majors, Tiger Woods for his 15th, but we are just teeing off on life in the sports industry.  Merion is playing just under 7,000 yards, 6,996 yards this week to be exact, the first US Open under the 7,000 yard mark since 2004.  The course, just like your career, is not without its twists and turns, zigs and zags, uphills and downhills.

Possibly No U.S. Open Tennis This Year?

The Australian Open final took place yesterday morning and it saw number 1 seed Novak Djokovic defeat number 3 seed Andy Murray to win his third Australian Open Final.  Murray had just come off an impressive five-set win against Roger Federer. It was simply an amazing match played by two of the top players in the world today. It is amazing that the level of tennis is so high and tennis still ranks low on the totem pole of sports. Especially when it comes to the Australian Open, because of the time zone differences. However, considering this is arguably the best era of tennis ever on the Men’s side, you would think more people would be interested.

US Open - Biggest Winners

The US Open at the Olympic Club definitely proved to be golf's toughest test this past weekend.  Maybe the PGA Tour was angered by Rory McIlroy tearing up the tournament last year, who knows.  This year Webb Simpson out lasted the field by winning the US Open at a score of +1 and taking home his first PGA Tour major victory in the process.  Interesting note, I have been reading that Simpson is unlikely to participate in the Open Championship in July because his wife is expecting their child.  So going into the British Open, I'm doing my research and picking a golfer whose wife just recently gave birth within the month or is expecting within the month (Masters champion Bubba Watson had adopted a baby boy, Caleb, within the month when he won his first major).  As with any visible sporting event, there are winners and there are losers.  When it comes to branding, here is my brand winner and loser from the US Open.

Big Winner - Beau Hossler and University of Texas


Hossler is the 17 year old amateur who made a remarkable run at the Olympic Club and at one point, many thought could possibly be the champion.  After a Sunday mini implosion, Hossler didn't even end up as the low amateur of the tournament. However, he had already made a name for himself and the college that he will playing golf at after he graduates high school.  Donning the University of Texas visor all week and the Longhorns burnt orange shirt on Sunday, Hossler and his college were given plenty of air time by the NBC crew.

Honorable Mention
Jim Furyk - 5 Hour Energy
Webb Simpson - Wake Forest Arnold Palmer Scholarship
Collegiate Golf in general.

Big Loser - Bubba Watson


Watson simply had a rough start to his first Father's Day weekend as a father when he missed the US Open cut.  Shooting a rough 78 on Thursday, Watson was snippy with reporters and some may say even a bit childish. Everybody loves Bubba because he's laid back, but when the tides turn and he isn't winning, that laid back attitude turns into a perceived lazy demeanor.  His performance this past weekend may have some even saying that his Masters win was a bit of a fluke.  I wouldn't go that far, but his performance and antics definitely didn't sit well with many.

Honorable Mention
Luke Donald - Missing cuts in majors for the world's #1 player should not be the norm.
Rory McIlroy - US Open winner to US Open missed cut in one year, oy.