A British friend made an observation at the US Open on Wednesday night that caught my attention.
“Hmm, this feels very American,” they remarked.
As world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz entered Arthur Ashe Stadium, the atmosphere felt reminiscent of a concert, complete with a fog machine.
The crowd of 23,000 didn’t hold back their chatter as the match began.
The Serbian chair umpire repeatedly urged the audience to “hold back” their enthusiasm, making it clear they weren’t fond of the rowdy atmosphere.
But New York? That didn’t seem to matter. The crowd was unwavering in their energy.
With the seating rules relaxed, fans routinely rushed out mid-match to grab drinks. I ended up stacking several $23 vodka lemonade cups—kind of like Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz was on a roll, yet the crowd’s attention seemed to drift.
The US Open is known for its loud, flashy, and sometimes rude atmosphere, reveling in a kind of chaos that’s almost a rebellion against tennis customs.
And honestly? Thank goodness for that.
I’ve been to all four Grand Slams. Wimbledon feels stiff, everyone dressed to the nines, and tensions run high. People camp out for seats, but certainly not for showers. The Australian Open is light-hearted, but perhaps a bit too laid-back. As for the French Open, well, it can be quite uncomfortable, but I guess that’s just how the French roll.
The US Open embodies tennis with a New York flair.
The energy in the stadium is intense and passionate, and it seems to fuel the players. There’s a sense of drama—like Jimmy Connors interacting with the crowd back in ’91.
In that same spirit, Daniil Medvedev is known for his, let’s say, colorful interactions with fans. In his first run to the finals in 2019, he famously acknowledged the crowd’s boos and claimed they motivated him. You won’t find many New Yorkers who’d argue otherwise.
Recently, Medvedev had a notable episode—after a photographer disrupted the match, he had a seven-minute meltdown, smashing his racket against the bench, expressing frustration at the officials. His remarks echoed the sentiment of a driver unwilling to take a fare. “He wants to go home, guys! He’s not enjoying this process!” he shouted.
In the end, Medvedev was the one paying the price, as he lost in the first round and incurred a hefty fine of $42,500.
That’s a lot of pressure to manage in Queens.
On another note, Latvian Jelena Ostapenko recently took shots at American player Taylor Townsend, labeling her as lacking “education.”
All this stemmed from a moment when Townsend didn’t apologize after scoring a lucky point that cut the net—a bit of a faux pas in tennis, honestly. Ostapenko had plenty to say about it, suggesting the reaction spoke volumes about class. “Let’s see how she fares outside the US,” Townsend retorted during a press conference.
I’m curious to see that play out!
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Stefanos Tsitsipas expressed his irritation at German Daniel Altmaier for using underarm serves, a tactic often frowned upon—even if it has its place in the game.
The crowd booed, but many love those unexpected plays and the lengths players will go to secure a win.
This particular underarm serve reminded some of a famous moment in 1989 when 17-year-old Michael Chang triumphed at Roland Garros.
These plays may seem cheeky and frustrating, but they bring an element of excitement and unpredictability to the sport—much like the US Open itself.
So, yes, very American indeed.
