The US Open, also known as the US Open, is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis and is one of the most prestigious and eagerly awaited events on the annual sporting calendar. And if you’re making the effort to follow the matches, here you’ll find all about the US Open.
In 2024, the competition will take place between August 26th and September 8th, right after the Paris Olympics. You’ll be able to follow everything on TV channels and streams. In Brazil, ESPN and Star+ will be broadcasting the event
But, after all, what is the history behind the tournament and what makes it so highly anticipated? Throughout this guide to the competition, we hope to answer this question and explain all about the US Open, so you can follow the next edition and cheer on your favorite athletes;
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What is the US Open?
The US Open is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis, alongside the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Held annually in New York, the US Open is known for its fast hard courts and attracts the best players in the world to experience thrilling matches.
The matches are usually held in the second half of the year and take place in the entire USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, named after one of the greatest female tennis players of all time: Billie Jean King;
In fact, if you want to know more about this impressive athlete, it’s worth watching the movie “War of the Sexes”, which tells the story of the 1973 tennis match between women’s world champion Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and former men’s champion Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), which became one of the most watched televised sporting events of all time. Check out the trailer below;
The complex where the US Open matches take place has 22 courts, where several matches are played simultaneously.
The grand finals are played at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, which seats more than 22,000 spectators.
History of the US Open
The history of the US Open began in 1881, initially as the US National Championship, an event reserved for men only. Only in 1887 was the women’s tournament introduced to the calendar.
Over the years, the tournament has evolved, changing venues and adopting various innovations. In 1968, for example, it became an open tournament, allowing professional players to participate, marking the beginning of the Open era in tennis;
Furthermore, in 1970, the US Open was the first Grand Slam to adopt the tiebreak, revolutionizing how sets were decided;
Back in 2006, the tournament was the first to introduce electronic replay for reviewing points, using the Hawk-Eye system, which is now a standard in tennis tournaments around the world.
Read also: Tennis Glossary: ace, volley, fault, deuce, serve and more!
How does the US Open work?
To follow the tournament, it’s essential to understand how the US Open works.
Starting with the fact that the championship is all knockout, that is, the players compete in several rounds until the finals, with each defeat being an elimination and each victory a classification;
There are five sports on offer:
- Simples masculino
- Simples feminino
- Duplas masculinas
- Duplas femininas
- Duplas mistas
The singles categories start with 128 players, while the doubles have 64 teams;
In the main categories, 128 tennis players are divided into two brackets, so there are 64 matches taking place in the first round alone!
Every year, a draw is made to determine the initial matches and the groupings;
The tournament lasts two weeks, usually starting on the last Monday in August and ending on the second Sunday in September;
In addition to the games, the event includes evening sessions, concerts and a vibrant atmosphere that attracts thousands of spectators from all over the world.
What are the rules of the US Open?
The rules of the US Open follow the guidelines of the International Tennis Federation (ITF);
As for the number of sets, they differ according to the sport on court:
- Simples Masculino: Melhor de cinco sets (para vencer, o atleta precisa ganhar 3 sets)
- Simples Feminino: Melhor de trĂŞs sets (para vencer, a atleta precisa conquistar 2 sets)
- Duplas Masculinas, Femininas e Mistas: Melhor de trĂŞs sets.
In all sets, including the deciding set, the athletes use the tiebreak if the games reach 6-6;
This is because you have to win by two points. When that doesn’t happen, the tiebreak is played until one player or team reaches that mark.
Some examples of scores that allow the set to end in a tiebreak are: 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
How to win a set?
A set is won by the first player or pair to win six games, with a minimum difference of two goals.
If the set reaches 5-5, a player must win two consecutive games to win the set (e.g. 7-5);
If the set reaches 6-6, a tiebreak is usually played to decide the winner of the set.
The sequence of points in a tennis match is:
- 0 (love)
- 15
- 30
- 40
- game.
If both players or teams reach 40, the score is called “deuce”;
After the deuce, a player needs to win two consecutive points to win the game.
The US Open uses the Hawk-Eye system for electronic reviews of contested points. Each player has the right to request three challenges per set, plus an additional one in a tiebreak.
All about the US Open: curiosities
Who are the greatest US Open champions?
Among the greatest US Open champions are William Larned, Richard Sears and Bill Tilden, with seven championships each. Roger Federer and Pete Sampras won five titles in the Open era. On the women’s side, Chris Evert and Serena Williams stand out, both with six titles.
What is the prize money at the US Open?
The US Grand Slam is the biggest prize on the circuit: a total of R$317 million In 2023, the US Open offered the biggest prize in tennis, approximately US$65 million, something around R$317 million. The men’s and women’s singles champions received around US$3.85 million each.
The US Open remains one of the biggest events on the annual sporting calendar, and now that you know all about the US Open, you can understand why it’s so popular.
The tournament brings together the best tennis players in the world and provides unforgettable moments for fans. What surprises will the US Open have to offer us in the coming seasons? We’re looking forward to it.
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