Proper etiquette at the US Open NYC

Ever wonder what it’s really like in the stands during a US Open Tennis match?

If you’ve never been to a professional tennis match before, you may not realize that there is a definite etiquette to the experience. Much like golf and completely the opposite of football or baseball, there are rules to when you can cheer, what you should or should not yell and when you can leave your seats. 

Halep v. Svitolina, Round 4, US Open 2021. Just before the coin toss.

On our last visit to the Open, we were surrounded by groups of people who had never been before and while the Stadium does play a video going over the basics, it seems most didn’t catch that. Also, if you arrived after the match started, you definitely missed it.

So, if you are planning your first trip to the Open in NYC and don’t really know what to expect once you are in the stands, here are a few tips! 

Wanting to plan a full trip to NYC to experience the Open? Check out my blog post that covers all the things you need to know. 

View from the Grandstand Court. About to watch Coco Gauff and Cathy McNally play in Round 2 of doubles.

Because I like to keep things positive, let’s start with the things you CAN do at the Open. 

It’s ok to clap when the point is (completely) over, not when you think it might be over. 

You are welcome to clap/cheer before the point starts/serve starts. Watch the serve clock as as it gets closer to zero or when the server looks ready, cease all cheering. 

Getting up during the match for snacks, drinks and bathroom breaks is permitted but only exit your seat at changeovers or set breaks. The closer you are to the court the more important this is. Nosebleed seats can get away with a little more ;). 

Keep in mind that if you do leave, you will not be let back in to your seats until a change over (every 3rd game) or end of the set. Be prepared to stand and wait at your section entrance. 

You can chat with your fellow guests but keep your conversations to a minimum and at a low volume. It’s not fair to other guests to make you listen to entire conversations. It’s quiet in there and yes, we can hear everything you are talking about. It’s more annoying when it’s not at all tennis related. 

Ask for help from the ushers to find your seat but please sit in the seats you are assigned to, please do not take other seats and cause delays when they get to their seat. Not to mention, it’s very disruptive to everyone around you and often the players too. 

You can bring signs, flags and accessories if that’s your style but please be sure to display them at appropriate times and please be sure they don’t obstruct the views of those around you. 

Here’s what NOT to do: 

Warning: things might get a little sensitive here! I’m still getting over some of the awful behavior I witnessed this year.

Do not make line calls. Ever. It’s not your job. They have computers to do that and trust me, from your seat, your human eye is not going to be right and it’s super disruptive to the player’s concentration. 

Please do not cheer in between serves. Plain and simple, it’s rude. Serving is the hardest part of tennis IMO and they are trying to stay in the groove between serves. 

Double faults suck for a player, don’t cheer for them. This might be one of my biggest pet peeves and those you cheer for a DF, clearly have never played tennis. 

Do not clap for missed first serve. That’s just mean, it’s like cheering for someone who trips. Serving is hard enough, cheering for someone’s mistake is not necessary. 

Yelling during a point or serve is a no. Mid motion is not the time to yell at or cheer for a player. It’s quiet in there for a reason (player’s concentration), respect the reason. 

Stay in your seat during a point, especially if you are close to the court. Players can sense the motion (unless you are on the end, you are also requesting 2-5 people to stand up with you!). Check out above about when the best time to get up is. 

Do not taunt players or fellow guests. Unlike team sports, the players are out there by themselves. It’s stressful, intense and depending on the crowds feedback can get overwhelming. It is also not necessary to pick a fight or an argument with a fellow guest. 

Quick story: We had a group behind us and one guy got way too drunk (not something you see often, probably because drinks are so expensive!) but he tripped, fell and dumped food all over the guy in front of him. In his drunk state, he started to make a scene but the victim of the situation handled it perfectly and kept the disruption to a minimum. If there is a conflict that needs to be resolved, take it outside the stadium. 

Whew, that was a lot!

Thanks for letting me get that all off my chest! Please know, going to the Open is one of the most fun sporting events I’ve ever been to. At the Djokovic v. Brooksby match, the whole crowd was on their feet, it was intense, emotional and very loud at times. 

This isn’t to make you scared or fearful of it being boring, but it is different that attending a team sport if you’ve never been. 

Everyone there has spent a lot of money to be there and deserves to enjoy the match in its entirety. The players deserve our respect and no matter how many time the umpire says “please” or “thank you”, the responsibility to behave is all ours. After all, we are all adults. 

I’ll jump off my soapbox now. Thanks for indulging me! 

Celebrate live sports, Explore the US Open!

Need help planning your first trip to the US Open and NYC…don’t miss my blog post sharing all my tips and suggestions to make your trip a memorable one!