First Sunday is an additional enjoyable day at U.S. Open

Overheard on Sunday on the grounds of the National Tennis Center:

“A million dollars later and we’re at the U.S. Open!”

That could also be a little bit of an overstatement.

The first day of match play of this year’s Open had one thing for everybody. As ordinary, it was not low-cost.

Whether you take pleasure in a $41.50 lobster BLT or a $32 glass of Moet & Chandon champagne (“you get to keep the cup!” a cheerful server mentioned, pointing to a gold chalice with the model’s emblem), the Open just isn’t for the faint of pockets.

Also as ordinary, the hefty costs didn’t cease the grounds and stands from being packed on a beautiful, breezy 80-degree day with some clouds but additionally sufficient solar for there to be an extended line on the free sunscreen stations.

Yes, free.

This 12 months is the primary time the Open started on Sunday as a substitute of Monday. The 15-day schedule aligns the event with the French and Australian Opens. Wimbledon remains to be the one Grand Slam that begins on Monday.

The change means the primary spherical and all its pleasant side-court matches are being unfold over three days as a substitute of two. So even when the one ticket you will have is a grounds move, you may nonetheless see loads of tennis.

With a grounds move, you don’t get entry to Ashe Stadium. Still, grounds passes had been being supplied for resale on-line for about $250 on Sunday morning.

“We have grounds passes,” mentioned Gabrielle Olejniczak of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, an Open veteran who attended with first-timer Hannah Fox of Des Moines. “We’re just here for the vibes this year. I wish we could see Emma [Raducanu], those kinds of people. But this year, that’s not happening. But we can see from the outside and hear about it.”

Olejniczak mentioned she paid about $130 for grounds passes by stalking the on-sale date.

“I hate that you really have to jump on them right away when they release them,” she mentioned. “Otherwise, the resellers just snatch them up. I did see some for like 200-something and I’m like, ‘I’m not paying that.’ ”

As they spoke, Olejniczak and Fox had simply loved one thing a grounds move does provide you with entry to: standing behind the raised ESPN broadcast platform, the place tennis legends John McEnroe and Chris Evert had been on air dwell, their backs to the group. Between takes, the celebs would flip round and work together with the cheering, picture-taking throng.

Bo Senesomxay of Bentonville, Arkansas. and Bryan Valenti of San Francisco had been among the many group watching the printed.

The Open aficionados had been conscious of and authorized of the Sunday begin to this year’s tournament as a result of having the primary spherical over three days “makes it more fun,” Senesomxay mentioned. “I was excited that there were three days for the first round because then you don’t miss as many matches.”

Some followers had been attending the Open for the primary time and weren’t conscious that this was the primary 12 months with a Sunday begin.

Not that the matches had been the one cause they got here out.

“Honestly, I think the Honey Deuce is what got us,” mentioned Anthony Kulowski of Manhattan, who was referring to the Open’s signature $23 cocktail (from the Grey Goose web site: “As the official drink of the U.S. Open, the GREY GOOSE® Honey Deuce® tennis cocktail is a refreshing tackle a raspberry lemonade. The honeydew melon ball garnish completely replicates tennis balls and makes you are feeling like you might be within the stands.”)

“Seeing everyone post that drink online, I’m like, ‘I’ve got to go try this out,’ ” Kulowski said. “We’ve had one so far. Ready for a second. I’m honestly not too much into tennis but looking to get a little more into it.”

Also for sale: official “Honey Deuce” T-shirts for $48 a pop.

“Costs more than two drinks,” said one fan, who nonetheless made the purchase.

Darren Donovan of Boston is a big tennis fan but had never before attended the Open even though he and his wife, Carrie, used to live in New York. The couple were unaware that this was the first year the tournament started on Sunday.

Not that it made that much of a difference.

“No, because I’m retired,” Darren said. “Every day is Sunday to me.”