The U.S. Open has proven to be the place to be in New York this time of year, come sun or rain, apparently.
While the weather was more favorable as the day went on during Day 3 of the tournament, many U.S. Open-goers risked the rainy conditions just to show up at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with only grounds access and fingers crossed that tennis – outside Arthur Ashe, where you need a ticket to enter, and Louis Armstrong Stadium – would be played.
“We were coming regardless [of the weather],” one woman who identified herself as Taylor to The Post said. “Rain, shine, snow, we were here.”
That seemed to be the prevailing feeling among eventgoers who meandered around the tennis center grounds on Tuesday.
Even with the wet weather and cloudy skies, lines wrapped around the corner for the popular Salt Hanks concession stand and plenty of people could be seen watching on the big screens near Arthur Ashe during the few matches that could take place since Ashe and Armstrong each have roofs.
Jennesa McElrath and Allison Grace looked at the weather and made a “calculated decision” to still come even with the iffy forecast.
“[We] had tickets, we’re like, we’ll find something to do,” Grace said.
The other motivating factor for people could have been the costs to just get onto the grounds for this year’s tournament. The high price of tickets has been part of the narrative going into this year’s U.S. Open.
Taylor, who was on the grounds along with a friend, spent $150 on her ticket for Tuesday and McElrath and Grace each spent around $230 each on theirs.
The Athletic had previously reported that grounds passes for Monday’s action were going for more than $360.
For those who rolled the dice on Tuesday, all ended well with matches on the outside courts eventually getting underway and the massive crowds, which have become all too familiar now at the U.S. Open, making their way around the grounds.
“We actually came quite late, so the weather actually was a blessing,” joked Ray Li. “Given that more of the matches got postponed and the lineup is pretty good for ground passes today, I think it’s a better shot, knowing that hopefully the weather’s gonna do us right. … We’re gonna see tennis.”
