US Open - getting amazing seats, a fun experience and the best pictures

Getting the Best US Open Experience

Below I've posted some of my best US Open pictures taken personally over the years.

I have personally attended over a decade worth of Grand Slam tennis. Been to NYC dozens of times in my life, as well as had the insider's view at all the other Tennis' Majors: Wimbledon, French Open, and Aussie Open as a tennis fan, coach, photographer, and journalist.

PRO TIP: In August every year, I always find great seats for even SOLD OUT session tickets here.

From past experience, I prefer buying only 
verified "Instant Access" tickets from the Official Tickets for the US OpenGenerally, the better seats go fast, so the sooner you look the better. Just be patient and check back every few days to snag them fast!

US Open - Top Stars and Players Mosaic
US Open Photos - Djokovic, Federer, Wawrinka, Sharapova

Sharing my best tips, pictures, and experiences with other true US Open fans is the main goal of Tennis Bargains this summer.

As a USTA Organizational Member, we are committed to helping make your US Open Experience fun, affordable for ALL our fellow Americans. Please like if you found this article helpful.

My dream is that you too can tell all your tennis buddies that your whole family got to watch the 2018 US Championship in person, and saved money with our US Open ticket promo codes! 

US Open Tips Email & Discounts



For lots more US Open Tips and Promo Codes

Get regular updates when new ticket deals pop up so that you can watch tennis for less than the box office price. We have already helped hundreds of fans this month alone, plus enter for a chance to attend the 2018 US Open for free.

Finding the best seats with Top players equals great photo opts...

Just being there is an amazing experience every summer. As part of the tennis credentialed media, we are very lucky to get great access to the photo pits. But you as a fan can also get even closer if you know where to go!

Tip #1: Get there early and run to Armstrong or the Grandstand stadiums *first* To get really close, try to sit in the first 2 rows across from the umpire's side or along the center baseline

You can even use cheaper Grounds Pass Tickets for these stadiums during the 1st week of the tournament.


 Federer up close at US Open
Roger Federer

Being able to watch your favorite US Open Champion for an hour? That's every tennis fan's dream! Sometimes you can even bump into the tennis players' box in the catty corners across from the umpire chair. More tips below...

Subscribe HERE to learn how to get even closer to the action! Plus top US Open tips and latest promo codes for 2018 we send out via email.



Knowing who will be playing - when and where is half the battle, so you have a chance at witnessing tennis glory in the front rows!

Rafael Nadal

Tip #2:
The night before you go to the US Open, always check the Schedule / "Order of Play" page so you can plan out the next morning. Figure out which players and courts, in the order you want to hop to next.

Download the US Open app for updated scores to see when matches are about to start or end. Plus try time it so that you can get to the stadium entrance line, before the odd-numbered games (so that they let you into the stadiums). Otherwise, you need to wait for another changeover.

Tip #3:
Find tickets to several popular dates, even when "sold out" on the US Open webpage...you can still find season ticket holders willing to sell verified seats at TicketExchange so you don't get scammed by scalpers (*bookmark this listing page* as these best prices are bought/sold/updated daily)!

More tips coming to my US Open Fans email subscribers! Hurry only a few weeks left before it starts.


Review of "Rapid Racquet Repair, LLC"


Drop-Ship Tennis Racquets - Freshly Strung with Free Delivery!

Update:
After moving to AZ, the company has announced it is closing as of Feb 2018. The concept and problems it solved for tennis players were sound, but I feel the financial model and margins of tennis stringing are still too low for mass scaling and shipping at this point in time. We wish Ryan nothing but the best for his future tennis career - an excellent USPTA coach if you ever need one in AZ.

Our Review of Rapid Racquet Repair

I was approached by the owner, Ryan. At first, I was skeptical and worried about the idea of putting my racquets in a box and mailing them. But with the Spring Season warming up, we decided to test out an interesting new tennis startup company. It offers door-to-door shipping service. Time to restring!

Free Box + Shipping for Stringing
What is Rapid Racquet Repair?
Tennis stringing in the USA with free door-to-door delivery. I watched his youtube videos and when I spoke to him in person, I knew Ryan was the real deal. He is USRSA Master Racquet Technician certified and a full-time tennis club pro.

Saving Time
If they are busy, you typically may wait up days or even up to a week for the stringer. Your tennis racquets will be absent from your bag until they are done. Also, you'll need to plan a trip out to pick them up, during the shops operating hours. With RRR, you get it delivered straight to your mailbox.

Quality
More importantly is the quality of the stringing. Often at some pro shops, you may not even know if the stringer is a certified USRSA racket technician.

At most pro shops, you might get stuck with an inexperienced part-time college student that handles your racquet. Then you are at the mercy of whoever is available that day. With RRR, it's always a certified USRSA Stringing Pro.

Any regular USTA league player will tell you that before an important match, you want to *know* that your equipment won't fail you. Reliable strings for any avid tennis player are a must.



PROS:
  • Expert USRSA Certified Stringers Only
  • Avoids the Hassle of Drop-off and Pick-Ups Racquets
  • Very fast (1-2 days) turnaround time - especially if you live in the Mid-Atlantic (DC/VA/MD area)
  • Helpful "String Selector" menu option for choosing your string.

Find your USTA Rating - Estimated Dynamic NTRP Rating Report

For many USTA players, your rating (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, etc) makes a big difference as to which league you can join and whether you will move up or down at the end of the year. See this FAQ for more details.

Sample Rating Chart results for a 4.0 NTRP player.
After playing each match, your dynamic NTRP changes.
How to Level Up in USTA
In my case, I was "stuck" at the 4.0 level for nearly 4 years in a row, even though I had a high win-loss ratio.

It is important to note that depending on the "difficulty" of your opponent, your rating may go up or down more (or less).

Winning 6-0, 6-0 will boost your rating more than a 3rd set tie-breaker victory.

See this FAQ for more details.


Live Dynamic NTRP Rating
There is a special online service offered by Kevin that calculates this. http://computerratings.blogspot.com

He can give you a very accurate estimate on your current dynamic NTRP ~$20 (please refer to Tennis-Bargains when you contact him).

Alternatively, there is also a free site out there at TennisRecord.com which also features player search feature based on USTA records. I found it is a bit less precise and definitely does not give you the most up to date ratings like the site above does. However, it is free and gives you a good ballpark for scouting your tennis opponents.


Rating Status report card
In the provided charts and report he provides (example below), he explains how close you are to reaching that next level (or falling to the level below).

Bump Up or Bump Down
If you reach those thresholds, you may get your rating adjusted by the computer. Also, if you get close enough to the threshold (like in my case), you will be able to appeal to go up to the next level.

USTA Nationals - Team Assessment Tool
This service will be most valuable to teams, captains and players who are seeking to advance to USTA Nationals, or at least Sections / District Championships. To have a good chance, it is better to have a team with players who are on the upper end of the rating cut-off. For teams, Kevin also has a Flight Preview Estimate report that helps gauge a team's average rating from the previous year.

In 2017, USTA has moved some of the National Championships to Orlando Florida (at their new National Campus).

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