The US Open is in full swing (pun intended), and tennis fans are headed out to Queens en masse. According to city website Gothamist, there are tickets available for most nights. The site also has some great tips on how to enjoy the games, sets and matches:
Leave your bag at home! The U.S. Open has a strict policy prohibiting backpacks (pocketbooks and single-strap man purses seem to be okay), and visitors will have to check anything larger than 12"W x 12"H x 16"L.
Explore the food options. We already mentioned the casual rooftop Heineken Red Star Café, next to the South Plaza Fountains, which offers a nice view of the grounds. (Good to know: Heineken is the official and only beer served at the Open. If you only like microbrews, may we suggest imbibing at a nearby pub before heading to the matches.)
Consider Grounds Admission: A "Grounds Admission" day pass doesn't get you into Arthur Ashe Stadium, but you can catch some of the biggest names in tennis at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the Grandstand and all of the field courts. Grounds Admissions are only sold for the first eight days of the tournament, and access to Louis Armstrong is first come, first serve. But for $73.50, you can enjoy a full day of tennis and get much closer to the action than in the main stadium. Top players like Federer and the Williams sisters will sometimes play for the Grounds Admission crowd.
Enter by the Unisphere: There can be a crowded crush at the gates nearest to the subway and LIRR, so we recommend taking a stroll around to the south gate, where you can usually breeze right through without any waiting. That entrance is over by the Unisphere.
Cut Out Early: The 7 train back to Manhattan gets spectacularly crowded, so you'll want to get a jump once the last match starts winding down. Fortunately, the matches are broadcast on giant jumbotrons outside the stadiums, so fans can watch the remaining games outside, then make their exit as soon as it's over. Unlike last year, there's no Water Taxi service to the stadiums this year, which is a bloody outrage. For those who plan to drive back to Manhattan, cutting out early is still a good idea, and will help avoid traffic on the highway.