It’s the most wonderful time of the year in New York City! No, Christmas isn’t here already—you’re not losing your mind or behind on your shopping—but it is August, which means that the US Open tennis tournament is about to take the city that never sleeps by storm.
From August 18 to September 7, players, coaches, and spectators from all over the world will flock to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens to watch the greatest international tennis players go head to head for the last Grand Slam of the year. Tickets are always a hot commodity—and any New Yorker, tennis fan or not, will tell you that Flushing is the place to see and be seen from late August through early September.
It makes sense: Not only is it a blast to sample the food and drinks (you must get a Honey Deuce cocktail), participate in the many on-site activations, and bobblehead your way through the matches, but it seems like everybody who’s anybody will make an appearance at least once during the tournament—from pro athletes and Grammy winners to world leaders and beyond.
Planning to join in on the action this year? You should know that there’s somewhat of a dress code when attending the matches, with patrons showing up in their tennis best while also attempting to stay cool in the late-summer heat. As someone who has attended the tournament almost every year since moving to NYC in 2017 (and fallen in love with the sport itself over the same period of time), I feel like I’ve cracked the code on what to wear to the US Open, and I’m spilling all the secrets here, for you. Read on, then get to shopping.
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Elevated athleisure
Athletic wear is more than acceptable at the US Open—just try to stick to pieces that look as appropriate on the street as they do at the gym. Athleisure made for tennis is always a good bet here, like pleated skirts, workout dresses, and sweat-wicking tees in flattering cuts. Brands like Lululemon, Wilson, Athleta, and Alo are great places to look for all of the above.
Breezy tops and bottoms
Late summer in New York is hot—like, might hit the 90s midday, hot. With that in mind, you’re going to want to keep things easy and breezy when it comes to tops and bottoms. Opt for breathable materials like linen and and cotton, and styles that allow for maximum airflow, like wide-leg pants, loose-fitting tanks, and billowy skirts.
Flowy dresses
Airy summer dresses are perfect for watching tennis for a few reasons: you can catch a breeze under your skirt, you aren’t constricted by any fabric, your bare legs never have to touch a hot seat, and you’ll look super chic no matter the time of day. Solid colors and simple patterns are always classic, and blues, blacks, whites, and greens fit the sophisticated tennis vibe.
Evening layers
While the days are often hot, the temperature can drop at night. If you’re an “I’m always cold!” type, you might want to consider bringing along a lightweight layer to throw on if things get cool, whether that be a windbreaker you can fold up and throw in your bag or a cashmere cardigan or cotton button-down you can tie across your chest or around your waist.
Matching sets
The US Open tends to pull a discerning audience—and is there anything more refined than a matching set? You’ll always look put together with one of the two-piece ensembles you see below, which include matching tops, skirts, shorts, and more in sophisticated colorways. The best part: you can mix and match most to create endless outfits. Probably means you should attend more than one day of the tournament, right?
No matter whether you subway or Uber to the stadium, you will be walking…a lot. Trust me, now is not the time to be wearing those kitten heels or yet-to-be-broken-in flats, no matter how cute they may be. Prioritize comfortable footwear that you know will keep your feet happy no matter how many miles you put on them, whether that be sandals or sneakers. The kicks below are some of my personal favorites for long days on your toes.
On-theme accessories
Are these adorable accoutrements really necessary? No, they’re not. But you’ll certainly never regret donning a tennis-inspired key fob, coin purse, or jewelry piece to one of the biggest tennis tournaments on the planet. I, for one, love a theme, and am absolutely obsessed with these accessories.
Stadium-approved bags
There’s nothing worse than getting to Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and being forced to check your bag in one of the lockers at the entrance because it doesn’t meet the size requirements. For the US Open, the policy is that bags must not be larger than 12 inches in wide, 12 inches in height, and 16 inches in length. Keep this in mind when selecting your own carry-all—or just pick up one of the ones below, which fit the requirements and look good doing it.
Tools to keep cool
I cannot overemphasis how warm it can get at the US Open—especially during day matches—and shade can be a rare commodity inside the stadiums. Beat the heat with the fans, hats, sunglasses, and misting water bottles below so you don’t have to waste a precious second of game time chasing the shade.
Still need to grab US Open tickets?
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-to-wear-to-the-us-open-tennis-tournament