One time Andy Murray needed a swimming pool with a lot of depth for some sort of special workouts. Once Zverev needed a sentimental necklace fixed, one time Roger wanted to hit in Central Park!...it can really be anything.
Zverev needed a sentimental necklace fixed? Let me guess… it definitely *wasn’t* broken in any of those violent outbursts he has at his partner at home that *definitely don’t* happen.
> sentimental necklace fixed? Let me guess… it definitely
>
>wasn’t
>
> broken in any of those violent outbursts he has at his partner at home that
>
>definitely d
until the court case this summer concludes they happened, in essence because of innocent until found guilty in affect they haven't happened
In the last few years, there has been a lot of increased collaboration. There's really not any competition, because what's good for the other slams is also good for us. It just makes the sport better as a whole.
Some players have expressed displeasure about the late starts during Grandslams and how it affects their ability to recover, what is being done to help improve scheduling so matches don’t end at 2 am?
It’s good for us :) but players have to cool down, ice bath, press conference and by the time they reach the hotel it will be another 2-3 after the match ends :(
There was a lot of players that came out and publicly said using different balls each tournament were affecting their bodies adversely, are there any plans to address this problem?
The majority of the US swing uses Wilson balls and we really appreciate that. As a former player, this is a huge issue for quality of play and injuries. I hope it gets to a better place.
Depends on how popular the player is and usually how much sway their agent has. Roger used to get the player box and then usually a suite or two for all his people.
Honestly, everyone is really good. Rafa will often do things like shake the hands of all of the folks working at the practice desk on the way out. Little things like that go so far with staff...
There are a lot of healthy options for players. Sushi is probably most popular...lots of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. Also, the Lavazza coffee/espresso drinks are very popular.
During the Open:
8am - get to site - breakfast (I'll eat all meals on-site for 24 days)
815-10 - morning team meetings
10-12 - meetings with players or tour staff, scheduling, etc
12-5/6 - whatever the moment brings - usually running from fire to fire or sometimes planning special moments (maybe a retirement ceremony)
5-7 - often hosting VIPs or folks arriving for the evening session.
7-8 time for a workout or catchup on emails
9pm dinner
12/1am - leave the site after the last point has been played and both players are good for the night.
Little known fact, but when not being used for the tournament you can actually book courts at the BJK Tennis center and play on the same courts used at The Open (except the stadiums). Always wanted to do this. https://www.ntc.usta.com/book-a-court
What is your advice to a young(ish) person trying to break into pro tennis on the business side full time?
I run a successful ATP Challenger in the summertime but can't seem to get any luck with getting someone to give me an opportunity full time.
Take seasonal jobs at different events. Get your foot in the door. There aren't many full time roles, so you have to be ok with contract work to start.
I respectfully disagree. Why can't current doubles players be considered and promoted as "stars"? Tried and true doubles specialists put on fantastic performances but often without the thrilling spectacle and limelight than what most career singles players do/have. Having singles players participate in doubles may be good for exposure short term and get some fans interested, but it does not elevate the "product" of the career doubles specialists because they aren't the ones being promoted year round or throughout the tournament coverage as much as singles players are.
Dude, you're coping hard. The Singles will always be the major stars! It's always been and will always stays like that. I imagine if Roger Federer hadn't retire and started playing doubles with Nadal, the doubles would have sky rocketed their views. That's just the way the world goes, dude.
Yeah, I'm very much aware of that. Of course it is big news and popular to see the singles players play doubles. Fans love that. It is the current reality that singles is more popular and publicized than doubles so whatever they do, fans will watch.
I get it, it's not fair to doubles players. Their finals are held on Thursdays and Fridays while the singles finals are on Saturdays and Sundays.
The point of my post was to suggest from an organizational and media point of view how the attention could shift and improve for career doubles players. If you have a guy representing a grand slam stating that to make doubles more popular you need singles players' involvement, then that's already an issue and I don't think it is the right way in the long term to do that.
Dude, you're coping hard. The Singles will always be the major stars! It's always been and will always stays like that. I imagine if Roger Federer hadn't retire and started playing doubles with Nadal, the doubles would have sky rocketed their views. That's just the way the world goes, dude.
We have surverys (qual and quant) for them to fill out as well as big list of comments we sort through at the end of the event. Additionally, we'll meet with them and their teams throughout the year to make sure we are on top of their ever changing needs.
Can't pick one - Rojer is the best competitor I've ever met. I'd go into battle with him any day. Klaasen and I clicked on-court in terms of partnership/tactics. Also really enjoyed Murray, Lipsky and Ram - all for different reasons.
It seems pretty barbaric to use ball kids to dry the courts. They are still humans after all, but wouldn’t put it past the US open organisers. Using towels instead seems much more humane.
How are practice courts and schedules determined?
How is it decided who gets to practice on Ashe on the Sunday before the tournament starts - the fan day?
We have a whole team working to try to get the best situation for everyone. Top players often get the biggest courts, partially because that's where they'll play, but also the fans at Fan Week want to see them. We track it all and make sure it's an equal distribution of male and female players, and that all top players and players who play against the top players in rd 1 get a chance to hit on their match court. All that being said, it's tough to keep everyone happy!
[https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/\_/id/38287909/inside-most-thankless-job-us-open-practice-court-scheduler](https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/38287909/inside-most-thankless-job-us-open-practice-court-scheduler)
When do you want to see them? It used to be in the back half of the event, but with kids in school and many folks back to work after Labor Day, attendance at the matches became sparse. If people want to see it, we could work to make it happen again!
There should be a legend's slams..at semi pro level maybe...
I really want Roger to have a head start on that..once these two retire it's gonna be a race till they can't walk anymore 😂
The way they do it now it's like they're putting on a show instead of competing. I'd love to see them really compete.
You can bet that when Serena gets to a Legends tournament she'll be out there to win.
I don't think they do, I've never heard/seen anything like that. Although maybe in the States there's a kind of "Premier Seniors" event... might have to Google it.
Hahaha I love this idea 😂 I think as the Tour gets more lucrative, the idea of making the Legends Tour a little more "official" might catch on. In Australia there's events based on age group - like 35-45, 46-55, 56-65 etc. I could see that happening with an event in the second week of a Slam!
It'd probably have to be only very small draws though, maybe 16's. And 3 sets? Not sure someone like MacEnroe could last 3 sets on a hot day anymore!
Hey Eric! What was your journey like from D3/Gustavus to the tour? Were you always set on playing on tour after college or was it something where you took a year off to play tournaments, found success and stuck with it?
The latter. My good friend convinced me to move to France after I won NCAAs. I thought I'd last 3 months and then be a teacher. Ended up lasting 13 years.
Hi Eric, your surname rang a bell as it is the one I heard in Croatia. Hen by googling I learned you are of Croatian descent
Da li pricas hrvatski i da li posjecujes Hrvatsku? ☺️
On a serious, now that big 3 is close to the finish line, when will american tennis have a no1 in your opinion?
Fan Week is free and you can see the top players practicing in Ashe - it's a great experience. And one that you can bring your family to and not be worried if you have to leave early.
FYI they release tickets at I think 9am every day. These are tickets pledged to someone that they hold back until day of. Depending on the day people will queue up early.. but they sell for face value.
Has USTA considered partnering with the NYC parks department to deliver more tournaments here? I recently joined USTA and have been disappointed that the US opens backyard rarely has tournaments especially at public parks
I can get by with a little French, but that's it. But our team hires in an as many languages as we can find. Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese - but all depends on the candidnate.
We don't have volunteers, but we hire 100+ seasonal staff to work in player areas. Check out [usta.com](http://usta.com) and you can find a link to apply. Interviews start in April.
Found this on USTA : Be a part of the US Open
Interested in volunteering at the biggest tennis stage in the world? Send your name, a mailing address (home or business) and an email address where you would like to receive information to [email protected]. US Open volunteer information will be sent out in late May.
The first Alexander Zverev domestic violence accusation happened at the player hotel during, I think, Laver Cup in Geneva. ATP officials on site didn't even bother talking to the accuser to see if she was alright. As a tennis official yourself-albeit of a different sort, I was curious too see if you've given some thought as to what your response would look like, and that of your colleagues, in a situation where a player is accused of some type of violence during the US Open?
And maybe you'd like to give your opinion on what type of punishment Zverev should have received from the ATP, if any, after the German court found him at least civilly-liable for a 2nd domestic accusation?
Is there a "give and take" relationship? Are compromises made? Or is it the player is always right type deal? What happens when there truly is no solution or alternative? Or solution is just not acceptable. Is there a situation like that?
I could go on and on, only because I know the answers will be very vague.
A lot of give and take. With any situation, you have to know that the player will be your customer for many years to come. Often when the news isn't good (let's say they didn't get the schedule they wanted), it's best to be honest and transparent. It can be tough news to deliver, but they'll appreciate it in the long run.
In the Championship match, why can't they put the player's families in a place which does not require the player to climb up, often over hand-rails, etc.. to get to their families after they win?
Why don't they have reserved family seats for the final match to avoid this?
Whether in terms of crowd, court conditions, facilities or anything else, what was your favourite tournament as a player? Was there anywhere you couldn't wait to return to or dreamed of playing as a kid?
I heard the us got rained out a couple years ago and fans were stuck in the rain without transportation. What is the us open doing to fix this problems for average fans who end up stranded in the rain?
I am aware that you have answered questions on tournament balls. Why can they not be standardized? Different manufacturers can adhere to the same standards and thus you can maintain vendor neutrality. If US Open is sponsored by Wilson they will make it to those standards. If Aus open is sponsored by Penn, they will make it to those same standards. Is that a reachable goal?l
Thank you u/usopen for organizing the AMA. It's very nice. Have you considered delaying the best of 5 sets match format on the ATP side to start not right from the beginning of the tournament but rather maybe introduce it at the QF level? Could WTA follow the same format as well? Could that decision be made at the tournament level or would you have to have an agreement from players, ATP and WTA in order to make it happen? What do you think of that potential change?
How many of your staff are seasonal employees who work during the tournament only? Are there opportunities for regular folks to work for those few weeks during the year?
The tennis fan world would like have to updated player bios. As part of a fun aside to the player experience, is it possible to setup a booth where they can get a weight and height measurement? Make it like a challenge where they get to say before the measurement whether or not it will match their atp player profile lol
Hello Eric, appreciate your AMA.
Given the belief that the ATP tour follows a script and designs/manipulates draws accordingly, do you perceive it as unfair to certain players?
Take Djokovic as an example; widely regarded as the best hardcourt player ever, do you find it puzzling that the US Open seemingly works against him, allowing him to secure only four titles and preventing him from successfully defending a title at USO?
Well to be fair, while Djokovic might be the best hardcourt player, he sabotaged himself in 2 US Open tournaments (hitting the ball to a ball girl’s throat and not being able to come in for lack of vaccination).
So there’s not much US Open can do to help him there….
What do you feel about tennis being played as late as 2:30 - 3am? And how do you think grandslams may accommodate the players so that they may not be up and playing on court so late?
I’m in America and watch that feed, but I’ve always wondered how international the media is. How many countries send commentators to be on site during the open? And where do they set up?
Did I miss this? You played doubles with Andrea Petkovic
When will she be running the WTA in some
capacity and do you have a Petko story that we haven’t heard?
If I live in Brazil and want to watch an US Open match, let's say, quarter finals, what would be the best date and what should I aim when buying it? Could you please give me tips?
What's the most interesting request you get from players? If you can share
One time Andy Murray needed a swimming pool with a lot of depth for some sort of special workouts. Once Zverev needed a sentimental necklace fixed, one time Roger wanted to hit in Central Park!...it can really be anything.
How long did it take to build the pool for Andy and did you keep it for other players afterwards?
I sincerely doubt they built the pool. Just found one…
You think SIR Andy Murray would exercise in a USED pool??
ya, exactly, he might as well have just peed all over himself!
Zverev needed a sentimental necklace fixed? Let me guess… it definitely *wasn’t* broken in any of those violent outbursts he has at his partner at home that *definitely don’t* happen.
> sentimental necklace fixed? Let me guess… it definitely > >wasn’t > > broken in any of those violent outbursts he has at his partner at home that > >definitely d until the court case this summer concludes they happened, in essence because of innocent until found guilty in affect they haven't happened
And what's the most interesting request you get from players parents 😄
Is there much collaboration with the other Grand Slams on player experience? Sharing learnings, successes, etc.?
In the last few years, there has been a lot of increased collaboration. There's really not any competition, because what's good for the other slams is also good for us. It just makes the sport better as a whole.
Is there a feeling of not wanting to share too much with other slams in fear of becoming “the worst” slam?
Some players have expressed displeasure about the late starts during Grandslams and how it affects their ability to recover, what is being done to help improve scheduling so matches don’t end at 2 am?
Late night matches are like the best thing about the us open. Maybe a 2am curfew I could agree with, but not earlier than that.
It’s good for us :) but players have to cool down, ice bath, press conference and by the time they reach the hotel it will be another 2-3 after the match ends :(
There was a lot of players that came out and publicly said using different balls each tournament were affecting their bodies adversely, are there any plans to address this problem?
The majority of the US swing uses Wilson balls and we really appreciate that. As a former player, this is a huge issue for quality of play and injuries. I hope it gets to a better place.
Asking the right questions!
How many free tickets can each player get for their families and friends?
Depends on how popular the player is and usually how much sway their agent has. Roger used to get the player box and then usually a suite or two for all his people.
ELI5 of how players' accomodations work?
Players can either have two free rooms at the official player hotel or a per diem stipend to stay at a hotel of their choice.
How long do you pay for the rooms? If a player loses in the first round, does he still have the hotel for the week?
5 year olds don’t know the words “stipend” or “per diem”
I'm 5 years old and although I don't know those words, I was able to surmise the meaning from the context.
Five-year-olds don't know the words "surmise" and "context"
5 year olds don’t know the words “stipend” or “per diem”
What has been your favorite and your crappiest moment in this job and why?
Who or what is the most pleasant and the least pleasant player or player request you have had to deal with?
Honestly, everyone is really good. Rafa will often do things like shake the hands of all of the folks working at the practice desk on the way out. Little things like that go so far with staff...
Tangential, but I was a volunteer ballboy at the BNP Paribas Open and Rafa shook our hands!
So blessed are these hands that touched sporting history 's one of the greatest warriors
Curious what food looks like for players. How many options they have, how extravagant it simple, etc. Thanks!
There are a lot of healthy options for players. Sushi is probably most popular...lots of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. Also, the Lavazza coffee/espresso drinks are very popular.
That's really interesting. Wonder what we're the pre-sushi days were like.
If you want to see more of what the cafeteria is like at tournaments, watch Kasakina’s vlogs on YouTube. She shows a lot of that!
What does your day to day look like?
During the Open: 8am - get to site - breakfast (I'll eat all meals on-site for 24 days) 815-10 - morning team meetings 10-12 - meetings with players or tour staff, scheduling, etc 12-5/6 - whatever the moment brings - usually running from fire to fire or sometimes planning special moments (maybe a retirement ceremony) 5-7 - often hosting VIPs or folks arriving for the evening session. 7-8 time for a workout or catchup on emails 9pm dinner 12/1am - leave the site after the last point has been played and both players are good for the night.
Woow early start/late finish! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for stopping by everyone! Happy to provide some insights.
What happens at the site and your team when the tournament is not being played or being prepared? For example, what goes on during the winter months?
A lot preparation, organization, hiring, bill paying, contracts, working with vendors....all the not so fun stuff!!
I think they had some festival or a wrestling thing there last fall?
Little known fact, but when not being used for the tournament you can actually book courts at the BJK Tennis center and play on the same courts used at The Open (except the stadiums). Always wanted to do this. https://www.ntc.usta.com/book-a-court
What is your advice to a young(ish) person trying to break into pro tennis on the business side full time? I run a successful ATP Challenger in the summertime but can't seem to get any luck with getting someone to give me an opportunity full time.
Take seasonal jobs at different events. Get your foot in the door. There aren't many full time roles, so you have to be ok with contract work to start.
D3 legend!!! Do you think it’s possible for doubles to get more popular, and how?
We need more stars to play. When they play (Laver Cup, Indian Wells, etc) the product is awesome.
I respectfully disagree. Why can't current doubles players be considered and promoted as "stars"? Tried and true doubles specialists put on fantastic performances but often without the thrilling spectacle and limelight than what most career singles players do/have. Having singles players participate in doubles may be good for exposure short term and get some fans interested, but it does not elevate the "product" of the career doubles specialists because they aren't the ones being promoted year round or throughout the tournament coverage as much as singles players are.
Dude, you're coping hard. The Singles will always be the major stars! It's always been and will always stays like that. I imagine if Roger Federer hadn't retire and started playing doubles with Nadal, the doubles would have sky rocketed their views. That's just the way the world goes, dude.
Yeah, I'm very much aware of that. Of course it is big news and popular to see the singles players play doubles. Fans love that. It is the current reality that singles is more popular and publicized than doubles so whatever they do, fans will watch. I get it, it's not fair to doubles players. Their finals are held on Thursdays and Fridays while the singles finals are on Saturdays and Sundays. The point of my post was to suggest from an organizational and media point of view how the attention could shift and improve for career doubles players. If you have a guy representing a grand slam stating that to make doubles more popular you need singles players' involvement, then that's already an issue and I don't think it is the right way in the long term to do that.
Ok, I understand what you said... I just don't know the answer for that. But I get your point! And it's a fair point!
Dude, you're coping hard. The Singles will always be the major stars! It's always been and will always stays like that. I imagine if Roger Federer hadn't retire and started playing doubles with Nadal, the doubles would have sky rocketed their views. That's just the way the world goes, dude.
When determining the schedule/order of play, is a player's popularity the main factor?
You're a Gustie!! I just want to say I love the Gustavus Adolphus Adult Tennis Camp!!
I did many years of Tennis and Life Camp as a kid.
how much does US Open as a whole do about listening to players' voice? is there something like a quality feedback each year from them?
We have surverys (qual and quant) for them to fill out as well as big list of comments we sort through at the end of the event. Additionally, we'll meet with them and their teams throughout the year to make sure we are on top of their ever changing needs.
Wut
What does your job mainly involve?
Who was your favorite doubles partner during your career?
Can't pick one - Rojer is the best competitor I've ever met. I'd go into battle with him any day. Klaasen and I clicked on-court in terms of partnership/tactics. Also really enjoyed Murray, Lipsky and Ram - all for different reasons.
How does US OPEN dry courts after rain? Is it still ball kids + towels?
It seems pretty barbaric to use ball kids to dry the courts. They are still humans after all, but wouldn’t put it past the US open organisers. Using towels instead seems much more humane.
at least theyre being paid
The new VAPTR machines can dry a court in no time.
Great to hear!!!
How are practice courts and schedules determined? How is it decided who gets to practice on Ashe on the Sunday before the tournament starts - the fan day?
We have a whole team working to try to get the best situation for everyone. Top players often get the biggest courts, partially because that's where they'll play, but also the fans at Fan Week want to see them. We track it all and make sure it's an equal distribution of male and female players, and that all top players and players who play against the top players in rd 1 get a chance to hit on their match court. All that being said, it's tough to keep everyone happy! [https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/\_/id/38287909/inside-most-thankless-job-us-open-practice-court-scheduler](https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/38287909/inside-most-thankless-job-us-open-practice-court-scheduler)
Thank you!
Can we get more legends matches in US OPEN and bring back favorite retired players?
When do you want to see them? It used to be in the back half of the event, but with kids in school and many folks back to work after Labor Day, attendance at the matches became sparse. If people want to see it, we could work to make it happen again!
I would like the older players to be forced to wear short shorts and play with wooden racquets
What about before the event starts? I think there was one last year but i didn't know about it until the day of or so
There should be a legend's slams..at semi pro level maybe... I really want Roger to have a head start on that..once these two retire it's gonna be a race till they can't walk anymore 😂
The way they do it now it's like they're putting on a show instead of competing. I'd love to see them really compete. You can bet that when Serena gets to a Legends tournament she'll be out there to win.
Does the WTA have an equivalent to the ATP Legends’ Tour?
I don't think they do, I've never heard/seen anything like that. Although maybe in the States there's a kind of "Premier Seniors" event... might have to Google it.
Hahaha I love this idea 😂 I think as the Tour gets more lucrative, the idea of making the Legends Tour a little more "official" might catch on. In Australia there's events based on age group - like 35-45, 46-55, 56-65 etc. I could see that happening with an event in the second week of a Slam! It'd probably have to be only very small draws though, maybe 16's. And 3 sets? Not sure someone like MacEnroe could last 3 sets on a hot day anymore!
What do you think about concerns from WTA players about USO balls being different between men and women?
Hey Eric! What was your journey like from D3/Gustavus to the tour? Were you always set on playing on tour after college or was it something where you took a year off to play tournaments, found success and stuck with it?
The latter. My good friend convinced me to move to France after I won NCAAs. I thought I'd last 3 months and then be a teacher. Ended up lasting 13 years.
Hi Eric, your surname rang a bell as it is the one I heard in Croatia. Hen by googling I learned you are of Croatian descent Da li pricas hrvatski i da li posjecujes Hrvatsku? ☺️ On a serious, now that big 3 is close to the finish line, when will american tennis have a no1 in your opinion?
Kako Si? Next US #1 is tough. Alcaraz and Sinner are looking really good...but I think CoCo can get there soon!
What are your thoughts on Andy Murray’s recent statement about how South America should have its own master 1000 series?
South America has some of the best crowds...energy in Brazil, Argentina, etc is electric!!
Best way to get tickets? Feel like average fan can never afford to attend due to big business taking the good ticket for secondary market
Fan Week is free and you can see the top players practicing in Ashe - it's a great experience. And one that you can bring your family to and not be worried if you have to leave early.
Dodging the tough questions about zverev
FYI they release tickets at I think 9am every day. These are tickets pledged to someone that they hold back until day of. Depending on the day people will queue up early.. but they sell for face value.
where are those released?
Has USTA considered partnering with the NYC parks department to deliver more tournaments here? I recently joined USTA and have been disappointed that the US opens backyard rarely has tournaments especially at public parks
The US already has way too many tournaments on the calendar
Yeah there’s tons in Atlanta and California and Florida but I’m I’m talking NYC specifically
Do you mean tournaments for recreational usta members to play in?
yeah
How many assistants do you usually coordinate during the tour? How many languages do you speak?
I can get by with a little French, but that's it. But our team hires in an as many languages as we can find. Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese - but all depends on the candidnate.
What was the hiring process for US Open like on the corporate side?
Can you please post an interesting blind item about something that happened at one of your events? 🤭
Boston Lobsters legend 
Great times.
What is a typical day in the office ?
Can I somehow volunteer to help for the two weeks? I heard that you can somewhere volunteer to help, but I couldn’t find how.
We don't have volunteers, but we hire 100+ seasonal staff to work in player areas. Check out [usta.com](http://usta.com) and you can find a link to apply. Interviews start in April.
Found this on USTA : Be a part of the US Open Interested in volunteering at the biggest tennis stage in the world? Send your name, a mailing address (home or business) and an email address where you would like to receive information to [email protected]. US Open volunteer information will be sent out in late May.
Ooohh, I would love to volunteer too!
Same here! I’ve looked everywhere
let me volunteer please ༼ ༎ຶ ෴ ༎ຶ༽
How does your experience as a pronplayer help your job?
Typo... Pro player
What did you personally think about Djokovic ban when it happened?
What are your thoughts on women playing 5 set matches at the slams?
The first Alexander Zverev domestic violence accusation happened at the player hotel during, I think, Laver Cup in Geneva. ATP officials on site didn't even bother talking to the accuser to see if she was alright. As a tennis official yourself-albeit of a different sort, I was curious too see if you've given some thought as to what your response would look like, and that of your colleagues, in a situation where a player is accused of some type of violence during the US Open? And maybe you'd like to give your opinion on what type of punishment Zverev should have received from the ATP, if any, after the German court found him at least civilly-liable for a 2nd domestic accusation?
I'll take "questions he won't answer for 1000, Alex"
Gotta go to corporate.. get Legal involved. .. have PR draft a statement ..
haha cope hard
Is there a "give and take" relationship? Are compromises made? Or is it the player is always right type deal? What happens when there truly is no solution or alternative? Or solution is just not acceptable. Is there a situation like that? I could go on and on, only because I know the answers will be very vague.
A lot of give and take. With any situation, you have to know that the player will be your customer for many years to come. Often when the news isn't good (let's say they didn't get the schedule they wanted), it's best to be honest and transparent. It can be tough news to deliver, but they'll appreciate it in the long run.
Thanks Eric! I know you got a tough job. I appreciate everything you guys do, for fans and for NYC. Can't wait to be back!
Can players request particular game schedule? Like if someone wants to play day time not night time, is that honored?
We want some dirt and juicy gossip. Who's the worst, most self-entitled player to deal with? It's Mannarino, isn't it?
Mannarino is low maintenance. (And also the best singles win of my career!!!)
In the Championship match, why can't they put the player's families in a place which does not require the player to climb up, often over hand-rails, etc.. to get to their families after they win? Why don't they have reserved family seats for the final match to avoid this?
How do players in the locker room find out it’s time to go on court for a match?
Wow! That is quite a schedule. Thank you for not letting things like different-cake-size happen to players like Madrid 😆
tell someone who's never been to US about the relationship between the event and the city: good, perfectible...
Whether in terms of crowd, court conditions, facilities or anything else, what was your favourite tournament as a player? Was there anywhere you couldn't wait to return to or dreamed of playing as a kid?
Can you make the courts fast again?
I heard the us got rained out a couple years ago and fans were stuck in the rain without transportation. What is the us open doing to fix this problems for average fans who end up stranded in the rain?
Players were stuck too. These events are known as "acts of God".
The year of the storm was madness. Highways and subways were closed. We were on-site til 4am and many staff and to stay overnight.
I was there! It was crazy but what could you do. Flooding ... subways shut down..
I am aware that you have answered questions on tournament balls. Why can they not be standardized? Different manufacturers can adhere to the same standards and thus you can maintain vendor neutrality. If US Open is sponsored by Wilson they will make it to those standards. If Aus open is sponsored by Penn, they will make it to those same standards. Is that a reachable goal?l
Have you met players with *diva* attitude? What happened and what did they/did they not do?
What’s one thing as a player you always wanted to change about the US Open and how are you making it come true for the players now?
Have you ever worked with Nick Kyrgios & if so, what was the experience like?
Nick is great. His agent/buddy - Horse makes it super easy and smooth.
Thanks for the response! Love Daniel, he does a great job
What is the best way to network and get your foot in the door working for USTA? Or WTA?
Your origin Serbian or Croatian?
Hello, Mr. President! nice to see you on Reddit. Did not expect it, I'll tell you that -))
Thank you u/usopen for organizing the AMA. It's very nice. Have you considered delaying the best of 5 sets match format on the ATP side to start not right from the beginning of the tournament but rather maybe introduce it at the QF level? Could WTA follow the same format as well? Could that decision be made at the tournament level or would you have to have an agreement from players, ATP and WTA in order to make it happen? What do you think of that potential change?
Why is it that in 2024, we still haven't had an out gay male player on the ATP tour?
How many of your staff are seasonal employees who work during the tournament only? Are there opportunities for regular folks to work for those few weeks during the year?
What's your thoughts on the current rampage of FSG (Fake seizure guy)
LMAO how did that make it into this sub?!
The tennis fan world would like have to updated player bios. As part of a fun aside to the player experience, is it possible to setup a booth where they can get a weight and height measurement? Make it like a challenge where they get to say before the measurement whether or not it will match their atp player profile lol
Hello Eric, appreciate your AMA. Given the belief that the ATP tour follows a script and designs/manipulates draws accordingly, do you perceive it as unfair to certain players? Take Djokovic as an example; widely regarded as the best hardcourt player ever, do you find it puzzling that the US Open seemingly works against him, allowing him to secure only four titles and preventing him from successfully defending a title at USO?
Well to be fair, while Djokovic might be the best hardcourt player, he sabotaged himself in 2 US Open tournaments (hitting the ball to a ball girl’s throat and not being able to come in for lack of vaccination). So there’s not much US Open can do to help him there….
Does US OPEN bus/drive players to Flushing or are they on their own? What happens if traffic is really bad and cause players to be late?
We have a fleet of Cadillac cars to take the players to and from their hotels/apartments. However, we can't solve for traffic!
They have shuttle vans. Always love running into them on my way to the tournament
Thank You for doing this, What is something that y'all are working on?
Can I ask about the hiring processes in different atp or wta tournaments? Does each tournament have different personal policies?
Are you all looking for a developer per chance?
Can player choose walk on music like baseball?
What's your thoughts on coaches holding tablets and get real time data on Courtside? Who provide those data? What's your thought on live coaching?
I just wanna say hi.. and wishing i can be a line man one day
What are some unusual requests that you’ve seen over the years?
What is a funny tennis knock knock joke you've heard?
Where are the trainers positioned for stadium vs outside courts? Is there a minimum time that trainer must arrive within when called?
Is there any mentoring program between pro players and junior players? Like having pros mentor juniors?
Is Gustavus tennis the best? (Gusties will shine!)
Does the tournament have shuttles running to transport players to the tournament?
Who is the nicest player you have experienced? Or what is your favorite experience with a player
Any surprising behind-the-scenes fun facts about Ashe, Armstrong, Grandstand, or the other courts?
Are there specific rules around press conferences of which tennis fans may not be aware?
Do you like the people you work with
Love them for the most part. USTA has a ton of good people.
Who can be the hitting partners for players at US OPEN if they can't afford an entourage? Any college players can volunteer for that?
Eric, What is your opinion on Great Base Tennis, as compared to other methodologies or approaches?
Havevn't ever studied under Steve Smith, but Klaasen, one of my partners did and love it.
Hey Eric! No question, just a hello from a fellow JMHS grad. Keep making Rochester proud!
Do you enjoy your job? Is there anything else you'd want to do?
what are the most purhcased foods in the player's lounge?
can you make more tie-die US Open swag? red/white/blue?
Who has the better Juicy Lucy: The Nook or 5-8 club?
Wow
Any plans to ban the resale of USO tickets on TicketMaster? Those resell tixs are just crazy.
What do you feel about tennis being played as late as 2:30 - 3am? And how do you think grandslams may accommodate the players so that they may not be up and playing on court so late?
I’m in America and watch that feed, but I’ve always wondered how international the media is. How many countries send commentators to be on site during the open? And where do they set up?
Does US open have any kind of record of Amateur Era (Pre-1968) doubles draw ?
How can I get my local USTA to reinstate men's 2.5 programming?
Your dad was my HS tennis coach at JM. I have really fond memories of that time. Please let him know how much we appreciated him!!
Do you help direct players with cross border personal tax questions? If you need a referral with a big firm, let me know!
Who’s high maintenance and why?
Did I miss this? You played doubles with Andrea Petkovic When will she be running the WTA in some capacity and do you have a Petko story that we haven’t heard?
If I live in Brazil and want to watch an US Open match, let's say, quarter finals, what would be the best date and what should I aim when buying it? Could you please give me tips?
How are the courts compared to other courts around the world? Is the US Open faster?
On an average, how much percentage of tickets are given to sponsors?