NEW YORK — Tennis has returned to Queens, making for one of the most exciting times of the year, and for those curious, there is still time to experience the action by purchasing tickets at USOpen.com/TicketsAvailableNow.
The 2024 US Open, and there is more optimism for American male player success than any time in the last twenty years. There are five American players who are currently in the top twenty players’ ranking. Of course, the odds of any of them holding up the big trophy on September 8 are still daunting, given that Novak Djokovic continues to defy Father Time, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz may very well be on the way to dethroning Rafael Nadal as Spain’s greatest tennis player.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2024 US Open practice session – Image Credit: US Open
While the US Open officially started on Monday, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center was rocking the previous week as the qualifying tournament to gain one the sixteen wildcard slots on both the men’s women’s divisions took place. Most of the participants were up-and-coming players, but there were some familiar names as Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, and France’s Richard Gasquet, who has been playing in the US Open longer than any other current male player. Only Venus Williams has more seniority. Schwartzman made it into the main draw. Gasquet, however, did not.
Twenty-year-old Columbia University junior Michael Zheng was one of the few Americans to take part in the US Open Fan Week qualifiers. New York Times sportswriter David Waldstein profiled him in last Friday’s edition. Although he is from northern New Jersey, Zheng said he sharpened his tennis skills playing at Cunningham Park. He lost his match last week but vows he will return in 2025. Let’s see if he can lead the Columbia tennis team to an Ivy League title.
(Louis Armstrong Stadium) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow Park – Image Credit: US OPEN/IBM
The week before the US Open is a valuable time for players and their corporate sponsors. US Open defending women’s champion Coco Gauff is the only current female tennis player with an athletic shoe named in her honor. New Balance held a press event for her last Thursday to introduce the latest Gauff model shoe, the CG2.
It is to be seen whether Carlos Alcaraz will repeat as US Open men’s champion, but he did win the Lotte New York Palace Invitational Pickleball Tournament defeating American tennis star Taylor Fritz. The Manhattan hotel has held this tribute to the other racquet sport for the past seven years.
The US Open is as anticipated by epicureans as it is by tennis fans because of the many fine dining options. While the menu prices at the US Open are not cheap, they are comparable to Manhattan restaurant prices. The best values are Prime Burger’s $17 hamburger, Hill Country’s $24 chopped brisket sandwich, and Pat LaFrieda’s $27steak sandwich.
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow Park – Image Credit: US OPEN/IBM
Sports fans will be happy to know the Carnegie Deli, which has two kiosks at Madison Square Garden, and Fuku, which is popular at Citi Field, have outposts at the Open. Jamaica’s The Nourish Spot is serving their healthy smoothies near Court 17.
Bon appetit.
Teenagers in the Booth for MLB’s 2024 Little League Classic between Yankees and Tigers
It was a gutsy move by ESPN executives to have a team of teenage announcers call the recent Little League Classic New York Yankees-Detroit Tigers game at Williamsport, PA as its alternative telecast on ESPN2.
Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal tags Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres in 2024 Little League Classic in Williamsport, PA – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
The gamble paid off as the announcers, especially play-by-play voice Thomas Gamba, showed poise and were not intimidated by the big stage. Gamba, a junior at Chaminade High school in Mineola, was a student at the broadcasting camp run by WNBC-TV sports anchor Bruce Beck.
MLB announces Mets-Mariners for 2025 Little League Classic
The Mets will be playing the Seattle Mariners in the 2025 Little League Classic. That means for the second consecutive year, the Mets will have one less game at Citi Field.
Image Credit: MLB
This year the Mets and Phillies each lost a home game playing the London Series this past June.
Mariners fire manager Scott Servais
The Mets were swept earlier in the month by the Seattle Mariners, but that was not good enough for Scott Servais to retain his job who was fired as the team’s manager. I spoke with Servais when the Mariners were playing the Yankees in May. I asked him about the Mariners’ arduous travel schedule since they must endure multi-hour flights for every road trip.
“We were thrilled to get on Amtrak to go from Baltimore to New York for a change,” he told me.
Former Met Anthony Recker works Marlins-Mets at Citi Field for Roku
Former Mets catcher Anthony Recker, who has been an analyst with SNY and the MLB Network, was performing that role on Roku’s telecast of the Marlins-Mets game at Citi Field. Recker has the vocal pipes, looks, and baseball knowledge to be utilized by MLB’s bigger broadcast partners consisting of FOX Sports, TBS, and ESPN.
Amazin’ Conversations available wherever you get your podcasts
Image Credit: New York Mets
Mets VP of alumni affairs, Jay Horwitz, who has been employed by the team for 44 years, has been hosting a podcast, “Amazin’ Conversations” for the past five years.
His latest interview is with longtime New York restaurateur, and Mets fan from 1962, Tracy Nieporent. It is a breezy twenty-minute discussion about the Mets, and New York in general, from 1962 right up to now. You can find it on YouTube, Apple, and X (formerly Twitter).
2024 Fanatics Fest in NYC
Last week’s Fanatics Fest, held at Javits Center, did follow the New York Comic Con blueprint as it gave sports fans plenty of interactive exhibits, celebrities, and memorabilia merchants.
Fanatics Fest NYC 2024 at the Javits Center resulted in an attendance of over 70,000 for all three days combined – Image Credit: Latino Sports
ESPN’s leading air personality, Hollis native Stephan A. Smith, was a busy man. In addition to hosting his “First Take” morning debate show from Fanatics Fest, Smith channeled his inner Barbara Walters by interviewing NFL royalty, Eli Manning, and Tom Brady, in separate panels.
I ran into one of Smith’s debate partners, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo there. I told him he made the right move leaving WFAN fifteen years ago for SiriusXM given the financial straits Audacy, WFAN’s current owner faces. “You’re not kidding!” he replied with his on-air hearty chuckle.
Image Credit: Latino Sports
Former New York Jets fullback, and Long Island City resident, Tony Richardson is currently a goodwill ambassador for the NFL. He was one of the few athletes giving complimentary autographs and posing for photos. He said he feels upbeat about the upcoming season for Gang Green.
Remembering and Paying Tribute to Phil Donahue
I was saddened to hear of the passing of television talk show giant Phil Donahue. Contrary to today’s trashy daytime programming, Donahue’s eponymous talk show always engaged in informative conversation, and did not shy away from controversial topics. He let the audience ask questions to his guests, and they were just as good as his. It would be nice if a TV network were to launch a talk show based on the “Donahue” model.
You can read more of Lloyd Carroll’s columns posted weekly on The Queens Chronicle.
