Many of you know I’m an avid tennis fan. Each year we attend the US Open. And now that we live in England, we’ve added the French Open. So far we’ve struck out getting tickets to Wimbledon, but I haven’t given up on that. Fingers crossed for next year. I know not everyone is a tennis fan. But trust me when I say going to these events is a wonderful experience. And if you like people watching, you’ll be in heaven. Here are some of the things you might see if you go. Scroll over the photos for descriptions.
The family man
The Champion (Rafa Nadal)
The shopper
The knitter at the US Open in New York
The reader
The cheerleaders
The devoted fans
The tennis legend (Roger Federer)
The rebel (Bethanie Mattek-Sands–notice the purple hair)
50 Year Project 
Shopping, reading, cheering, even kitting – but no cake eating???
There are desserts but I hardly get them there. Too bloody hot. I know you think I’m crazy. But beer tastes better on a hot day. Oh wait, they have ice cream. Next year I’ll snap photos of people eating ice cream.
Ice cream. Totally serviceable. Thumbs up 🙂
Maybe I’ll try one of the “nicer” restaurants on the grounds to find some cake for you. But it is a sporting venue so don’t get your hopes too high. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and nachos are the norm. Cracker Jacks as well.
Hey these are great photos… and I saw no one eating Biltong…
Is that like beef jerky?
Thats right…
I’ll have to give it a go. maybe I should arrange a trip back to South Africa.
Lat me know when you’re coming…
Will do. I need tips on how to get great wildlife photos.
Great people shots, TB! I hope you didn’t have to sit in the sun too much. The heat and humidity in Queens can be brutal.
Yes it can be. They have some shade and I took many breaks. I’m not as young as I used to be 🙂
Nice pictures, TBM! I have been to watch tennis only a few times (I mostly watch only on TV), but it has always been fun when I did it. Hope you get to watch Wimbledon next year. And if you get to watch the Australian Open you would have completed a grand slam as a spectator 🙂
The Australian Open is on our list. We just need to find the time to spend a month in the country since it’s so far away and then when we are there there’s so much to see. Maybe I should move there 🙂
Awesome. I love to people watch. I remember the one football game I ever went to and I didn’t pay any attention to the game because I was so fascinated by the people around me. 🙂
That is easy to do. I find I pay more attention when I’m watching sports on TV, but I love going to the events since they are events. Football matches here are really interesting: so much singing and chanting.
I have never been to a tennis match, it’s not my kind of sport (I would love to watch NBA live one day). Thosr are very interesting pics, watching people is really interesting
I’ve been to a few Boston Celtics games and really enjoyed them. That’s a much faster game 🙂
How fun! Tho Boston not my team…but I would love to watch any NBA team. It’s pace is the reason why I love NBA 🙂
Which team do you support again? I think you told me before, but I forget.
Dallas Mavericks 🙂
I love Dirk Nowitzki.
I’ve always loved saying his name.
Watching the US Open on TV always leaves me wondering how good a view the paying punters really get in that huge stadium? It always looks as though they’re miles away from the court…
My very first time there I sat in the top row and I thought for sure I wouldn’t be able to see a thing. Luckily I was shocked and really enjoyed the seats. Now I’m much further down but from my experiences most of the seats are quite good. It looks much bigger one TV.
Those tennis grand slams are great. I’ve been to the French twice, and Melbourne twice, and would love to get to the US. It will happen!
I love your determination. and I’m always happy to meet another tennis fan. We need to get to Melbourne!
Love your people watching at the Open! There really are some characters there. Was it you telling me that when you take the train back to the city you can tell at a glance who was at the Open and who was at Shea. 🙂
Did you get to any of the smaller courts or did you stay at Ashe? I enjoy the outer courts (even Armstrong) because you can get so close to the players.
Not sure I made that comment about the train. It’s easy to tell the different fans, but don’t remember saying that. Yep we hopped around to the different courts. We tried seeing some of the up and coming players: Stevens, Robson, Duval and a few others. I think my favorite court is Armstrong.
I am a HUGE tennis fan! Thanks for sharing your pics, I’m counting on you to show me a bit of Wimbledon…good luck getting tickets!
Will do my best, but more than likely I’ll have to go stand in line one day and hope that I get in at a decent time to catch some of the action.
Great shots, TBM!! People watching can be quite entertaining.
Hope you make it to Wimbledon someday.
Thanks, Fergiemoto. I think I’ll have to brave lining up outside Wimbledon early one morning to get tickets.
Rafa made me a tennis fan! I heard a commentator describe his style once as “devastating tennis.” Love it. Great images!
That is a good way to describe his tennis. I feel for his opponents!
I love watching the Grand Slams very cool. When I saw your people-watching post I started cracking up and remembered the Seinfeld episode where the cameras are people-watching and catch George Costanza eating ice cream. It’s great! Ahhhhhhhh… George.
I think of that episode every time I go and I’m shoving messy nachos into my mouth.
I’m a bit jealous that you got to do this. I love people watching the the US open would be such a great place to do it. Thanks for the inside view!
I hope you get to people watch there someday. It’s a great spot!