The 2021 US Open already has its first celebrity sighting, as award-winning songwriter, actor, director and life-long New Yorker Lin-Manuel Miranda has lent his highly recognizable voice to this summer's marketing campaign. Titled “The Greatest Return,” the multi-dimensional campaign captures the anticipation and excitement of the return of fans to America’s Grand Slam.
The campaign will break on national television Thursday, as tickets go on sale to the general public. Last year, for the first time in its history, the US Open was held without spectators on-site at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. This year’s US Open takes place as Broadway and New York reopen, with the NTC set to be at 100% fan capacity for the tournament.
“The US Open captures the spirit of New York City in a truly special way,” said Miranda. “I’m a huge fan of the Open. The energy of the crowds is unbelievable. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is incredible. I’m proud to welcome new and returning fans to this amazing two-week event.”
Watch "The Return of You" (story continues below)
The concept for “The Greatest Return” was developed in collaboration with the USTA’s creative agency, dentsuMB, and celebrates the return of fans and the excitement they bring to the US Open. The campaign utilizes dynamic fan and player footage from the US Open, along with a striking graphic treatment that evokes the energy of New York. The campaign is part of an extensive multi-platform effort to support ticket sales across TV, radio, print, OOH, digital and social media that will take place throughout the summer.
“Lin-Manuel is the embodiment of New York, and the US Open is the embodiment of a New York mega-event,” said Nicole Kankam, Managing Director, Pro Tennis Marketing, USTA. “Our entire organization cannot wait to welcome back the hundreds of thousands of fans to the US Open. No doubt, this will be a memorable year.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning songwriter, actor and director. He is the creator and original star of Broadway’s Tony-winning "Hamilton" and "In the Heights." Additional Broadway credits include "Freestyle Love Supreme" (2020 Special Tony Award Recipient, Co-Founder, Guest Star), "Bring It On: The Musical" (co-composer/co-lyricist, Tony nomination for Best Musical), and "West Side Story" (2009 revival, Spanish translations). Miranda is the recipient of the 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award, the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors and the 2019 Portrait of a Nation Prize. He received an Emmy Award with Tom Kitt for their song, “Bigger,” from the 67th Annual Tony Awards.
His TV/Film credits include: "In the Heights," "Hamilton," "His Dark Materials," "Fosse/Verdon," "We The People," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (2018 Emmy Nomination, Guest Actor), "Saturday Night Live" (2017 Emmy Nomination, Guest Actor), "Sesame Street," "The Electric Company," "House," "DuckTales," "200 Cartas," "The Odd Life of Timothy Green," "Moana" (2017 Oscar nomination, Grammy Award for Best Original Song) and "Mary Poppins Returns." Upcoming films in 2021: "Vivo," 'Encanto" and his directorial film debut, "tick, tick… BOOM!"
Miranda, and The Miranda Family, actively support initiatives that increase the representation of people of color throughout the arts and government, ensure access to women’s reproductive health, and promote resilience in Puerto Rico.
A full roster of US Open events will be released in the near future. The tournament will be held at the National Tennis Center from Monday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept.12. Tickets can be purchased by visiting USOpen.org and Ticketmaster.
