The 2023 US Open was an extraordinary tournament in many ways, from the record-breaking number of fans who visited the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to the commemoration of 50 years of equal prize money at the event. In 2024, the US Open is harnessing the tournament’s reach and success for social good as it celebrates the “power of tennis.”
During the US Open pre-event press conference on Wednesday, Dr. Brian Hainline, USTA chairman of the board and president, along with CEO Lew Sherr and US Open Tournament Director Stacey Allaster, discussed what’s on tap for the 2024 US Open.
This year’s US Open theme, "celebrating the power of tennis,” builds off the USTA’s new mission statement, “growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.” And one of the reasons the sport is so powerful is the health and wellness benefits all tennis players enjoy, regardless of their age or skill level.
Multiple studies have found that tennis is the healthiest sport in the world, adding some 9.7 years to tennis players’ lives when compared to the lives of sedentary individuals, more longevity than other sports such as soccer, jogging and swimming provide. Additionally, playing tennis can lower the risk of heart disease by up to 50%, and improve balance, mental acuity, speed and sense of social connection, showing that getting out on the tennis court can improve your quality of life in many ways.
“Tennis is the sport for a lifetime,” Hainline said during the conference. “You can begin tennis at a young age, you can begin tennis at any age, including at age 90. It's a sport for all abilities: for our wheelchair players, for our adaptive players, for our able-bodied players. It's a sport that you can begin after an injury or when you're feeling great.”
During the three weeks of the US Open, the power of tennis will be showcased in many ways, from the theme art adorning the grounds to a short-court tennis experience that allows all visitors to pick up a racquet and learn the basics of the game in just a few minutes. A new original comic book featuring beloved Marvel superheroes and the world’s top tennis players will be distributed for free during Fan Week, as will 10,000 youth racquets to inspire the next generation of champions.
“The US Open is our opportunity to shine a light on our sport and so many of [its] positive aspects,” Sherr said. “That is why we are continually striving to grow the event and to create a larger platform to amplify all of those positive messages, particularly our purpose: ‘Growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.’”
“That's what gets us up in the morning, that's what drives us to build this event, to do what we do across the country. We're excited to continue to use new ways to introduce the game, engage with players in the game, and reach new audiences and get them excited about tennis.”
