While MusicClubKids originally came to the 2024 US Open to perform and entertain the 47,875 fans that walked through the gates on Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, they ended up getting their own special surprise.
The music group with almost half a billion YouTube views took the stage in the Fountain Plaza to perform to a crowd of children and fans, singing their family-friendly, story-driven versions of today’s biggest pop songs with their elaborate costumes and choreography.
What they didn’t know when they took the stage, however, was that the five members were going to meet one of the sport’s legends: Stan Smith.
After their performance, which included a rendition of one of their popular songs about basketball altered to focus on tennis, MusicClubKids had the opportunity to hit with the former world No. 1 on a short court with modified racquets and tennis balls, and had a blast doing so.
“It was one of the best days of my life,” member Izabela Figuero said, which Arrington Kennedy echoed.
“It was an amazing day,” Kennedy said. “I think that it was definitely an experience that not many people get, and I am very grateful for the experience.”
USTA President and Chairman of the Board, Brian Hainline, MD, also joined in on the fun. A former college tennis player at Notre Dame, Hainline was excited to see tennis featured in a song, and took the chance to educate MusicClubKids on the benefits of tennis at all levels.
“The science tells us that for people who play tennis, on average they live 10 years more than if you don't,” Hainline said. “It's super cool. But what's also super cool is you don't have to play tennis on a big court like this, because it's kind of hard at first, but it's totally legit to play on a court like this with the red ball. And every single one of you were acing it.”
What did the kids say when they heard that fun fact?
“I’m playing tennis now!”
