Want Something to Watch? Watch the US Open!

It is that time of year again. No I'm not talking about the stretch run of the baseball season, which is setting up to be one of the best races in years. No, I'm not referring to the beginning of the much awaited football season, which is even more anticipated than before because of the long lockout. I'm talking about tennis and the best major of the year, the US Open.

Once a year for the month of September all of tennis' best stars gather in Flushing, NY at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center for the year's final major.

Now tennis purists will tell you the best major is Wimbledon. It combines history with a wonderful venue and is played in the city and country where tennis is most prevalent. I'm not saying Wimbledon is bad in any sense of the word but nothing is better than prime time at the Open.

Other people may claim the clay courts at Roland Garros give the best tennis to watch. Clay courts are fast paced and it takes a special kind of player to excel at them. The matches are great to watch but it is much harder for a wildcard to come in and make it to the semis, which always offers a magical aspect to the tournaments. Also, I repeat, there is nothing better than prime time at the Open.

As a player you relish in being able to play under the lights on center court in Arthur Ashe Stadium. You watch as the draw comes out and hope you get to play your matches at night, in the heart of the city in front of a television audience and crowd attendance unmatched by any other major. And if you're a star like the Federers, Nadals and Djokivics of the world and all Americans, you enjoy playing to the loudest cheers you've heard in your life. Plain and simple, playing tennis in New York is no different than playing any other sport there. Fans are passionate, enthusiastic and certainly love the sport.

The US Open is the only slam that has a qualifying series which each year has become more and more popular. It is the only major that has a tournament open to any one in the world to try to qualify as a wildcard. Simply put, it is America's major.


Whether you watch because the time zones are conducive to your schedule, you have favorite players or you just enjoy the game of tennis, tune into the US Open 2011.       I guarantee, you won't be disappointed.