If you’ve ever tried to snag a front-row seat at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the second week of a Grand Slam, you know the vibe. It’s intense. It’s quiet. It’s almost stressful. But there’s this weird, beautiful pocket of time right before the real chaos starts called Fan Week. That’s where Stars of the Open 2025 happens, and honestly, it’s probably the most fun you can have at a tennis center without having to worry about someone’s "service rhythm" being ruined by a cough.
This year felt special. Maybe it was the humidity finally breaking or just the sheer absurdity of seeing Andre Agassi try to return a serve from a teenager who wasn't even born when Agassi retired.
The Night the Legends Came Back
August 21st. 7:00 PM. The lights were humming.
The lineup for Stars of the Open 2025 was a fever dream of "who's who" in tennis history. We’re talking about a roster that spanned decades. You had Venus Williams, John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, and Juan Martín del Potro all sharing the same patch of blue hardcourt.
It wasn't just about the old guard, though.
Watching the contrast between someone like João Fonseca—this Brazilian kid who hits the ball like he’s trying to break the sound barrier—and the effortless, classic style of del Potro was wild. It’s easy to forget how much we missed that del Potro forehand until you see it live. Even in an exhibition, that sound is different. It’s like a gunshot.
The Matchups Nobody Saw Coming
The USTA didn't go for the standard boring singles sets. They mixed it up.
- Venus Williams and John McEnroe teamed up. Think about the ego and the trophy count on that side of the net for a second.
- Andy Roddick and Alex Michelsen took on the duo of Fonseca and del Potro. Roddick’s serve is still a weapon, even if he jokes about his back more than he used to.
- Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils played as a pair against Flavia Pennetta and Flavio Cobolli. Seeing the "Tennis Power Couple" actually compete together is always a highlight for the crowd, mostly because they spend half the time laughing at each other's mistakes.
Why 2025 Felt Different
Usually, these exhibitions are just a warm-up. But Stars of the Open 2025 had this underlying energy because it was part of a broader celebration. It was the 20th anniversary of wheelchair tennis at the US Open, and they didn't just give it a footnote.
Dana Mathewson and Casey Ratzlaff were out there competing right alongside the able-bodied legends. Mathewson, who was the first American woman to win a Major wheelchair title (at Wimbledon), teamed up with Jack Sock. They played a set against Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Ratzlaff.
It wasn't a "charity" moment in the condescending sense; it was high-level tennis. The crowd was locked in.
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"People forget that these athletes are playing a completely different tactical game," one coach in the stands mentioned. "The movement is different, but the hand-eye coordination is actually insane."
Beyond the Tennis: The Celebrity Factor
You can't have a New York event without the "glam" factor. While the Stars of the Open 2025 exhibition was the main draw on Thursday, the entire week was a parade of A-listers.
Tina Fey and Taye Diggs were spotted early on. Ben Stiller—who is basically a permanent fixture at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center—was there, looking as stressed as if he were actually playing the match. Even Alex Morgan made an appearance on court. Seeing a soccer legend try to handle a tennis racket is always a humbling reminder that being a "pro athlete" doesn't mean you're a pro at everything.
It’s easy to be cynical about celebrity appearances, but at the Open, it works. It adds to that "Greatest City in the World" energy that the USTA leans into so hard.
The Real Winner: The USTA Foundation
Basically, the whole point of the $25 tickets (which is a steal for Ashe, by the way) was to fund the USTA Foundation. They support the NJTL—National Junior Tennis and Learning. It’s a network of about 250 organizations that use tennis to keep kids in school and out of trouble.
It’s hard to complain about a missed volley when you know the proceeds are going toward helping kids from under-resourced communities get a college scholarship.
Actionable Insights for Next Year
If you missed Stars of the Open 2025, you probably shouldn't make that mistake in 2026. Here is how you actually do Fan Week like a pro:
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- Register for the Fan Access Pass early. It’s free. It gets you onto the grounds for the qualifying matches, which are often more intense than the main draw because those players are literally fighting for their livelihoods.
- Buy the exhibition tickets the day they drop. The $25 seats for the "Stars" event sell out almost instantly. By the time August rolls around, you’ll be paying triple on the secondary market.
- Go on Thursday. Thursday is the sweet spot. You get the Stars of the Open at night, but during the day, you have the "Flavors of the Open" food event. It’s the best day for your stomach and your Instagram feed.
- Stay for the Block Party. Usually held on Friday, it’s a massive party with DJs like D-Nice. It’s the one time you’ll see tennis fans actually dancing in the Fountain Plaza.
The 2025 season showed us that tennis isn't just a country club sport anymore. It’s becoming more of a festival. Between the legends like Agassi returning and the new stars like Gauff and Alcaraz taking over, the transition is happening right in front of us. And honestly? It’s pretty great to watch.
If you’re planning to attend next year, start checking the US Open website in early July. That’s when the lineup for the next batch of stars usually starts to leak.