Experience the Excitement: Exploring the Vibrant Chaos of the US Open with Cannabis Aromas, Airplane Roars, and Energetic Crowds!

NEW YORK (AP) — Some tennis players, like Frances Tiafoe, Madison Keys, and Ben Shelton, eagerly await the U.S. Open each year. They thrive in the lively atmosphere filled with enthusiastic crowds, celebrity sightings, and music. For them, the louder, the better.

“I operate well in chaos,” says Tiafoe, who has reached the semifinals twice at Flushing Meadows.

But sometimes, the excitement boils over. Just recently, a match was delayed for over five minutes while the crowd booed and shouted. This chaos was sparked by Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, who got frustrated after a photographer interrupted play.

“The fans didn’t want to stop,” Medvedev remarked, shrugging off the disruption.

Not everyone enjoys the madness of the U.S. Open. Some players find it overwhelming. “You can’t really train your brain for this,” said Monica Seles, champion in 1991 and 1992. “You just adjust to it.”

Others, like 2024 champion Aryna Sabalenka, admit the noise was confusing at first, but they’ve learned to accept it over time. Yet, some players’ feelings change as they age.

Adrian Mannarino, a 37-year-old French player, shared, “In my 20s, I loved it here. Now, it can be chaotic and distracting. Sometimes I wish I could focus a bit more.”

The atmosphere at the U.S. Open is starkly different from more subdued tournaments like Wimbledon. “Wimbledon feels elegant and respectful,” said Emma Navarro, who reached the semifinals last year at the U.S. Open. “The U.S. Open is more casually rowdy.”

For many, that chaos can be oddly comforting. Shelton said, “I find peace in the chaos. I feel more uncomfortable at quiet tournaments.”

Conversely, former player Agnieszka Radwanska found the noise overwhelming. “Everything takes so much energy,” she noted.

Some players are also wary of New York’s unique flavors—literally and figuratively. Casper Ruud, the 2022 U.S. Open runner-up, enjoys the city’s restaurants but finds the smell of marijuana on every corner off-putting.

Italian player Elisabetta Cocciaretto found her footing by stepping away from the official tournament hotel to a quieter spot. “Separating myself helps me manage the madness,” she said.

A recent study by the Sports Business Journal showed that over 70% of tennis players prefer quieter venues, highlighting a growing divide between the excitement of events like the U.S. Open and the desire for a more tranquil atmosphere.

For players, the U.S. Open experience is often a balancing act between the thrill of competition and the challenge of chaos. As the tournament continues to evolve, so do the players’ perceptions.



Source link

Frances Tiafoe, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Adrian Mannarino, Aryna Sabalenka, Emma Navarro, Greg Allensworth, Madison Keys, Marin Cilic, Jessica Pegula, U.S. Open Tennis Championships, Tennis, Marijuana, General news, New York City, New York, World news, Monica Seles, Sports, Casper Ruud, Agnieszka Radwanksa, Howard Fendrich, Petra Kvitova, Tallon Griekspoor, World News