Context-free soundbite: “Someone seems confused by an organization that actually funds its nonprofit.”
A US Open news storm blew through Tennis Nation yesterday. Carlos Alcaraz will play, prize money is up by 20 percent to $108 million and the Grand Slam Player Advisory Council has been convened. Another major headline should drop this morning. We called an audible and filmed a Quick Served to cover it all. As such, no 5 Setter today.
The US Open Dates
US Open qualifying begins Monday, August 24.
The US Open mixed-doubles championship starts on Monday with qualifying. The main draw starts Tuesday.
Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York, an exhibition with Andy, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe, is on Tuesday evening, August 25.
The mixed-doubles final is on Wednesday, August 26.
The draw comes out Thursday, August 27.
The main draw begins Sunday, Aug. 30.
Watch the full episode above, then catch up on Cincinnati results below as we head into finals weekend.
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The best of the rest.
Cincinnati Contenders
Six men and six women remain in the draw in the last Masters 1000 of the hard-court season.
Semifinal: Flavio Cobolli vs. Arthur Fils
Quarterfinal: Taylor Fritz vs. Brandon Nakashima
Quarterfinal: Lorenzo Musetti vs. Frances Tiafoe
Semifinal: Iga Swiatek vs. Jessica Pegula
Quarterfinal: Coco Gauff vs. Marta Kostyuk
Quarterfinal: Madison Keys vs. Sara Bejlek
Both No. 1 seeds went out in the Round of 16. Alexander Zverev lost to Tommy Paul, and Aryna Sabalenka got taken out by Sara Bejlek. It was the 20-year-old Bejlek’s first Top 10 win.
Among the men, only Taylor Fritz has won a Masters 1000 title.
Frances Tiafoe had a cyst removed from his wrist on August 8, and it must have worked because he beat Felix Auger-Aliassime and Learner Tien to make the quarterfinals.
The US Open Ticket Hacks
On Q&Andy yesterday, Andy surprised a Chucker who submitted a question about how to go to the US Open—by picking up the tab for her. Check it out below to find out why.
For everyone else, here are three budget hacks for the US Open, where grounds passes are going for upwards of $300 on Ticketmaster, one of the topics on the show today.
Buy a seat on Arthur Ashe instead. On some days, nosebleeds on Arthur Ashe are going for half the cost of a grounds pass—and it functions as the same thing, only better. An Arthur Ashe ticket is a grounds pass plus a reserved seat in the biggest stadium (which has a roof, so matches will go on if it rains).
Watch doubles, wheelchair and juniors after Labor Day. The resale prices of grounds passes plummet after Labor Day because by then, all singles matches will be played on Arthur Ashe. Louis Armstrong and Grandstand will have the doubles action, and the seating is general admission for those days. For $30 on Wednesday, Sept. 9, you can buy a grounds pass on Ticketmaster and sit in the front row on Louis Armstrong to watch the women’s doubles semifinals and men’s doubles quarterfinals. Plus, you can see the stars practice and watch wheelchair and junior matches.
Get the freebies. There are a lot of giveaways on the grounds. Last year, the USTA and Cadillac gave out $15 and $25 in meal cards to be used onsite. Fage yogurt is free. La Roche-Posay gives you all the sunscreen you can carry. You can take in a water bottle (and usually snacks, despite the no-food policy). It doesn’t have to break the bank.
Fan Week Change
Access to the grounds during next week’s Fan Week is free, but adults now need a Fan Access Pass to enter. If they are all taken, you can join a waitlist to be alerted if availability changes (and since the passes are free, chances are good there will be no-shows). Get your pass here.
Quick Hits
Elena Rybakina had the chance to become the new world No. 1 (for the first time) by making the Cincinnati final. But she retired from her quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek yesterday with a lower-leg injury. She goes into the US Open 434 points behind Aryna Sabalenka, who lost early in Cincinnati.
Daniil Medvedev has taken a wild card into Winston-Salem next week.
US Open wild cards for the men and women were announced Tuesday. One is left for each draw. For the men, Stan Wawrinka and Grigor Dimitrov are on the short list. For the women, it’s most likely Serena Williams’s to use or not.
Novak Djokovic got the star treatment ⬇️
The Weekend Draw
ATP 1000/WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open
Fri., Aug. 21: Men’s and women’s quarterfinals
Sat., Aug. 22: Men’s and women’s semifinals
Sun., Aug. 23: Men’s and women’s finals
Q&Andy Recap
This week, Andy talked about his US Open memories as a young champion and a younger fan.
📮Submit a question by emailing askandy@servedmediagroup.com or send it through our website or social media.
Love All Recap
Two-time major champion Mary Pierce joined Kim and Blair this week to talk about the experiences that shaped her career, from growing up under intense pressure to finding freedom and faith.
📝 We’ll be back Tuesday with a new episode. In the meantime, join us on Substack during the weekend’s matches.
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Chat with Chuckers on Reddit.
Megan, someone on Reddit is trying to get a fan pass and they were told that new registrations are closed and to be advised of vacancies they needed to become an insider.
Cincinnati quarterfinals are Sara Bejlek vs Madison Keys and Coco Gauff vs Marta Kostyuk.