Thousands of tennis fans packed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens on Sunday as the 2026 US Open Tennis Championships officially kicked off with a fan week that offers free access to the grounds. The opening day featured the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, which honors the legend ’s legacy by making tennis accessible to young people, with events and qualifying matches running throughout the week. “I’m really looking forward to this,” Thomas, a young tennis fan, told NBC New York. “I started playing tennis at 3-years-old and I have a lot of passion and talent for the game. So, I keep moving on tournaments and many events.” (Image: NBC New York) Juliette Hackett, a tennis fan attending with family, said the US Open is a tradition for them. “We’re so excited to be here. The US Open is always a fun family event,” she said. Michael Fiur, Executive Producer of Entertainment, said Kids’ Day is a way to highlight Ashe’s impact on the sport. “We are honoring Arthur Ashe who won the US Open in 1968, the first and only Black man to win the US Open.” Fiur noted that Fan Week is designed to welcome families to the tournament grounds. “Today and the entire week is free for families to come out. To be seated inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, kids can get on court with pros, kids can watch pros practice.” Thomas said the event is also a chance to see top players up close. “Being at the US Open is an opportunity that I’m grateful to have, especially when I can see top players Like Carlos Alcaraz,” Thomas said. Hackett said the kid-focused events help bring new fans into the sport. “I love that they do this for the kids and put it on and get all the young kids interested in the sport,” Hackett said. Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz received a wild card entry — a special invitation to play together in the mixed doubles tournament. Aryna Sabalenka, one of the top favorites, was getting ready for training Sunday. US Open star Aryna Sabalenka met fans on Sunday. (NBC New York) Francisca Jorge, a Portuguese tennis player competing in the women’s singles qualifying tournament, said she was happy to return. “It’s great to be back, it’s my second here and I’m just enjoying the experience,” she said. Jorge’s goal is to advance through qualifying. “I hope to pass qualify for sure and play my first main drawing in the grand slam,” Jorge said. Tournament organizers expect 1.2 million people to attend this year’s events. Fan week runs through Saturday, Aug. 29, and the main tournament singles draw officially begins Sunday, Aug. 30. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less