On Monday evening, the first day of the U.S. Open, actors, designers and former professional athletes walked into a side entrance, lined with tennis fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. They walked a blue carpet, the same color as the famous courts.<\/p>\n
A crowd of about 200 people arrived at the tennis tournament\u2019s opening night session several hours early for a fund-raiser for the United States Tennis Association Foundation, which runs tennis and education programs across the country for underprivileged youth. More than $3 million was raised in two hours.<\/p>\n
Gabriela Hearst, the fashion designer, showed up with Maria Sharapova, the tennis player. Tommy Haas, a retired player, and Lindsey Vonn, the skier, also attended. Other guests included Mike Tyson, Alec Baldwin, Gayle King, Danny DeVito, Anna Wintour, Vera Wang and Daymond John. David and Cheryl Scharf, New York City philanthropists, hosted a table.<\/p>\n
Attendees shared what drew them to the U.S. Open this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe end of summer always makes me a little blue,\u201d said Katie Couric, who was the M.C. for the gala. \u201cBy the end of August I always feel depressed, but coming to the U.S. Open gives me something to look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEating,\u201d said Mr. Tyson, the former professional boxer. \u201cPopcorn, pretzels, all the snacks.\u201d<\/p>\n
The crowd headed upstairs for a quick dinner \u2014 three courses were served in an hour \u2014 and an auction.<\/p>\n
At 7 p.m. sharp, guests rushed outside to watch the American sensation Coco Gauff defeat her opponent in a gripping three-set match. Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were spotted at the edge of their seats in another suite.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of wonderful, interesting people who come \u2014 I think they are all pretty passionate about the sport, and that is why it\u2019s so fun,\u201d Ms. Couric said, adding, \u201cI mean, when the players are out there you can hear a pin drop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna Wintour<\/strong><\/p>\n Lindsey Vonn<\/strong><\/p>\n A few days earlier, on Saturday afternoon, tennis players, devoted fans and financiers descended on the courts of Sportime Amagansett to participate in the 9th Annual Johnny Mac Tennis Project Pro Am tournament and after-party, held in the Hamptons.<\/p>\n \u201cI flew in from Florida for this just because Johnny Mac called,\u201d said Reilly Opelka, an American tennis player, who is not playing in this year\u2019s U.S. Open because of an injury.<\/p>\n \u201cThe tennis world and other parts of the world did the same because that\u2019s how it goes,\u201d Mr. Opelka said. \u201cHe calls, and you come.\u201d<\/p>\n The event raised more than $625,000, which goes to the Johnny Mac Tennis Project, an organization run by John and Patrick McEnroe that provides tennis scholarships and community programs for New York City-area children.<\/p>\n Seventy-five amateurs bid up to $20,000 to play doubles with former tennis players including Jim Courier, James Blake, Christina McHale, and Mr. Opelka. Popular topics of conversation at water breaks were predictions for Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish player who is the top seed at the U.S. Open, as well as pickleball bashing.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody wants to play pickleball, but tennis is still the sport,\u201d said Jeff Zucker, the former president of CNN. \u201cBecause you have to be a full athlete to play tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n Participants for the day included: Steve Hasker, C.E.O. of Thomson Reuters; Alex Chantecaille, chief commercial officer of Chantecaille, her family\u2019s beauty brand; and Jean-Yves Fillion, a senior executive at BNP Paribas.<\/p>\n At 6 p.m., when the tournament ended, the players returned home or to the locker room to get ready for the after-party, held at the home of John and Kate Storey, who live most of the year in London, where Mr. Storey is a partner at Goldman Sachs and Ms. Storey is a fashion consultant.<\/p>\n Attendees drank margaritas and tequila sodas, snacked on arancini balls and chicken skewers, and bid on items that included John McEnroe\u2019s personal Wimbledon tickets.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know the U.S. Open is starting when this event rolls around,\u201d Mr. Zucker said.<\/p>\nHow did you decide what to wear tonight?<\/span><\/h3>\n
\u2018It was whatever was in my closet, but it apparently matches the courts, and I didn\u2019t realize that until I got here. I generally tend not to want to blend in with the courts, but I love a good suit, so it\u2019s fine.\u2019<\/h2>\n
Has tennis become more fashionable?<\/span><\/h3>\n
\u2018Everyone is tapping into this vintage look, and they are copying looks from the 1970s, but it isn\u2019t 1975 anymore, so it just looks silly.\u2019<\/h2>\n