The U.S. Open kicked off its annual opening night gala on Sunday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, blending philanthropy, sport, and celebrity in a unique celebration. This year’s event, a fundraiser for the USTA Foundation, raised $2.7 million to support programs that bring tennis to underserved communities.
A notable departure from tradition marked the evening: the honoree, former U.S. Open women's singles champion Sloane Stephens, was also competing in the tournament. Stephens, who won the title in 2017 and was recognized for her own philanthropic efforts, arrived directly from practice courts in preparation for her first-round match. “I’ve never accepted an award the day before I started a Slam,” Stephens remarked, “but there’s a first time for everything.”
The gala was relocated from its usual dining room inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to a large temporary space on the grounds adjacent to the practice courts, allowing guests to observe players warming up amid the event’s proceedings. Designer Vera Wang and socialite Cheryl Scharf, both describing themselves as avid tennis enthusiasts, watched the practice sessions before the formal program began. Sounds of tennis balls and shoes punctuated speeches, adding an element of immediacy to the celebration.
The gala traditionally coincides with the tournament's first day of singles matches and provides attendees, including athletes and celebrities, the chance to watch matches from the President’s Suite. This year’s guest list featured actor Orlando Bloom, Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, and broadcaster Katie Couric, who is an ongoing enthusiast of pickleball, a sport gaining popularity among former tennis players.
Vonn, recovering from injury, drew parallels between skiing and tennis, citing a shared mentality of fearlessness and composure under pressure. Nonetheless, she noted differences: “You make a mistake in ski racing, you have big problems. In tennis, it’s not a big deal. You just play the next point." Couric, asked about her favorite shot, lightheartedly mentioned her occasional effective serve.
The gala was hosted by Gayle King, who shared a humorous anecdote about playing table tennis with former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka. After dinner, guests moved to the newly renovated President’s Suite to watch the first night of matches, which saw unexpected early exits for Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams in humid conditions. Many attendees had departed by the matches’ conclusion in the early morning hours.
Stephens left the party early to prepare for her upcoming match but expressed being deeply moved by 15-year-old protégé Riley Woodson’s emotional speech about the importance of being noticed by a prominent figure in tennis. Stephens, now 33 and nearing a decade since her championship win, reflected on her professional future and said the evening’s recognition bolstered her resolve to continue competing. “It doesn’t happen very often,” she said of the honor. “So it’s beautiful.”