New seating arrangement allows fans to move freely in the stands at the US Open

NEW YORK – Imagine if fans at a Major League Baseball game were told they had to wait until the end of an inning to get a beer and a hot dog. Or if people at an NFL or NBA game weren’t allowed to use the bathroom until after the end of a quarter. That would never happen, would it?

In essence, this is exactly what etiquette has long demanded at tennis matches, especially at Grand Slam tournaments like the US Open, which began on Monday: No one is allowed in or out during a match. Sometimes not even between games. At the start of a set, for example, everyone must hold out until the first change, which occurs after three games.

Not at Flushing Meadows anymore. Under a new rule implemented this year, people with tickets to certain areas of each court – from the 23,859-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium down to the 336-seat seats 8 and 16 – can move freely whenever they want, even during the game. And there’s no more twiddling your thumbs while several games are over before you can enter or exit the court; that’s now allowed after every game.

The crowd seemed to love it on the first day; some players may need some time to get used to it as this was also tried at the Australian Open in January.

“I noticed it, but once it starts, I don’t notice it anymore. I guess in the college tennis I played, there were a lot of situations where I was a lot crazier than when a couple of people walk back to their seat with drinks – Honey Deuces,” said 2023 U.S. Open semifinalist Ben Shelton, referring to the signature cocktail the tournament sells for $23 a pop.

“I don’t mind,” added Shelton, the 2022 NCAA champion for Florida and winner at Ashe on Monday. “I’m sure some players will be upset about it this week.”

Most of the players, including defending champion Coco Gauff, agreed with Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic’s response: “It doesn’t really bother me that much.”

After all, even the loudest slam has plenty of distractions – from noisy crowds late into the night to airplanes rushing past and the rattling of trains nearby.

US Open tournament referee Jake Garner acknowledged that this could mean “some getting used to from the players’ point of view” because they would find it disruptive. On the other hand, Garner said in an interview: “It could be seen as a radical thing for the sport of tennis, but I’m not sure that trying to improve the fan experience and make it more entertaining for them should be so radical.”

During several matches at the grounds on the first day of the two-week event, competition generally went smoothly as ticket holders walked up and down stairs, strolled along sidewalks or just lounged around. Occasionally, a player scheduled to serve would pause a little longer before starting a point, or a receiver would raise his hand and ask for more time.

What is missing: The usual admonitions from the chair umpires: “Please get to your seats quickly!”

Rachel Ferman Halkias, who works for YouTube and has attended the US Open more than half a dozen times, was delighted when an usher let her in after 12th seed Daria Kasatkina won the first game of the second set on Court No. 7.

“I was actually prepared to wait longer, but I like this. Otherwise I would have been standing on the steps for who knows how long. As long as it doesn’t bother the players, it’s a good thing,” she said. “I agree with all the rules of tennis, but let’s move forward.”

Kasatkina said the problem is when there is movement behind the baselines; if people move on the sides of the court, it’s not a big deal.

“It’s hard to compare it to other sports because tennis is one-on-one and you’re very focused. In team sports, there can be 10 or 20 players moving at any given time. Also, in team sports, it’s loud from start to finish and you get used to the noise when it’s constant. When you’re playing in complete silence and then a noise just pops up somewhere,” she said, snapping her fingers, “you notice it.”

Lisa and Ferenc Miskolczi, a New Jersey couple watching at Louis Armstrong Stadium, appreciate the different rules.

“It’s the only sport where you have to be quiet when you’re playing; it’s quite weird that they can’t concentrate,” said Lisa, a senior accounting manager. “So I’m happy for the change – and the players have to get used to it.”

One of the reasons Garner of the US Open gave for the change was to avoid spectators missing large parts of the match, especially during the first three games of a set.

Ferenc, a healthcare project manager, agreed.

“When you have 100 fans lined up outside and a game can last 13 or 15 minutes, it’s frustrating,” he said. “This needs to be extended to other tournaments as well.”

Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up, expects this.

“I think,” said Berrettini, “that will be the future.”