Part of what makes New York City the greatest city on earth is that you can attend countless sporting events yearly! We have two baseball, football and basketball teams just to start.

When the end of summer nears every year, I get very excited for one of my favorite events, The US Open! It’s two weeks of tennis that takes place in Queens at The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center – a quick subway ride away.

Did you know the first two lawn tennis courts in New York City (built in 1881) were located in Manhattan on 88th Street and Central Park West?

*The West Side Tennis Club (1912)- Photo: Wiki Commons*

Known as The West Side Tennis Club, it was located on 88th Street and Central Park West until real estate prices started to soar (think about the Ansonia, the Dakota and all the other large scale developments moving north) so in 1912 they relocated to Forest Hills, Queens. They designed and built a large Tudor style clubhouse.

In 1915 the United States Lawn Tennis Association National Championship (aka The US Open) was moved from Newport, Rhode Island to the West Side Tennis Club in Queens after 100 players voted in favor. The argument was that there would be a larger turnout if it took place in NYC. They were right.

*A reasonably priced US Open ticket from 1916 - Photo: NYPL Digital Archives*

*The new Forest Hills Tennis Stadium - Photo: NYPL Digital Archives*

*The Davis Cup at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium (1924) - NYPL Digital Archives*

As its popularity increased, the event outgrew the West Side Tennis Club and funds were raised to build a larger venue on the site. Opened in 1924, America’s first tennis stadium, Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, was horseshoe shaped and held 14,000 fans. It was surrounded by 37 other courts.

*Who wants to go see The Beatles for $5.95? - Photo: NYPL Digital Archives*

In the 1960's Forest Hills Tennis Stadium started hosting concerts, some of which were epic. (Please see above)

*The Singer Bowl in Corona Park, Queens (1960's) - Photo: Library of Congress*

By the 1970’s they had outgrown the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium and began to search for a new home. The USTA’s president at the time was flying over Corona Park, Queens and happened to see the Singer Bowl, a concert venue designed during the 1964 World’s Fair and had an idea.

By the way - I didn’t even know there was a Singer Bowl! It hosted amazing acts like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and The Who!

*Arthur Ashe Stadium - Photo: WikiCommons*

In 1978 the USTA National Tennis Center opened after renovating the Singer Bowl into two separate arenas – Louis Armstrong stadium and the Grandstand. After a $254 million dollar renovation in 1997 it was renamed Arthur Ashe Stadium after the legendary tennis player and is currently the largest outdoor tennis arena in the world.

The US Open

The Central Park Casino

Swing Street