The US Open’s Fan Week is set to be bigger and better than ever this year, according to Nicole Kankam, Managing Director of Pro Tennis Marketing and Entertainment at the USTA. “We are so excited about Fan Week this year,” she told the Asian Journal. “It’s going to be bigger and better than ever. We’ve added a day after the tremendous popularity we saw with the event last year.”
Kicking off on Monday, August 19, Fan Week is a massive tennis and entertainment festival that offers free access to the grounds of the US Open. Attendees can watch the qualifying tournament, see top players practice, and enjoy a variety of entertainment and activities.
“There’ll be a stage set up with player appearances and other interactive games,” Kankam explained. “It’s for families, casual fans, and passionate tennis fans. There really is something for everyone.”
Kankam, who transitioned to sports marketing after a successful career in the music and entertainment industry, expressed her passion for tennis and the US Open. “I love the US Open because it’s so much more than tennis. It is entertainment, it is sports, and it also showcases diversity and accessibility,” she said.
Fan Week’s expansion is part of the USTA’s efforts to make tennis more accessible.
“We wanted to create an environment where different audiences are seen and represented,” Kankam noted. “We’re a three-week event now for the US Open, but ensuring that one of those weeks has opportunities for everyone to get involved and to build a pipeline for new and emerging events has been a big focus for us.” This includes celebrating HBCUs, embracing Open Pride, and curating events for AAPI and Latin audiences. One highlight is the opening day lion dance by the Chinatown Young Lion Dance Group, symbolizing good luck and cultural diversity.
The week also features the Legends of the Open, with appearances by former top players like James Blake and Tommy Haas, and a mixed doubles event with the following pairs in competition: Coco Gauff and Ben Shelton; Naomi Osaka and Nick Kygrios; Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paola Badosa, and Taylor Fritz and Aryna Sabalenka. “Tennis is unique where men and women compete at a high level on the same stage,” Kankam said. “That’s a way for us to showcase the new generation of tennis stars and competing on the stage together men and women, is what the US Open is all about.” The mixed doubles event offers a competitive atmosphere with nearly $500,000 in prize money.
For those interested in culinary experiences, the Flavors of the Open presented by Dobel Tequila offers a food festival with all-you-can-eat signature dishes from the US Open. Proceeds from this event and others like Stars of the Open will support the USTA Foundation, which brings tennis and education to under-resourced communities.
“We really wanted to create something for everyone, so that we were curating different experiences that would attract new audiences, draw them into the sport, hopefully convert them into tennis fans,” she further explained.
Fan Week culminates with Arthur Ashe Kids Day on Saturday, August 24. Once the qualifying tournament is done, all of the courts are taken over with tennis activities. Kids and their families are strongly encouraged to come out and try out the sport and experience it.
As Fan Week approaches, Kankam’s enthusiasm is contagious, inviting everyone to partake in this vibrant celebration of tennis and community. “We just want fans to come out and enjoy it,” she said. With a week packed full of unique experiences, diverse cultural events, and opportunities to see both rising stars and legendary players, the US Open’s Fan Week promises to be an unforgettable experience for all. For detailed schedules and event information, visit [usopen.org](https://www.usopen.org). n
