The 2024 US Open attendance hits 1 million for the first time, but TV ratings disappointed. Taylor Fritz brings hope to US men’s tennis, and a study suggests that night matches increase injury risk.
U.S. Davis Cup team beats Germany to complete undefeated group stage campaign: The United States Davis Cup team completed a perfect group stage campaign Saturday with a 2-1 win against Germany in Zhuhai, China. The first-place finish in Group C secures a seed for November’s Davis Cup Final 8 knockout stage. Full Story: USTA
Taylor Fritz’s U.S. Open final offers hope for men’s tennis — and a reality check: Taylor Fritz is encouraged because he reached the final without playing very well. Full Story: The Athletic
2024 US Open surpasses 1 million fans in attendance for first time: A total of 1,048,669 fans came to the tournament over its full three weeks: an 8% increase over 2023. Attendance for the two weeks of the main draw reached a new high mark of 832,640. Full Story: US Open
Disappointing US Open TV Ratings: It has been an exciting summer for American tennis players. The United States was well-represented in the 2024 Paris Olympics and had multiple players competing late into the US Open. Unfortunately, that did not translate to good television ratings in the last Grand Slam of the season. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
Report shows tennis night matches lead to increased injury risk: Late match starts directly affect the possibility of being injured, according to a recent report compiled by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) and shared with ESPN. It indicated a sizable increase in injury risk for players participating in night matches compared to those played earlier in the day. Full Story: ESPN
ESPN Films Greenlights 30 for 30 Documentary on Billie Jean King’s Groundbreaking Legacy: Acclaimed filmmakers Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff to direct unfiltered, untold story of one of sport’s greatest pioneers. Full Story: ESPN
How Losing a Ton of Tennis Matches Helped Daily Show Correspondent Michael Kosta Go Pro as a Comedian: Michael Kosta has been one of The Daily Show’s rotating hosts for the past seven years. Before that, Kosta played college tennis at Illinois, went pro, and competed in Futures tournaments, the lowest rung of professional tennis. Along the way, he lost… a lot. Full Story: GQ
Meet the artist transforming tennis balls into furniture: Belgian eco-designer Mathilde Wittock fashions bespoke furniture from discarded tennis balls. Her sleek, modernist chaise longues are entirely cushionless — save for the padding of 500 precisely arranged tennis balls. Full Story: CNN
In her tennis era: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were among the famous faces who were on hand to watch the men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz. Full Story: US Open
‘Challengers’: Zendaya-Led Tennis Drama Gets Streaming Date At Prime Video: Luca Guadagnino‘s tennis romance drama starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, will begin streaming on Prime Video on September 19. Full Story: Deadline
At the U.S. Open, a Quest for $100 Chicken Nuggets: The tennis tournament is known for upscale offerings, but a new box of six “golden” nuggets drew a covetous crowd, and plenty of attention online. Full Story: The New York Times
Tennis is the greatest game on Earth: A writer shares why playing tennis is a source of happiness in life that has no comparison. Full Story: The Manchester Journal
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 9/16-22 | Korea Open | WTA 500 | Korea |
| 9/16-22 | Thailand Open | WTA 250 | Thailand |
| 9/18-24 | Chengdu Open | ATP 250 | China |
| 9/18-24 | Hangzhou Open | ATP 250 | China |
| 9/20-22 | Laver Cup | Exhibition | Germany |
