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Osaka Duels Gauff in Round 4

BQE Admin on September 2, 2025

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

It was busy in Flushing this year as One million people attended the US Open!

Six years and six combined major titles since their iconic first matchup, women’s tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff took the court at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens. In one of the most riveting matchups of a thrilling tournament, the Japanese-born Osaka downed the world #3 in two sets, 6-3 and 6-2.

The Round of 16 win sends Osaka to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event for the first time since she won the Australian Open in 2021. Since her return to play last year she wasn’t able to escape the third round, making it that far at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Gauff made her fourth consecutive trip to the US Open’s fourth round which included a 2023 title. She also looked to build to a successful 2025 that saw her capture a second Grand Slam title at the French Open.

Unfortunately for the home favorite, Gauff was quickly overmatched by a hungry Osaka. She went after Coco’s forehand side and drew consistent errors for a quick lead. In the second set Osaka sent more of the same barrage as she made a statement with a straight set victory.

The head-to-head record now stands at 3 apiece with Osaka leading in slam matches 2-1. It’s a similar result to their famed 2019 third-round match at the US Open, with Gauff now the same age Osaka was when they first matched up at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

On Wednesday, Osaka’s US Open continued with a quarterfinal matchup against #11 ranked Karlolina Muchová. The winner would advance to take on #8 Amanda Anisimova or #2 Iga Swiatek in a semifinal match on Thursday. The women’s singles championship game will be held on September 6.

It’s The Economic Impact

BQE Admin on September 2, 2025

It’s not a well-kept secret that the economic impact of the US Open to New York City exceeds that of the Mets and Yankees combined. While a million people attend the Open every year, estimates are that 6500 seasonal jobs pull off this yearly 3-week event. Last week we called it the ‘best-dressed mosh pit’ in the world. It’s crowded, it’s loud and it’s the place to be for celebrity sightings and pure passion on the court. Everyone seems to be smiling.

It was busy in Flushing this year as One million people attended the US Open!

Almost Lost

Every year some of the veterans of the history of the US Open muse about how close it was that we lost the tournament to the city of Atlanta in 1978. The tournament had been played at the famed West Side Tennis Club of Forest Hills, until it was obvious expansion there was impossible. Then Mayor, David Dinkins, was able to pave the way politically to ensure there was a swath of land in the park to host the ever-growing tournament. And the USTA was convinced that New York was the place to keep this event. Every year it seems to have grown and now with a week of free admission during the qualifying tournament and Kid’s Day, The tournament and its operation is a model for the growth of any sport. Our conversation with the proprietor of a number of tennis facilities in NYC revealed that tennis is having a surge of popularity not seen since the early 1980s.

The draw and tournament results sign at the entrance is still done by hand. Some of the vets remember the sign in Forest Hills that was hand painted. When a player won, their name would be painted as they won.

Well we love the economic impact to New York, which could top 1.4 billion dollars this year.

US Open Gets Underway With A Bang

BQE Admin on August 26, 2025

Much to the delight of tennis fans this week the USTA changed the format of the US Open by spreading the first round singles matches over three days. The matches started Sunday, while tens of thousands of fans turned the grounds and pathways into the best-dressed 3-day mosh pit we’ve ever seen. The National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park is certainly the ‘place to be’ for the end of summer.

It’s the place to be in NYC to end the summer as we called it ‘the best-dressed mosh pit’ ever.

Although 6th seeded American Madison Keys disappointed the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday, amassing 89 unforced errors in a first round loss, Californian Jenson Brooksby beat Aleksander Vukic from Australia in 5 sets in one of the most intense matches Monday.  Fan favorite Frances Tiafoe outlasted 149th ranked Yoshihito Nishioka, from Japan in the afternoon. Carlos Alcaraz surprised onlookers at the practice courts Monday afternoon, revealing his new ‘buzz-cut,’ and the anticipation of Venus Williams playing on center court Monday night was the chatter of the crowd. Venus lost to 11th seed Karolina Muchova in a 3-set night-match on center court followed by Alcaraz, who beat 7 footer, Reilly Opelka, who hails from Delray Beach.

Californian Jenson Brooksby outlasted Aleksander Vukic on court 11. Tennis fans get to see high level tennis on the outer courts through most of the tournament.

Frances Tiafoe, with his signature backhand jump wins on center court Monday. He is one of America’s best hopes to win this championship, which has not seen a winner from the US, on the men’s side, in 2 decades.

Play continues every day through September 7th in Flushing Meadows Park. The day session begins at 11:30 while the night sessions start at 7PM.

Teaching Pickleball to homeless kids in NYC

Dan on May 18, 2022

InPickleball Magazine and the APP Tour team up to benefit The Floating Hospital

Some 2,000 entrants will descend on Flushing Meadows’ iconic tennis center in the week leading to Memorial Day for the Association of Pickleball Professionals’ (APP) inaugural New York City Open. But the athletes won’t be the only ones holding court.

While the pros dink and slam it out all around them, two dozen health educators from The Floating Hospital will learn the basics of the popular game at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships.

Guided by kinesiologist and 2019 U.S. Open pickleball champion Dr. Rommie Maxey, the health-ed specialists, who work with New York families experiencing homelessness, will take to the court and tackle the basics of the sport so they can teach kids a game that could make a pivotal difference for them.

“Outside of getting them fresh food, our No. 1 challenge is providing young people with exercise options that are easy, free, and fun,” Sean T. Granahan, president of The Floating Hospital in Long Island City, said. “Pickleball can do that in a fun, communal setting. It’s something kids can do together, pretty much anywhere.”

During pandemic lockdowns, pickleball proved to be a versatile outlet, as enthusiasts created courts in backyards, driveways, parking lots—even living rooms. All that’s needed to play is a net, chalk, a Wiffle ball, paddles, and sneakers. The sport even has its own magazine, InPickleball.

One of New York City’s oldest charitable healthcare organizations focused on children, The Floating Hospital provides related education for the whole family, engaging children as change agents for healthier habits. Through The Floating Hospital’s signature health education programming, kids learn the benefits of exercise and nutrition that can help them avoid health problems inherent with living in poverty.

Last year, 114,000 students in the New York City public school system were unhoused. The Floating Hospital conducts outreach to 95 percent of the city’s family homeless shelters and domestic violence safe houses. Thirty-eight percent of the clinic’s patients are children.

“Pickleball is about the things our world needs most today – health, joy, and togetherness,” Richard Porter, president of InPickleball Magazine, said. “The game is growing wildly because it’s fun and inclusive. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy it immediately and pick up basic skills quickly. By showing these kids a simple way to better health, we can make meaningful progress toward health equity in New York.”

The APP New York City Open session kicks off an ongoing training program that enables the educators to teach pickleball at The Floating Hospital’s “Camp Rise Up” for homeless youth this August. The sport will be added to the roster of confidence and team-building activities the campers participate in during their week away on the upstate campus.

The APP New York City Open session will take place Wednesday, May 25, at the USTA Tennis Center, starting at 10 a.m.

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