Arthur Ashe Kids' Day is an annual tennis/children's event that takes place in the end of August at the United States Tennis Association at Arthur Ashe Stadium. (USTA) Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York. It is sponsored by IBM and the USTA. This event also begins the U.S. Open, which officially starts one day later. This event was also televised on CBS the following day, until 2014 when it lost U.S. Open broadcast rights to ESPN. Beginning in 2015, the event airs on ESPN2. It is a celebration of the memory of Arthur Ashe, who died of AIDS in 1993, and of his efforts to help young people through tennis. Kids’ Day began in 1993, the year that Ashe died.
At the 2005 event, the United States Postal Service unveiled and issued the Arthur Ashe Commemorative Postal Stamp in the presence of the Ashe family. [1] The 2011 event originally scheduled for August 27, 2011 was cancelled in the wake of the forthcoming Hurricane Irene. This marked the first time the event was cancelled in advance. The 2020 and 2021 events were also cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participants at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day have an opportunity to play and/or watch numerous tennis matches before and after the main event at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Center. The main event at the stadium consists of a concert and tennis matches. As people enter the stadium, they are handed hats to commemorate the event.
Tennis greats that have appeared annually at Arthur Ashe Kids Day include Venus and Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Kim Clijsters, and Anna Kournikova, who play to entertain the children and families and to raise money for charity. Kids Day has been hosted by MTV VJ Quddus and sportscaster and ‘’Figure It Out’’ host Summer Sanders. Many popular singers have also performed at Kids Day, including Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, 98 Degrees, Bow Wow, Ne-Yo, Jesse McCartney, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, O Town, JoJo, Monica, Jonas Brothers, Ariana Grande, and many others. During the day many tennis stars sign autographs and take pictures with the children.
Date | Host | Tennis players [nb 1] | Performers | Other celebrities | Ref. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 23, 1997 | John McEnroe, Andre Agassi | Hanson | Bill Cosby | [2] | |
3rd Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 29, 1998 | Bill Cosby | Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Serena Williams, Venus Williams | Backstreet Boys | [3] | |
4th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 28, 1999 | Mark McEwen | Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Patrick Rafter, Michael Chang, Mary Pierce | Britney Spears | [4] | |
5th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 26, 2000 | Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Alexandra Stevenson | Jessica Simpson, 98 Degrees | [5] | ||
6th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 25, 2001 | Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams | Lil' Bow Wow and O-Town | [6] | ||
7th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 24, 2002 | Summer Sanders and Quddus | Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, James Blake, Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, Anna Kournikova | Mario, BBmak, and Vanessa Carlton | [7] [8] | |
8th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 23, 2003 | Summer Sanders | Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Anna Kournikova | Daniel Bedingfield, Monica, and Smash Mouth | [9] | |
9th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 28, 2004 | Andy Roddick, Bob and Mike Bryan, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati | JoJo and Gavin DeGraw | [10] | ||
10th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 27, 2005 | Summer Sanders and Quddus | Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Martina Navratilova, Anna Kournikova | Rihanna, Jesse McCartney, and The Click Five | [11] [12] | |
11th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 2006 | Daisy Fuentes and Quddus | Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Serena Williams, Anna Kournikova | Ne-Yo, The Cheetah Girls, Cheyenne Kimball, and Teddy Geiger | [13] | |
12th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 26, 2007 | Daisy Fuentes and Quddus | Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, Sam Querrey, Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Ana Ivanovic, Daniela Hantuchová | The Jonas Brothers, Sean Kingston, Kat De Luna, and Lil Mama | John Cena, Tony Hawk, Rob Thomas | [14] [15] see also 2007 Arthur Ashe Kids Day |
13th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 23, 2008 | Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, Serena Williams | Demi Lovato, Colby O'Donis and Menudo | [16] | ||
14th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 29, 2009 | Susie Castillo and Quddus | Roger Federer, Any Roddick, James Blake, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova | Jordin Sparks and Justin Bieber | Will Ferrell | [17] [18] |
15th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 28, 2010 | Adrienne Bailon and Quddus | Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Kim Clijsters | The Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Shontelle, and Allstar Weekend | Nick Cannon, Lindsey Vonn | [19] [20] |
16th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day (cancelled) | August 27, 2011 | La La Anthony and Quddus | Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Kim Clijsters, David Wagner | Original program: Jason Derulo, Cody Simpson, Jessica Jarrell, and Greyson Chance | Bradley Cooper, Carmelo Anthony | [21] [22] |
17th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 2012 | Jordin Sparks and Quddus | Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Mardy Fish, Ryan Harrison, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Sloane Stephens, Christina McHale | Carly Rae Jepsen with Owl City, Rachel Crow, The Wanted, and Mindless Behavior | Matthew Morrison, Missy Franklin, Brad Richards | [23] [24] |
18th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 24, 2013 | Missy Franklin and Quddus | Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, David Wagner | Fifth Harmony, Ariana Grande, Austin Mahone, Lawson, Coco Jones and Cazzette. Free concert: Before You Exit, Kenton Duty, Trevor Jackson, Megan Nicole, CityKids and Lucki Gurlz | [25] | |
19th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 24, 2014 | China Anne McClain, Jeff Sutphen, and Shaun Thompson | Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray | Hunter Hayes, MKTO, The Vamps, Shawn Mendes, McClain and Madison Beer. Free concert: Hollywood Ending, Kalin and Myles, Zach Matari, Karina Rae and The Bomb Digz | [26] | |
20th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 29, 2015 | Shaun T, Brooke Taylor | Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Madison Keys, Marin Cilic. | Bea Miller, Kalin & Myles, Jacob Whitesides, Natalie La Rose and American Authors. Free concert: Alessia Cara, Forever in Your Mind, Carson Lueders, Sweet Suspense, Jena Rose. | ||
21st Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 27, 2016 | Joey Bragg, Jordan Fisher, Laura Marano | Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Mackenzie McDonald, Monica Puig, Juan Martin del Potro, Jack Sock, Maria Sakkari, Louisa Chirico, Samantha Crawford, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal. | Galaxy Empire All Starz, Citizen Four, Sophie Beem, Tegan Marie, Troye Sivan, Los 5. Free concert: Flo Rida, Forever in Your Mind, Zara Larsson, Ansel Engort. | ||
22nd Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 26, 2017 | Sofia Carson, Alex Aiono | Roger Federer, Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, Angelique Kerber, CiCi Bellis, Frances Tiafoe, Ernesto Escobedo, Claire Liu. | Skyler Steckler, Spencer Sutherland, Summer Valentine. Free concert: Why Don't We, New Hope Club, Saving Forever, Jack & Jack. | ||
23rd Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day | August 25, 2018 | Alex Aiono, Morgan Tompkins | Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Angelique Kerber and Madison Keys | CNCO, Echosmith and In Real Life, Kim Petras | [27] | |
24th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 24, 2019 | Meg Donnelly, Morgan Tompkins, JD McCrary | Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Sloane Stephens, Coco Gauff, Bob and Mike Bryan | Austin Mahone, Blanco Brown, MAX and Ava Max | [28] | |
25th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day (cancelled) | August 23, 2020 | |||||
26th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day (cancelled) | August 28, 2021 | |||||
27th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 27, 2022 | Venus Williams, Taylor Fritz, John Isner, Frances Tiafoe, Maria Sakkari | Dude Perfect, Nicky Youre, Em Beihold, Young Dylan, Good NEWZ Girls, Brandon Hernandez | |||
28th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | August 26, 2023 |
The US Open Tennis Championships, commonly called the US Open, is a hardcourt tennis tournament organized by the United States Tennis Association annually in Queens, New York City. It is chronologically the fourth and final of the four Grand Slam tennis events, held after the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.
James Riley Blake is an American former professional tennis player. He won 10 titles on the ATP Tour, reaching a career-high singles ranking of world No. 4. His career highlights included reaching the final of the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup, the semifinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the quarterfinals of the 2008 Australian Open and 2005 and 2006 US Opens, two titles at the Hopman Cup and being the American No. 1 in men's singles. Blake was also a key performer for the victorious United States 2007 Davis Cup team, winning both his matches in the championship tie against Russia.
Andrew Stephen Roddick is an American former professional tennis player. He is a major champion, having won the 2003 US Open. Roddick reached four other major finals, losing to rival Roger Federer each time. Roddick was ranked in the year-end top 10 for nine consecutive years (2002–2010), first reaching the world No. 1 spot in 2003, while also winning five Masters titles in that period. He was also a crucial player in the U.S. Davis Cup team's successful run to the title in 2007. Roddick retired from professional tennis following the 2012 US Open to focus on his work at the Andy Roddick Foundation. In retirement, Roddick played for the Austin Aces in World Team Tennis in 2015. He was also the 2015 and 2017 champion of the QQQ Champions Series. In 2017, Roddick was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He is married to Brooklyn Decker, a swimwear model and actress.
Mardy Simpson Fish is an American former professional tennis player. He was a hardcourt specialist. He is one of several American tennis players who rose to prominence in the early 2000s.
Arthur Ashe Stadium is a tennis arena at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City. Part of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, it is the main stadium of the US Open tennis tournament and has a capacity of 23,771, making it the largest tennis stadium in the world.
The Cincinnati Open is an annual professional tennis event held in Cincinnati, United States. Due to previous sponsorship, it has also been known as: the Thriftway ATP Championships, the Great American Insurance ATP Championships, the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and Women's Open and, most recently, the Western & Southern Open. It is played on outdoor hard courts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, and is held in August. The event started on September 18, 1899, and is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States still played in its original city. It also is the third largest tennis event in the United States, after the US Open and the Indian Wells Masters. It is one of the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments on the ATP Tour, and one of the WTA 1000 tournaments on the WTA Tour.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is a stadium complex within Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City, United States. It has been the home of the US Open Grand Slam tennis tournament, played every year in August and September, since 1978 and is operated by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The facility has 22 courts inside its 46.5 acres and 12 in the adjoining park. The complex's three stadiums are among the largest tennis stadiums in the world; Arthur Ashe Stadium tops the global list with a listed capacity of 23,200. When the facility was built in 1978, all 33 courts used the DecoTurf cushioned acrylic surface, as did Court 17, added in 2011. However, in 2020, the court surfaces were replaced with Laykold.
Louis Armstrong Stadium was a tennis stadium of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and one of the venues of the US Open. Armstrong was the main stadium before Arthur Ashe Stadium opened in 1997, after which it served as the No. 2 stadium. It was named after the noted jazz musician Louis Armstrong, who lived nearby until his death in 1971 and was a significant figure in the civil rights movement.
The Singer Bowl was a multipurpose stadium at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City. It was built for the 1964 New York World's Fair and demolished in 2016. Originally named for the Singer Sewing Company, it was an early example of naming rights in large venues.
Tennis is a U.S. print sports magazine devoted to the sport of tennis. It is published eight months per year, and operates a website, Tennis.com.
The 2007 Arthur Ashe Kids Day was a series of exhibition matches and special events the day before the first day of the official main draws of 2007 U.S. Open. Note that results and trivia are from CBS.
The Boys' Junior National Tennis Championship takes place on the Kalamazoo College campus in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This United States Tennis Association (USTA) event is one of the most important competitions for male 16- and 18-year-olds tennis players, attracting 400 to compete from across the country.
Tennis on CBS is the branding used for broadcasts of professional tennis tournaments that were produced by CBS Sports, the sports division of the CBS television network in the United States. At the time the network's broadcast agreements with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) ended in 2014, CBS held the broadcast rights to the U.S. Open, the U.S. Open Series and the Sony Ericsson Open. From 1980 to 1982, CBS also televised the French Open. CBS also during the 1970s and 1980s, broadcast the Grand Prix tennis circuit. CBS returned to show tennis coverage again after five years, with both World TeamTennis (2019–2020) and USA matches at the Davis Cup (2020–present)
Grandstand is a tennis stadium situated in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York. The stadium which has a capacity to seat 8,125 people, is owned by the United States Tennis Association. The court is the third largest at the national tennis center, after the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums. Built to host the US Open, Grandstand was constructed as part of a redesign of the national tennis center and is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design tennis stadium in the world. The stadium designed by Rossetti Architects and constructed by AECOM is named after a 1978 stadium of the same name.
The 2014 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 134th edition of the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Frances Tiafoe Jr. is an American professional tennis player. He reached his career high at world No. 10 in singles on 19 June 2023, becoming the first Sierra Leonean American man to be ranked in the top 10 by the ATP.
The 2015 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 135th edition of the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The 2016 US Open was the 136th edition of tennis' US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year. It took place on outdoor hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud in the final, 6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7–1), 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 2022 US Open. It was his first major title. He claimed the world No. 1 singles ranking with the win; Ruud, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas were also in contention for the top position. Alcaraz saved a match point en route to the title, in the quarterfinals against Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz became the youngest major champion since Nadal at the 2005 French Open, the youngest US Open champion since Pete Sampras in 1990, the first man born in the 2000s to win a major singles title, and the youngest man to be ranked world No. 1, surpassing Lleyton Hewitt's record. At 23 hours and 39 minutes of play duration across his seven matches, Alcaraz spent the longest time on court in major history. Ruud became the first Norwegian to reach the final.