Inspired by the Fan Child’s blog post about Court 17, we went ahead and booked tickets to Session 1 next Monday. Court 17 is a new show court on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and the first new stadium since, well, since Arthur Ashe. There are no reserved seats. A grounds pass and a little patience will get you down low in “The Pit”.
They’re calling it “The Pit” because the court is below ground level for better aesthetics. We want to be part of the lucky 2,500 fans who witness the first main draw match On Pit. Like On Ashe. Or On Armstrong. As in, “Did you see that awesome match on Pit?”, or “Oh my god, I think I just saw Brad Pitt on Pit”.
Tonight, USTA Communications Director Chris Widmaier confirmed that the Pit will be up and running for Monday morning, with video boards and Chase Review. It’s a televised court, so expect to catch all matches at home on streaming video if you’re too far away to see it in person. It will not be used during the Qualifying rounds, according to Widmaier, so Monday is the big day, Hurricane-Permitting.
We’ll take lots of photos of The Pit, as video is verboten at the US Open. Who will be the first player to be swallowed by the Pit? Who will rise from the Pit? Who will be dumped into the Pit? We’re done with puns. Time for tennis!
Tennis Atlantic 
Return Serve?