Hidden Gem - US Open Qualifying Week

As many of you are aware, the 2009 US Open will begin on Aug 31st and last all the way till Sept 13th. However, many tennis goers often forget about the qualifying tournament that occurs before the main draw tournament, a tennis fan's delight. These qualifiers occur at most major ATP/WTA events, the US Open is no exception.

Every year, 128 Men and Women battle it out in the qualifying rounds to earn a spot in the main draw. By the time qualifying players make it to the main draw, the gas tank is about empty. Which makes it exponentially more difficult for a qualifying player to go deep into the main draw. However, there are always exceptions. For example, Mr. Benjamin Becker who went on to beat Andre Agassi to reach the 4th round in the tournament in 2006. An unforgettable match as it was Andre's last tournament.

Why is qualifying week my favorite week of the Open? Simply put, it gives fans a front row seat to watch some great tennis and the plethora of chances to run into top-ranked players practicing or moseying around the grounds. I can't count the number of times I would turn around and be face to face with a top-10 player. Last year, it was Miss Ana Ivanovic (Hi Ana!). This year, who knows.

I encourage everyone who will be able to make it to the Open to check out qualifying week, it is a blast. For those of you not attending, keep an eye out for similar events at tournaments near you.

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