NEW YORK — For much of the year, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens is mostly quiet. But for two weeks late in the summer, the place becomes the center of the tennis world as hundreds of thousands of fans flock to Flushing Meadows for the U.S. Open.

Qualifying matches are already underway, and the main draw of the U.S. Open begins Sunday. The Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon Championships are in the books, so this is the last chance for the world’s top tennis players to win a major title this year.

A few are favored to win this year, but the U.S. Open has been known for upsets and thrilling matches that can sometimes run past midnight.

Here’s what to know about this year’s U.S. Open, including one exciting change before the tournament officially starts, during Fan Week.

All Aboard the No. 7 Train

From Manhattan, one of the simplest — and fastest — ways to travel to the U.S. Open is by taking an eastbound No. 7 subway train to the Mets-Willets Point station. Once you’re there, just follow the crowds to the tennis grounds.

Those on Long Island or in Manhattan can also take the Long Island Rail Road to Mets-Willets Point. Trains on the Port Washington Branch depart Manhattan from Penn Station and Grand Central at different times.

Ride-share services like Lyft and Uber are also an option. But unless you’re staying nearby, traffic can make that a lengthy, pricey trip. Ride shares can also charge surge prices or get caught in congested drop-off zones. And waiting for a vehicle to reach the pickup area after the matches can take time.

Looking for Tickets?

For the casual tennis fan, one of the best approaches to the U.S. Open is to buy a grounds pass during the first week. Grounds-pass tickets do not offer access to Arthur Ashe Stadium, but they allow for first-come-first-served access in the upper deck of the Louis Armstrong Stadium, as well as the grandstand and the outer courts. The first week of the tournament offers plenty of early-round matches on those courts, where fans can bounce from match to match.

The U.S. Open this year is introducing a novel mixed-doubles format, in which the winning team shares $1 million — a fivefold increase over last year. That prize has enticed some of the biggest names in the game, whereas before, unknown doubles specialists usually participated. Ticket prices for the event have soared on the secondary markets.

Once again, the tournament will offer expanded grounds passes for a Fan Fest, which will include watch parties inside Louis Armstrong Stadium during finals weekend.

During the main draw, the biggest names typically play inside Arthur Ashe Stadium or Louis Armstrong Stadium, but be warned that tickets for those courts can be costly, too.

Pro tip: For those who don’t have a ticket for matches inside the main stadiums, plop down by the fountain just south of Arthur Ashe, where fans can watch matches on large screens set up outside.

The main draw begins Sunday, but Fan Week, which started Monday and includes the qualifying matches before the main draw, is free and open to the public.

Come for the Tennis, Stay for the Food

Every year, the U.S. Open offers fare from some of New York City’s most popular joints. That means that in addition to the standard food offered at sporting events, like hot dogs and hamburgers, there’s plenty of other options such as ice cream from Van Leeuwen, pizza from San Matteo and Greek favorites from King Souvlaki.

Pro tip: During the tournament’s first week, the food court (adjacent to Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums) can become tough to navigate with bustling crowds. For those looking to avoid the lines, consider walking over to the Grandstand, where there are several concession stands that are less crowded.

Another option is to grab a bite on the way to the tournament in a nearby neighborhood. Downtown Flushing, just one train stop away, offers some of the best Chinese and South American food in the city.

Another pro tip: For those new to the U.S. Open, try a Honey Deuce, the signature cocktail of the tournament. The mix of vodka, lemonade, raspberry liqueur, lemon juice and honeydew melon is refreshing on days when the heat rises.

Stay Cool (No, Really)

New York’s weather during the U.S. Open can range from hot and humid to hotter and more humid. When it’s sweltering outside, the first thing to do before heading to the U.S. Open is to wear light clothing. And bring a hat.

Glass bottles or cans are prohibited, but fans are allowed to bring in metal or plastic reusable water bottles that hold up to 24 ounces. Fans can refill their water bottles at water fountains across the grounds and inside the main stadiums.

For those who need a break from the sun, there’s plenty of shade in the plaza just south of Arthur Ashe.

Keep an Eye on These Players

Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old Canadian who delighted her compatriots by winning the Canadian Open this month, has captivated the tennis world. Fans are eager to see how she follows it up in her first major tournament on hard courts.

Coco Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, knows all too well. She lost to Mboko in the round of 16 in Canada.

Gauff, a 21-year-old American, won the French Open in June, but then lost three of her next five matches, including in the first round at Wimbledon. She is adored in New York and will look to ride that support to a possible second U.S. Open title.

Another American, Amanda Anisimova, is coming off a terrific run to the Wimbledon final. Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s champ, is the favorite again.

On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz enter ranked No. 1 and No. 2 and if these rivals meet in the final, it would be their third consecutive major finals encounter (Sinner won Wimbledon, Alcaraz the French Open).

Novak Djokovic, who turned 38 in May, won the last of his record 24 major titles at the 2023 U.S. Open. He reached the semifinal stage in all three majors this year, but has not played competitively since Wimbledon.

Keep an eye on Jakub Mensik from the Czech Republic. He has all the tools and turns 20 on Sept. 1, during the fourth round.

The New York crowd typically rallies behind any Americans, not just Gauff. Behind her, the top-ranked U.S. women are Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Anisimova. On the men’s side, it is Taylor Fritz, who lost in the final to Sinner last year, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe.

Save the Date(s)

Qualifying matches for the U.S. Open began Monday and run through Friday.

The main draw of the tournament begins Sunday, with quarterfinal matches in the singles competition scheduled to start Sept. 2.

The women’s singles final will be played Sept. 6, and the tournament ends Sept. 7 with the men’s singles final.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By Jesus Jiménez and David Waldstein/José A. Alvarado Jr./Karsten Moran

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