U.S. Open parking and travel options, player storylines, prize money and tournament facts

U.S. Open storylines

1. COCO GAUFF

Can she bounce back from early exits at Wimbledon and in the Olympics and successfully defend the U.S. Open title she won at age 19 last year? All eyes are on Gauff going into the Open and that could be part of the problem.

2. WHAT RIVALRIES?

Where is the next great tennis rivalry? Both the women’s and men’s games are in transition periods. Can two young rivals – like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – emerge to help increase interest in the game?

3. NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S FUTURE

Will Novak Djokovic ever retire? Djokovic is attempting to win his 25th Grand Slam, breaking a tie with Margaret Court for the all-time record. If he does, will this be it? And will he finally be acknowledged as the greatest male player?

4. CARLOS ALCARAZ SEEKS NO. 3

Can Alcaraz forget his crushing loss to Djokovic at the Olympics and defend his U.S. Open title? If Alcaraz wins here, it would be his third Grand Slam title of the season, making him just the seventh player of the Open era to accomplish that feat.

5. REMEMBER NAOMI OSAKA?

Can Naomi Osaka, a wild card entry, make some noise at the Open? Osaka is the only woman to have won the championship twice in the last 10 years. Now, after taking breaks for her mental health and to have a baby, she is hoping to get past the first round for the first time since 2021.

U.S. Open travel options

By subway: The 7 train provides service from Grand Central Terminal to Mets-Willets Point Station, including connections for all Metro-North Trains from Westchester and Connecticut. Service is also available from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. MTA website (mta.info) provides schedules and fares.

By train: The Long Island Rail Road provides service to Mets-Willets Point Station from Woodside, and connections from Penn Station for New Jersey Transit customers. Guests with disabilities are advised to exit the LIRR train at 61st Street-Woodside Station and transfer to the 7 train. Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point Station.

Via rideshare: Space for rideshare vehicles is limited. All rideshare providers, including black-car services, will only have access to the area next to the New York State Pavilion. There is a direct walking path between the New York State Pavilion and Champions' Entry. Free shuttle is available for guests who need assistance to and from the Champions' Entry.

By car: Take the Grand Central Parkway exit 9E, or Whitestone Expressway Exit 13D, or Long Island Expressway Exit 22B - College Point Blvd. Follow NYPD directives to the parking areas. GPS address: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadow Corona Park, Flushing NY 11368.

U.S. Open parking

When Mets are not playing: Parking will be at Citi Field YELLOW ZONE PARKING lot (subject to change). The fee is $40 for vehicles, $80 for busses.

When Mets are playing: Parking will be in BLUE ZONE PARKING and ORANGE ZONE PARKING lots. The Mets have scheduled games Aug. 21, Sept. 2, 3, 4 and Sept. 6, 7, 8

Cadillac vehicles: Parking is complimentary in all paid lots beginning Aug. 26.

More parking: Available at the Shops at Skyview, with a short walk to the boardwalk with entry and exit away from Citi Field congestion. Reserve a spot online for a rate discount.

U.S. Open fun facts

What: 144th U.S. Open Championships, the fourth of the tennis season’s Grand Slam events.

Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows.

When: Play starts Monday and continues until Sept. 8. The women’s singles final is Sept. 7; the men’s singles final is Sept. 8.

TV: ESPN

Surface: Hardcourts

Defending champions: Men’s singles, Novak Djokovic won his 24th major singles championship, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 over Daniil Medvedev; Women’s singles, Coco Gauff won her first Grand Slam title at age 19, defeating Aryna Sabalenka, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the final. Gauff became the first American teenager to win the Open since Serena Williams in 1999.

Betting favorites: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are the money-line favorites to win the singles championships, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Top seeds: Men, Jannick Sinner and women, Iga Swiatek.

Prize money: Total payout will be a record $75 million, an increase of $10 million from last year. The two singles champions each will receive $3.6 million, up from $3 million. First-round losers in singles will get $100,000, a tournament record.

Key number: 9 — Women who have split the past 10 U.S. Open championships. Only Naomi Osaka has won more than one title in New York in that span.

Another number: 24 — Grand Slam singles titles won by Djokovic, tied with Margaret Court for the most in tennis history.