Serena Williams’ retirement sparks ‘unprecedented’ demand for US Open tickets

American tennis fans are gobbling up tickets to the US Open now that Serena Williams has made it clear she’s retiring.

Fans are gobbling up tickets to the US Open now that Serena Williams has made it clear she’s retiring after the year’s final grand slam tournament.

“You talk about the Serena effect, it’s like a tsunami,” USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier told the NY Post.

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“Since people have learned of the news, we’ve sold, as of 3pm (Tuesday), 13,000 tickets to the Open, including 4,500 or thereabouts for opening night.”

Asked to provide context for the 13,000 number, Widmaier declared: “That’s a spectacular day. In fact, it may be unprecedented.”

The interest in Williams’ first match is particularly astounding. While tickets for the Arthur Ashe Stadium upper deck on the opening Monday night of the tournament (August 29) can retail for AU$50, Widmaier revealed there are those who are attempting to sell their $50 tickets for $10,000 on the Ticketmaster resale.

Serena Williams of the United States. Photo by Vaughn Ridley / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

Making that even more remarkable is the fact it’s not even a sure thing Williams will play on opening night; the draw is revealed on the Thursday before the tournament). However, Widmaier pointed out Williams has played on the celebrated first evening a number of times.

Given that Williams, a six-time US Open champion, will likely be a strong favourite in that match — against a first-round opponent — as of 3pm on Tuesday, approximately 1500 tickets for a potential Wednesday night Williams second-round match had been sold since the news broke Tuesday morning.

Widmaier said it is still to be determined how the Open will honour during the tournament. Notable farewells in Flushing over the years have included American stars Andre Agassi in 2006 and Andy Roddick in 2012.

Biggest beneficiary to Serena Williams announcing her retirement today: U.S. Open Ticket Brokers.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 9, 2022

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission