USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the New York City borough of Queens and has been the home of the US Open Grand Slam tennis tournament played every year in August and September. There are 22 courts inside the facility and 11 in the adjoining park. The complex's three stadia are among the largest tennis stadia in the world, with Arthur Ashe Stadium topping the global list with a listed capacity of 23,200. All 33 courts have used the DecoTurf cushioned acrylic surface since the facility was built in 1978.

Located near Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, the tennis center is open to the public for play 11 months out of the year (closed during inclement weather and in August/September due to the US Open), barring tournaments the USTA holds (such as junior and wood-racket competitions).

On August 28, 2006, the USTA National Tennis Center was rededicated as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center . It is the largest and most prestigious sports facility in the world to be named after a woman.

History

Creation

The idea of the tennis center came about in January, 1977 when W. E. "Slew" Hester (the incoming president of the USTA) saw the underused Singer Bowl / Louis Armstrong Stadium on a flight into New York's LaGuardia Airport. He asked New York City to let him use Louis Armstrong Stadium and adjoining land for a...
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