It is a party out here, really it is, maybe the late-summer equivalent for adults of spring break. The U.S. Open is a singular New York event, part competition, part celebration. There is nothing else like it on our sporting calendar.
We may have a special one in a tournament that, other than the three-way contretemps on opening night between Coco Gauff, Laura Siegemund and chair umpire Marijana Veljovic, has been all but devoid of controversy.
The 19-year-old Gauff is living the life while competing in singles, doubles with Jessie Pegula and mixed doubles with Jack Sock. She has become the face of the women’s side of the draw. The teen might even replace Billie Jean King on the official 2023 Open logo once this is all done.
If there was expectation of a vacuum in the wake of Serena Williams’ retirement, not to worry. It has been filled by the radiant Gauff.
On the other side, of course, there is anticipation of a final countdown that will pit Novak Djokovic against Carlos Alcaraz for the title in what would be a rematch of the Wimbledon final won by the Spaniard and the French Open semifinal won by the Serb.
It is the match that tennis demands.
But maybe not the U.S. Open.
As the elderly Rose, survivor of “Titanic,” said, it has been 84 years since an American has feasted on home cooking. Well, not really. It’s been 20 years since Andy Roddick took the crown in Queens. And it has been 17 years since a native advanced to the final — also Roddick in his defeat to Roger Federer. It’s been a minute.
Folks here appreciate tennis, regardless of the nationality of the athletes. Federer was the home team here for nearly all of his spotless career. Rafa Nadal had become an adopted son. But of course there is a yearning for a native to emerge on the men’s side.
And this might be the year for the Yanks — not those Yanks — to make some serious noise while attempting to deny what may be the inevitable. (Daniil Medvedev might want to have a word here).
For the flag is being carried into the third round by Taylor Fritz, the ninth seed; Frances Tiafoe, the 10th seed; and Tommy Paul, the 14th seed. And because fourth-seed Holger Runne, fifth-seed Casper Ruud and seventh-seed Stefano Tsitsipas all went down in first- or second-round upsets, the Americans are the highest seeds remaining in their sections.
If any player was done dirty this week, it was Runne, who unaccountably was dumped onto outside court No. 5 for his first-round match against Roberto Carballes Baena.
At Ashe, at Armstrong, on the Grandstand and Court 17 — the show courts — chair umpires incessantly call for quiet between points. Cheers for a double fault are immediately met with the office plea, “Please.” Folks are not allowed entry to the seating area other than for changeovers.
Playing on Court 5, however, is kind of like playing in Times Square. There is noise. There is pedestrian traffic. Ruune’s assignment was inexplicable.
“Of course I tried to get an explanation, and, I mean, obviously they said what we all know, that they put the Americans on the big court, which is totally fine,” said the 20-year-old Dane, who made it clear he did not blame the defeat on the court. “I mean, I’m used to playing a lot in France where they do that. So I respect that 100 percent.”
Fritz, 26, has had a disappointing Slam season, failing to advance past the third round in the first three majors. But he has learned from last year’s shocking first-round exit at this event.
“I was playing really good tennis, it was more just like the mental side of things,” Fritz told The Post. “I wasn’t feeling great when I got on court and that just caused me to be I guess, super uncomfortable and nervous, not trusting my shots.
“So this year I tried to not be in New York as early as I was last year. I tried to keep it down on the commitments that are outside of the court. I mean, this is always going to be the most busy time for an American player. And I don’t know, more than anything I feel like I just needed to care less, not worry so much about how bad it would be to lose. I’m obviously playing a lot better.”
When Fritz stumbled last year, Tiafoe picked up the baton and carried it all the way to the semifinals, where he was defeated by the eventual champion Alcaraz in a classic five-set match. Defeated and elevated, both. And he has taken the court this year perceived as a legit contender. He, too, seems to be having fun.
Fitz faces Jakub Mensik on Friday night while Tiafoe takes on Adran Mannarino, and Paul competes against Alejandra Davidovich Fokina during the day. If the trio can advance through Rounds 3 and 4 as higher seeds, Tiafoe would meet Paul in the quarterfinals while Fritz would project to meet Djokovic.
As George M. Cohan once scripted, the Yanks might be coming.