Tennis phenoms like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek are dominating the courts at this year’s US Open with their powerful serves and intense rallies. But they aren’t the only sports stars getting in on the action: There’s a whole lineup of professional athletes hanging out in the stands too.
Every summer, the iconic event draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, from die-hard fans to A-list celebrities to, yes, other pro players who want to catch some world-class matches. We’re used to seeing these champs excelling on their own courts—or fields, or courses—so it’s pretty exciting to watch them chilling, fangirling, and enjoying the competition from afar (just like the rest of us).
So, aside from the ball-smashing athletes who are actually in the tournament, here are some of the other MVPs we’ve spotted on the sidelines of the 2024 US Open so far.
1. Roger Federer, retired tennis player (who won 20 Grand Slam men’s singles titles)
2. Serena Williams, retired tennis player (who won the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era)
3. Katie Ledecky, swimmer (who’s won nine Olympic gold medals)
4. Laurie Hernandez, retired gymnast and Olympic gold medalist
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5. Misty Copeland, ballet dancer for the American Ballet Theater
6. Carmelo Anthony, retired NBA forward (10-time All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist)
The playful look is as much about confidence as it is about style.
7. Paige Bueckers, college basketball player for the UConn Huskies
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8. Andy Roddick, retired tennis player (who won the 2003 US Open)
9. Garrett Wilson, wide receiver for the New York Jets
10. Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo, outfielder and first baseman for the New York Yankees
11. Crystal Dunn, USWNT soccer player (who won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics)
12. Billie Jean King, former world number one tennis player (and the namesake of the center that hosts the US Open)
This absolute ace of a guide will clear up all your confusion just in time for the US Open.
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13. Jon Rahm, PGA Tour golfer
14. Pam Shriver, retired tennis player
15. Carl Nassib, retired NFL defensive end and linebacker
16. Juan Soto, MLB outfielder for the New York Yankees
17. Mike Bryan, retired tennis player
18. Brandon Wu, PGA Tour golfer
19. Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, and Giancarlo Stanton; shortstop, catcher, and outfielder for the New York Yankees
20. Steve Johnson, retired tennis player
Related:
- The Best Tennis Kits We’ve Seen at the US Open So Far
- Meet the Adorable Tennis Power Couples Competing at the 2024 US Open
- Here’s What Naomi Osaka Has Been Up to Since Her Last US Open in 2022
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