Ground passes for the US Open have been branded "scandalous" after prices on Ticketmaster's resale platform reached £268 for day one of the main draw, according to tennis reporter Simon Cambers on X.
At Wimbledon, a ground pass for the first week costs £33. The US Open price is roughly 10 times higher, sparking fury among tennis media and fans.
Fans and Media React to Pricing
Reporter Jose Morgado shared Cambers' post and wrote: "It's actually scandalous." Fans also weighed in to slam the pricing structure. One said: "Good for you for calling out this outrage. As you say, the resellers are capturing outsized profits."
Another added: "I just don't get how this is sustainable. Three years ago, you'd easily still get day 1-3 tickets without needing resale, now it's absolutely impossible."
Comparison with Other Grand Slams
The US Open price is also far above early-tournament ground passes at other grand slams. At the French Open, it is around £34. For next year's Australian Open, a ground pass will cost just £25.
It was noted that it may be cheaper for US Open fans to purchase tickets in the upper levels of the stadium courts, as those seats also provide ground access.
On-Court Action
The action begins on August 23 with Fan Week, during which qualifying will take place before the main draw commences on August 30. Tens of thousands of fans will flock to New York's Flushing Meadows.
It remains to be seen whether Carlos Alcaraz will be fit enough to defend the men's title. The Spaniard has missed the last five months since suffering a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April, keeping him out of the French Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz was due to return to action at the Cincinnati Open earlier this month but withdrew due to his "ongoing" injury.
In the women's draw, Venus Williams, 46, has been handed a wild card into the main draw, but it is unclear whether her sister Serena, 44, will play. The eldest Williams sibling made her debut at Flushing Meadows in 1997. Former champion Sloane Stephens is also granted direct entry into the first round, with the organisers keeping people guessing whether Serena Williams will make her New York comeback.
