The Newtown High School boys and girls tennis teams had the opportunity to attend the U.S. Open on Friday August 28th. This experience included behind the scenes access to Arthur Ashe Stadium, and a hitting clinic with two professional players.
The girl’s team was pleased to find out about this exciting opportunity when Maureen Maher, the girls tennis coach, sent out a surprising mass text.
“Hi girls. We have an opportunity on August 28th to go the U.S. Open to a hitting clinic with some of the pros there. Then we have a private tour and a few other things. Very big opportunity,” Maher said.
The response from the team proved to be overwhelming with positivity.
“I’m in. Thank you for the opportunity,” NHS Junior Simran Chand said.
NHS tennis teams were offered this amazing opportunity as a way of contributing to U.S. Open’s "returning the love" theme. This was a way for the US Open to provide opportunities to people surrounding New York. The USTA(United States Tennis Association) felt as though that this was a great opportunity to return the love to Newtown. The kindness shown by the USTA is something that NHS students will never forget.
“The returning the love program gave us the best gift and inflamed our passion for tennis,” NHS senior Alisha Aggarwal said.
Both the boys and girl tennis team took a bus to Flushing, New York where the event took place.
“I had no idea what was in store for us,” Aggarwal said.
It was there that they were greeted by the USTA director and given immediate access to the park. The students proceeded through the gates and were welcomed by the employees.
“It was like Disney World. You walk in and everyone greets you,” NHS sophomore Amanda Berry said.
The students overwhelmed with gratitude, made their way to the court that they would be practicing on. Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Christina McHale approached the students.
“I can’t even describe my feelings it was so mind blowing seeing the pros. They were people I see on TV and they were ten feet away from me,” Aggarwal said.
Matteck and McHale offered the students advice about the game.
“We’re all focused on doing our jobs on the court as players, but more important than winning our matches is how we can affect the world and make it a better place,” Mattek-Sands recently said on the U.S. Open website. “If I can inspire anyone to pick up a racquet, that’s cool for me. It’s really why I play tennis.”
Both McHale and Mattek-Sands had a lasting impact on the kids. Kindness has proven once again to make a difference in someone’s life. The athletes made their way to Arthur Ashe Stadium where they were handed a lanyard with a plastic rectangular end permitting access to VIP areas of the U.S. Open which proved to be exciting for all.
“I felt so official with the VIP lanyard around my neck. It was so exciting when they were handed to us. All of us started taking pictures because we didn't want to forget that moment and what it felt like to wear them,” Chand said.
To begin the tour of Arthur Ashe Stadium the athletes passed through the outdoor area where the pros sit with their family or friends. The walkthrough of Arthur Ashe Stadium consisted of the interview room, where both winners and losers of the prior match are required to go to be interviewed by the press, the hallway all pros walk through leading up to the match and again where they are interviewed immediately prior to the match, and lastly the indoor lounge where all players go to get food and relax.
“The tour was simply amazing. So many pros just casually walked passed us,” Aggarwal said.
The day ended with a special visit from pro Rafael Nadal who shared a few minutes with the students to take pictures.