Rainbow flags will be flying at the USTA (United States Tennis Association) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Wed., Sept. 1, as the USTA celebrates and welcomes the LGBTQ+ community to the first-ever Open Pride Day during the main draw of the 2021 US Open, according to the event's website.
Being held throughout both the day and evening sessions, members of the LGBTQ+ community will be engaged, welcomed, heard and accepted in a safe environment for all, including fans, players, coaches, staff and partners. The event will include the attendance of several openly LGBTQ+ celebrities.
Open Pride Day is a cornerstone of the USTA's Diversity and Inclusion strategic platform to truly make tennis open to all in every aspect of the sport and at every level of the organization. Open Pride Day is also part of the Be Open campaign, built around the premise that "When you're open, you welcome all. When you're open, you bring what matters to the front."
The event will also build on the successes of the inaugural US Open Pride event, held in 2019. It was a panel discussion that brought together seven out athletes from four sportsincluding the legendary Billie Jean King, for whom the home of the US Open is named; former ATP player and USTA board member Brian Vahaly; and active WTA players and partners Greet Minnen and Alison van Uytvanck, of Belgium.
The US Open main draw will be played from Aug. 30 through Sept.12 at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. Tickets are available through USOpen.org .