US OPEN FAN WEEK ANCHOR EVENT ARTHUR ASHE KIDS’ DAY TAKES PLACE ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 WITH A VARIETY OF MUSICAL PERFORMERS AND THE RETURN OF FAN-FAVORITE DUDE PERFECT
Free Day of Activity Allows Kids of All Ages to Hone their Tennis Skills on US Open Courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Alex Sampson, Bella Dose, WanMor, Wé Ani and MusicClubKids To Perform
Free Wilson Junior Racquets Available for Kids Attending the Event
FLUSHING, NY, August 12, 2024 – The USTA today announced that Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, one of US Open Fan Week’s anchor events, returns to the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Saturday, August 24. Fan-favorite YouTube sensations Dude Perfect will return for the third year to perform free inside Arthur Ashe Stadium beginning at 2 pm ET. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, which celebrates the life and legacy of tennis icon and humanitarian Arthur Ashe, is the world’s largest grassroots tennis event and is held annually on the Saturday before the start of the US Open main draw.
The Dudes, Tyler “The Beard” Toney, “The Twins” Cory and Coby Cotton, Garrett “The Purple Hoser” Hilbert, and Cody “The Tall Guy” Jones, will be joined by some of the biggest names in tennis including US Open champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, Hall of Fame legend Andre Agassi and more. The troupe will test their tennis skills against tennis greats, and audience members, in a variety of fun and off-kilter tennis challenges and concoct some multi-sport fun as well.
Prior to the Dude Perfect show, featured entertainment on the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Fountain Plaza Stage will include breakout pop vocalist Alex Sampson, L-Pop girl group Bella Dose, R&B boy band WanMor, American Idol favorite Wé Ani, and YouTube stars MusicClubKids. The festivities will be co-hosted rising young actor Leo Abelo Perry.
In all, 12 US Open courts will be devoted to tennis activities for kids, with drills, contests and competitions taking place from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm ET. All AAKD attendees will be welcome to watch player practices that will be taking place across the grounds and throughout the day as the world’s top tennis players prepare to compete in America’s Grand Slam. The US Open also will offer a specially-priced $10 meal for kids and their families.
For the third year in a row, the US Open’s longest-standing partner, Wilson, will make Wilson kids’ racquets available for pick-up for Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day attendees. Fans can use the US Open’s Fan Access pass to gain access to the free junior racquets. Wilson and the US Open will have two pick-up stations on-site that day.
In a landmark collaboration between the USTA and Marvel™, fans who have signed up for Fan Access Pass, can collect a free original comic book featuring the world’s biggest tennis stars alongside the Avengers. The comic book—set at the US Open with a storyline driven by this year’s theme, “Celebrating the Power of Tennis”—will feature many of today’s biggest tennis stars. In addition, Marvel™ Super Hero characters will be on site at AAKD to meet young fans. The comic books will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to fans who scan their Fan Access Pass at the ‘Power of Tennis’ booth near Arthur Ashe Stadium, with a limit of one comic per fan.
Each year, this event brings together the biggest names in tennis and entertainment to honor Arthur Ashe’s legacy. AAKD has been a showcase for artists such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Shawn Mendes, Flo Rida, Ava Max, Ne-Yo, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, Alessia Cara, CNCO, Kim Petras, MAX, and most recently AleXa and Crash Adams.
Tennis’ top stars, including Rafael Nadal, Serena and Venus Williams, Roger Federer, Coco Gauff, and Frances Tiafoe, to name a few, have been joined by celebrities such as Dude Perfect, Ansel Elgort, Will Ferrell, Sofia Carson, Nick Cannon, and Michelle Obama.
Besides entertaining thousands of kids and showcasing the hottest talent each summer, AAKD helps promote the sport of tennis to young people and continue Ashe’s legacy of instilling the values of humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence. AAKD also celebrates the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network, a nationwide group of more than 250 nonprofit youth development organizations that provide free or low-cost tennis programs, academic support and life-skills training to more than 150,000 kids each year. Founded more than 50 years ago by Ashe, along with Charlie Passarell and Sheridan Snyder, the NJTL is now a cornerstone of the USTA Foundation, celebrating its 30th anniversary of serving up dreams to youth in under-resourced communities.
AAKD is the capstone of US Open Fan Week, which begins Monday, Aug. 19 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 25, during which the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center are free and open to the public. Fan Week includes the US Open Qualifying Tournament and numerous other events and activities. The Main Draw will take place beginning on Monday, Aug. 26, concluding with the women’s singles final on Saturday, Sept. 7, and the men’s singles final on Sunday, Sept. 8. For more information visit USOpen.org/FanWeek.
