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It’s time for The U.S. Open of Tennis! In addition to being the tennis Major of North America, the U.S. Open is also one of the most important sports events to take place in Queens and is critical to the borough, especially if the Mets stink (so, usually). Every year, the final major of the year is held at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center complex, with the main court featuring at Arthur Ashe Stadium. All the biggest matches, including both the men’s and women’s final, are held at Arthur Ashe. With its fast hard courts and vibrant crowd (often including many New York-based celebrities), the U.S. Open easily distinguishes itself from the more formal Wimbledon and the slow clay court based French Open. This year’s draw promises to provide some interest. Roger Federer’s magical comeback mystery tour rolls along, as the now 36 year old continues to defy tennis history and known sports biology by continuing to play at an elite level. Part of the secret is simply rest of course, as Federer has withdrawn from more tournaments to stay fresh. Still, the fact that he is the favorite heading into the Open at his age is a marvel. Tennis used to be ruled by prodigies in their late teens and early 20s. No longer. Federer has tough draw and could potentially have to get through other bright lights such as Nick Kyrgios, Dominic Thiem and longtime rival Rafael Nadal just to reach the semifinals. While Nadal has not been in quite the same form as Federer over the past few tournaments, he does have the easier path and might be the safer bet. With Andy Murray sitting out due to injury, Nadal and Federer will supply most of the veteran star power. It will be interesting to see if any of the young guns can step up to the challenge. Also keep an eye on relative newcomer Alexander Zverev. Over on the women’s side, all eyes are on Maria Sharapova who is returning to the game after a 15-month drug suspension.  Sharapova only made it as a wildcard and the U.S. Open will be her first major back.  Long layoffs can be killer for tennis players, so it will be interesting to see how she plays. Even with her time away from the game, Sharapova is still the biggest woman star and will draw the lion’s share of the attention. Garbiñe Muguruza is coming off her Wimbledon win and has been playing the best tennis of her life all year. The smart money is still on Muguruza, but top seed Karolina Pliskova, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep (who opens against Sharapova) are all lurking. It should be quite a corker. All in all, the U.S. Open is one of the premier tennis events in the world and in one of the greatest cities in the world. Don’t pass up the chance to go to a match if you’re in the area!

Time for some of that thunder down under. And by that we mean the Australian Open starts today! It’s tennis baby - Australian style! The Australian Open takes place in the city of Melbourne in the state of Victoria. Melbourne is famous for being a sports mad city - it was even named the Sporting Capital of the World for the fourth time this year by Sport Business Magazine. In addition to the Australian Open Grand Slam, the city also hosts multiple cricket matches, a Formula 1 Grand Prix, and many other events. It is also the spiritual home of Australian Rules Football, which holds its “Grand Final” at the Melbourne Cricket Ground every year. While the fervor for sports is certainly intense in Melbourne, the Open itself is well-known as a languid departure from the other tennis majors. Unlike stuffy and tradition-bound Wimbledon or the hyper branded professionalism of the U.S. Open, the Australian Open is lauded for its festive, carnival-esque atmosphere. The fan are raucous and welcoming and the party doesn’t end. Colloquially known as “The Happy Slam,” the Australian Open is the favorite of many players. In addition to its fun reputation, the slam is also well-known for producing some shocking upsets. Will any underdogs go far this year I can’t wait to find out! Men’s Draw Novak Djokovic is looking to win his seventh Australian Open, which would set the record for most wins at that major. Djokovic currently shares the record with Aussie legend Roy Emerson, so don’t be too surprised if some natives root against him. Despite his dominance over the past few years, Djokovic is not world no. 1; that honor belongs to rival Andy Murray, who will participate in his first Grand Slam in that capacity. All eyes will be on those two, but there is plenty of interest spread throughout the men’s draw. The ageless and indefatigable Roger Federer will be back looking to recapture some of the old magic. So will Rafael Nadal. Standbies like Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils will continue to try move past the velvet ropes of superstardom. Perhaps the most intriguing player is the young Australian Nick Kyrgios. Kyrgios has sometimes been more noted for his emotional outbursts than his play. Can he win over the hometown crowd and bring the Open championship back to its home Women’s Draw Angelique Kerber is the world’s no. 1, but you can never count out the great Serena Williams. Williams will try to win her 23rd Grand Slam Singles title, which would move her past Steffi Graf on the all-time list. It would be the most Grand Slams for the Open Era; Margaret Court won 24 titles, some in the amateur era and some in the Open Era. History aside, it's hard to know when Williams might hang it up, so if  you're a tennis fan it's probably a good idea to try to catch every match you can.