All eyes are on Flushing Meadows-Corona Park for the start of the US Open, but there’s a chance to get a piece of the action right here in Lincoln Square. Several stores at The Shops at Columbus Circle (10 Columbus Circle) are now carrying special apparel and gear in honor of New York City’s iconic tennis tournament.
Wilson, the sporting goods shop, is stocked with a fresh line of US Open-themed hats, shirts, backpacks, jackets, knit cardigans, and more—the same merchandise they’re selling on the tournament grounds. Attention to detail is notable throughout the collection. In the cardigan’s paisley design, for example, you’ll find tennis racquets stitched into the pattern.
Wilson’s performance gear, ranging from tennis dresses and tops to tights, are located on the ground floor. Upstairs, Wilson is also stocked with tennis racquets that showcase the company’s innovation. Nearly 100 pro tennis players use Wilson’s Blade racquet—the most of any racquet on the tour. Aryna Sabalenka, this year’s top-ranked woman, is using a custom version of the Blade at the US Open, but anyone can get their own, and have it strung, at Wilson.
More apparel perfect for watching or playing tennis in style can be found nearby on the ground floor of the Shops. Lululemon athletica has recent arrivals to their store, including women’s and men’s sweatshirts both featuring their tagline “Meet You Courtside.” There are also tees and shorts that will have any player looking like Lululemon’s pro brand ambassadors, Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe. Hugo Boss, the brand repped by Tiafoe’s American rival, tennis star Taylor Fritz, is carrying athleisure from its “Boss Green” label, a collection known for matching form with function.
And it’s not just athletic gear that’s available at the Shops. Monica Rich Kosann, the jewelry boutique located on the ground floor, is also getting into the action. Longtime tennis fans might remember when Chris Evert lost her diamond bracelet during a match at the 1978 US Open. The moment only halted play temporarily, but it gave birth to the tennis bracelet, a style that remains popular to this day.
Never a victim to style over substance, Evert went on to win the tournament that year; and nearly five decades later Monica Rich Kosann is paying homage with its Tennis Bracelet Collection. There are several different styles in its line and elements of each draw inspiration from tennis, including an emerald stone “green court” setting and white diamond, sapphire, or rock crystal “lines of play”. For the first time, the former #1 ranked tennis player is part the collection. For the next two weeks, people who purchase a tennis bracelet will also receive a tennis ball signed by Evert in a commemorative case.
Last but not least, what better way to enjoy watching the matches, even from afar, than with a Honey Deuce—the US Open’s signature drink? Stop by Whole Foods Market (downstairs at the Shops), Morton Williams (2015 Broadway at West 68th Street), or Gourmet Garage (155 West 66th Street) to pick up a honeydew to make the garnish, three melon balls. Of course, these supermarkets also have all the snacks and drinks you need for your own viewing party.
While the tennis stars are taking the court in Queens, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the best of the US Open in Lincoln Square. Just make sure to visit these destinations before the tournament ends on September 7th!
Photo Credit: Lululemon
