The weeks ahead of the U.S. Open have been dominated by storylines beyond the scoreboard: Carlos Alcaraz’s return after four months away, Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal and lingering injury questions around Novak Djokovic have thinned out the marquee matchups fans expected. But in a parallel conversation, a different anxiety has been building: what it now costs to watch the tournament in person.

The USTA opened its presale on May 26, with general sale following two days later. Tickets moved fast, and the story quickly became less about scarcity and more about price.

Face value outpacing inflation

Face value for a grounds pass rose from $60 to $65 this year. A $5 bump looks modest, but in percentage terms that’s an 8.3% year-over-year increase — more than double the national inflation rate. As of July, headline CPI sat at 3.4% nationally, and even New York metro’s steeper cost-of-living climb (4.6%) doesn’t come close. Tennis fans are absorbing a price increase outpacing inflation by a wide margin.

At least fans caught a break on one front: The tournament’s signature cocktail, the Honey Deuce, held its price at $23 this year. But even that “flat” price reflects a longer climb — the drink has risen about 3.4% annually since its 2007 debut at $12, versus roughly 2.6% average annual CPI growth over the same span.

The real problem isn’t face value — it’s resale

The U.S. Open is the most expensive Grand Slam to attend, and the gap is stark. Entry-level grounds access costs about $45 at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon and $35 at the Australian Open, based on currency........

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