How to Ace Your US Open Tennis Party

Tennis, anyone? All eyes are on New York this week for the beginning of the US Open, and we think the best way to celebrate is by throwing a watch party for your favorite tennis fans! Pick a day with the most-anticipated matches based on your guest list, send out invitations (whether paper or digital), and then follow our tips below to ace your get-together for The Open.

Decorations

Setting the stage for your US Open party with tennis-themed decorations doesn’t have to be expensive!  Green vinyl tablecloths with white masking tape easily mimic a tennis court and become the foundation for your tablescapes. For centerpieces, put tennis balls into a clear glass or acrylic vase, and use the empty tennis ball containers to hold yellow and green flowers and greenery. Tennis balls can also be cut in half to hold tealight candles or place cards.

Food

Be sure to have enough food so that your guests don’t go hungry for the duration of the matches you’ve chosen to watch. Depending on the time of day, you may choose to serve only heavy appetizers or a full meal. Either way, finger foods are always good for grazing. Stock up on chips, dips, veggies, and other hors d'oeuvres that can be left out for guests to help themselves. For an easy themed dessert, top vanilla cupcakes with a combination of yellow and green icing, then pipe on white icing to mimic a tennis ball. If you’re not a cupcake fan, try the same technique on sugar cookies!

Attire

One way to really get in the spirit of The Open is to host a costume contest at your watch party. Ask guests to dress as their favorite tennis player, and then vote on favorites, awarding a small prize to the winner. Alternately, you could also encourage guests to wear tennis apparel. Since The Open doesn’t have the same traditional all-white tennis tops and bottoms as Wimbledon, guests may want to wear their favorite colorful tennis tops – short sleeve or tanks – and tennis skorts! Women’s tennis apparel has become so fashionable and cutting edge in the past few years, and many fashionable ladies are looking for any excuse to wear their favorite outfits beyond the court. Setting a “dress code” also makes for fantastic photo ops!

Viewing Area

While socializing, eating, and drinking are all important aspects of your US Open party, the most important thing is that guests can actually watch and hear the matches! Set up a big screen TV or use a projector and an open wall to display all the action. Also, be sure to provide enough seating in the viewing area for the number of guests you expect to attend.

For even more ideas on throwing a party for The Open or any other tennis event, visit our Pinterest board. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to throwing a memorable viewing party for the US Open. Have a ball!