Archive of posts tagged New York City

Roger Federer Return Set For Shanghai Exhibition Doubles

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By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 11, 2025
Photo credit: Wilson

The Swiss Maestro will make the strings sing in Shanghai in October.

Former world No. 1 Roger Federer announced he will play an exhibition doubles match at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on October 10th.

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tennis express pro player gear

“Shanghai has always been a special place for me, with great fans, unforgettable memories and a real love for the game,” Federer said in a video message posted on the tournament’s social media channels.  “I look forward to seeing you there on October 10th.

“Shanghai let’s meet.”

The Roger Federer and Friends Celebrity doubles match will feature actors Wu Lei and Donnie Yen, and former Chinese tennis player Zheng Jie. The Federer exhibition doubles match will be played on  Qizhong Stadium’s center court.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion returned to Shanghai last fall where he practiced with Carlos Alcaraz in a session starring two of the top shotmakers in Open Era history.

An immensely popular presence in Asia, Federer is a two-time Shanghai champion.

In the 2017 final, the second-seeded Swiss played a near-flawless match firing 10 aces against no double faults and permitting just eight points on serve in a 6-4, 6-3 win over top-seeded rival Rafael Nadal.

Federer captured his first Shanghai title in 2014 out-dueling Frenchman Gilles Simon 7-6(6), 7-6(2) in a one hour, 53-minute final. The third-seeded Federer stopped top-seeded Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 in the 2014 semifinals.

In an interview with Tennis Now in New York City during the 2024 US Open, Federer said he had been hitting and was looking forward to potentially playing some exhibitions.

Visiting the Masters at Augusta National in April, Federer reiterated his desire to play some exhibitions.

“Honestly, I would love to play some more tennis again. Enough with the golf already for a moment now,” Roger told SNTV. 

“I would seriously start playing 2 or 3 times a week again and hopefully get myself back on the exhibition court and hopefully maybe fill up a few nice stadiums around the world.”

In two months time, fans will see Federer back on court in Shanghai.

Paula Badosa Withdraws from US Open

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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 8, 2025
Photo credit: Matthew Calvis

The US Open is over before it began for Paula Badosa.

Former world No. 2 Badosa has officially withdrawn from this month’s US Open.

Alize Cornet

Badosa, who has been battling a back injury in recent years, has not played a match since bowing to Briton Katie Boulter in three sets in her Wimbledon opener last month.

Badosa’s departure gives Swiss Jil Teichmann entry into the US Open main draw, the USTA announced today. Veteran Alize Cornet is now the first player out of the main draw.

Initially, Badosa and ex-boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas were on the entry list for the US Open Mixed Doubles tournament. After they split as a couple, the pair withdrew from the US Open Mixed Doubles.

On the USTA’s most recent entry list, Badosa was set to partner Jack Draper in a match of Indian Wells’ champions, but that will not happen with her Flushing Meadows withdrawal.

An Australian Open semifinalist in January, Badosa will miss the US Open in her birthplace of New York City for the second time in the last three years.

A year ago, Badosa reached the US Open quarterfinals losing to Emma Navarro 6-2, 7-5. Badosa went on to a successful Asian swing reaching semifinals at the WTA 1000 in Beijing and at the WTA 500 in Ningbo where she retired after dropping the first set to Daria Kasatina.

Due to her back issues, Badosa has either retired or conceded a walkover seven times in the last two years.

Dining Room: USTA Issues Food Menu for US Open

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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Photo credit: Tim Clayton/Getty

Fans will feast on Grand Slam tennis and major culinary experience at the 2025 US Open.

The USTA today announced the menu for the US Open which features everything from pastrami to pizza to porterhouse steak to pastaRamen.

In a news release announcing its food and drink menu, the USTA highlighted some of the dining options fans can feast on in the food court and inside the stadiums:

Tennis fans can experience world-class Mexican hospitality through Dobel® Tequila’s exciting new culinary partnership with Oyamel by José Andrés Group, bringing together two masters of their craft to celebrate the rich regional diversity of Mexican cuisine and vibrant cocktail experiences inside the Dobel Tequila Club. Guests will enjoy various Mexican dishes, including Oyamel’s Taco Cochinita, made of Yucatán-style pit barbecued pork, achiote, Mexican sour orange and pickled red onion.

Making its US Open debut, pastaRAMEN will bring its unique Wafu Italian cuisine to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 2025. Led by James Beard-nominated Rising Star Chef Robbie Felice, pastaRAMEN will present fans with a bold fusion of Italian and Japanese flavors, meticulously prepared using high-quality ingredients and time-honored techniques. Originating as an invite-only omakase pop-up in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, pastaRAMEN is now based in Montclair, N.J. It holds the distinction of being the first Italian ramen shop in the United States, taking inspiration from Kabenoana, a 1950s Tokyo restaurant whose name translates to “hole in the wall.”

Restaurateur Simon Kim, the Founder and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management, the group behind the Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse in New York City’s Flatiron District, will return for his second year with a fresh twist to his beloved restaurant concept COQODAQ. Known for its elevated approach to Korean-inspired Better Fried Chicken, the revamped “CQDQ” will be located in Food Village and feature a curated menu of fan-friendly favorites, including the iconic nuggets. The original COQODAQ, featuring signature dishes such as “The Golden Nugget” — the renowned chicken nugget paired with caviar — will also be available to fans in the club level of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Here’s a complete menu for the 2025 US Open:

Arthur Ashe Stadium

Of course, if none of the above suit your taste buds (or your wallet) you can always travel outside of the gates to the hot dog and pretzel stand or ice cream concession located at the base of the boardwalk fans cross to reach the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from the No. 7 train.