Taylor Swift’s incredible US Open rejection revealed over two decades later
Taylor Swift was a star name in the crowd at this year’s US Open, but her history at the tournament has not always been quite so glorious.
Swift was just 12-year-old she sang the American national anthem on Arthur Ashe Stadium court and she returned to sing America the Beautiful” at just 13 years old.
Yet when her father asked US Open organisers to bring her back for a third appearance at one of the biggest sporting events on the American calendar, the request was rejected.
US Open entertainment producer Michael Fiur revealed all on the latest episode of Served with Andy Roddick.
“In 2002, a guy called Merv Heller was President of the USTA and he said a friend of mine Scott Swift is a lawyer and his 12-year-old daughter sings and plays the guitar,” began Fiur.
“He said, ‘would you let her come and be one of the people that sings the national anthem before the matches at night’. We said sure.
“Then a year later came the worst decision I ever made as her father asked if we’d put her on Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.
“We said, ‘She’s just taking off, she’s really country; we don’t think that would play in New York.’
“I do not share this publicly very often.”
Fiur was not to know that he was rejecting a future global superstar, as he looked back on some of the other entertainment acts that took centre stage at the US Open.
With a fan week ahead of the main draw for the final Grand Slam of the tennis year, this event has become one of the most lucrative in global sport.
The 2023 US Open drew a record 957,000 fans during the fan week and the two weeks of the tournament, with the organiser recorded revenue making for eye-watering reasing.
They reported ticket sales of of $185.4 million, sponsorships at $122.5 million and corporate hospitality at $71 million.
Media rights pulled in another $142.9 million) and that did not include merchandise sales, including the huge revenue generated by the now famous US Open honey duce cocktail that is a must-have for all attending the event.
Some of the money generated by the USTA goes to the players and their booming income explains why they were able to hand out the biggest prize cheques in the history of the compeтιтion to this year’s compeтιтors.
Djokovic and Gauff earned $3,000,000 for their victories in 2023, though there has been a 20% increase in 2024 – with the men’s and women’s singles champion collecting $3,600,000 in winnings.
Runners-up in the main draw received $1,800,000, also an increase of 20% from the 2023 total of $1,500,000, with a total of $75,000,000 up for grabs across all events.
Players who lost in round one of the men’s and women’s singles draw received $100,000 in prize money, an increase of 23% from last summer.
There was a 72% increase in round one prize money since 2019 – when players beaten in their opening match pocketed $58,000.
The total prize money pool for the men’s and women’s doubles increased by 9%, with the respective winners receiving $750,000 – up on $700,000 from 2023.
The mixed doubles draw had a total increased prize money package of 18%, with the winners receiving $200,000 – $30,000 more than they did in 2023.
