Rachel Perkocha (pictured above)
Retired, Soho
Who’d you go with?
Well, my friends and I have played tennis together forever — we all belonged to the same tennis club in California. Then we started a book club three years ago. This year, we read Billie Jean King’s memoir All In. We’d always talked about going to the U.S. Open together, especially since I bought an apartment in Soho. So this year, we were just like, “We’re going.”
Is everyone staying with you in Soho?
Everyone’s staying with me. I’m so happy. We went today, and we’re going tomorrow and Wednesday, too. It’s been so fun. We met Billie Jean. I already thought she was amazing, but in person, I’m like, “Wow.” She wowed me. And, oh my God, this is a weird thing, but they keep the bathroom spotless at the stadium. You go in a women’s bathroom, and they have two attendants. One points you to the open stalls; the other one’s wiping everything down. I mean, it’s amazing. That’s going to make it sound like I went to the bathroom a lot.
And what’s with the pose?
Whenever someone wins a Grand Slam title, as soon as they win, they put their arms up in celebration, then grab their face with their hands. Like, always. So I was pretending I just won the US Open. Get it?
Kedar Krishnan
Student, Baltimore
Krishnan Ramanathan
Pharmaceutical researcher, Philadelphia
Carole Jane Diamond
Printing-company CEO, Midwood
Is this your first U.S. Open?
No. My great son, Craig, has been taking me since 2009 for my birthday. Every year, he treats me to a nice Ralph Lauren shirt from the tournament, too. I have quite a selection. Today, he bought me the one that the ball boys and girls were wearing. Very bright.
Jennifer Cutinella
Luxury-boutique owner, Beacon
Emilia Tavarez
Middle-school student, Cypress Hills
Do you play?
Yes, I actually played tennis today. I am part of a group called Highland Park Association. A few of us were picked to play at the U.S. Open. When I found out, I was like, “I don’t want to go. It’s going to be tiring.” But my mother said it’s a very big opportunity, so I’m doing it.
Tejas Krishnan
Student, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Samantha Bohman
Retired, Emerald Hills, California
Heather Levy
Retired, Toronto
Valorie Friedsam
Retired, Portola Valley, California
Ryan Clark
Artist, Washington Heights
Kevin Joseph
Quality-assurance officer, St. Albans
Steff Du Bois
Clinical psychologist, Chicago
Who’d you come with?
My partner. We’re both tennis players and met in a league in Chicago. After we were dating awhile, we entered that phase in our relationship where we felt like we could take it to the next level, which is a doubles partnership. Honestly, it’s sort of a step beyond marriage.
Glynnis Jones
Retired, Woodside, California
Rajesh Ramanan
Banker, Roosevelt Island
Dana Slaughter
Pharmaceuticals associate director, Philadelphia
James Sullivan
Sales director, Canarsie
Carol Jensen
Retired, Solana Beach, California
Tell me about these shirts I’ve seen a few of you wearing.
They say “The Champagne Gang.” That’s what my friend group calls ourselves — because Champagne is one thing everybody agrees on.
Kari Guy
Procurement manager, Pittsburgh
Kedar Krishnan
Student, Baltimore
Krishnan Ramanathan
Pharmaceutical researcher, Philadelphia
Carole Jane Diamond
Printing-company CEO, Midwood
Is this your first U.S. Open?
No. My great son, Craig, has been taking me since 2009 for my birthday. Every year, he treats me to a nice Ralph Lauren shirt from the tournament, too. I have quite a selection. Today, he bought me the one that the ball boys and girls were wearing. Very bright.
Jennifer Cutinella
Luxury-boutique owner, Beacon
Emilia Tavarez
Middle-school student, Cypress Hills
Do you play?
Yes, I actually played tennis today. I am part of a group called Highland Park Association. A few of us were picked to play at the U.S. Open. When I found out, I was like, “I don’t want to go. It’s going to be tiring.” But my mother said it’s a very big opportunity, so I’m doing it.
Tejas Krishnan
Student, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Samantha Bohman
Retired, Emerald Hills, California
Heather Levy
Retired, Toronto
Valorie Friedsam
Retired, Portola Valley, California
Ryan Clark
Artist, Washington Heights
Kevin Joseph
Quality-assurance officer, St. Albans
Steff Du Bois
Clinical psychologist, Chicago
Who’d you come with?
My partner. We’re both tennis players and met in a league in Chicago. After we were dating awhile, we entered that phase in our relationship where we felt like we could take it to the next level, which is a doubles partnership. Honestly, it’s sort of a step beyond marriage.
Glynnis Jones
Retired, Woodside, California
Rajesh Ramanan
Banker, Roosevelt Island
Dana Slaughter
Pharmaceuticals associate director, Philadelphia
James Sullivan
Sales director, Canarsie
Carol Jensen
Retired, Solana Beach, California
Tell me about these shirts I’ve seen a few of you wearing.
They say “The Champagne Gang.” That’s what my friend group calls ourselves — because Champagne is one thing everybody agrees on.
Kari Guy
Procurement manager, Pittsburgh
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