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US Open Will Honor the Resilience, Heroism, and Unity of New York City with Visual Tributes and Stadium Ceremonies

FLUSHING, N.Y., September 10, 2026 – The USTA today announced plans to mark the solemn 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, honoring the lives lost, their families, and the heroism, unity, and enduring resilience that defined New York City in its darkest hour and continues to shape its future. On Friday, the tournament will host scheduled moments of silence, special pre-match recognition ceremonies, and visual tributes throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

In support of the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s call to illuminate the New York City skyline in shared remembrance, Arthur Ashe Stadium will feature a “Tribute in Light” and glow light blue from dusk until dawn – a symbol honoring the lives lost and celebrating New York’s unbreakable spirit and strength.

The words “Never Forget” along with the date “9/11/01” will be prominently displayed on the LED Screens inside of Arthur Ashe Stadium and around the grounds; in addition, all American flags across the site will be flown at half-mast throughout the day. The tournament will pause operations throughout the morning and hold sitewide moments of reflection, acknowledging the timeline of the historic attacks that fateful day in New York, Washington, D.C. and Shanksville, Pa.

Each of the two main draw sessions will feature dedicated ceremonies to honor the victims and survivors of the attacks, starting with a moment of silence. Before the 3 p.m. men’s semifinal, retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major MaryKay Messenger, who served at West Point at the time of the attacks, will perform the national anthem, accompanied by American Sign Language Performer Shiran Zhavian. This ceremony will include the presentation of colors by the Port Authority Police Department and a coin toss ceremony featuring Ret. NYPD Detective and current USTA Senior Security Manager John McCormack, who served as a first responder during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and is a 9/11 cancer survivor. During his 27 years of service with the NYPD, McCormack served on the NYPD-FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Special Events Team.

Ahead of the second men’s singles semifinal, acclaimed pop/R&B artist JoJo will deliver an inspiring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” joined by New York Vocal Collective, and accompanied by American Sign Language performer Mervin Primeaux-O-Bryant, with the colors presented by the NYPD Color Guard and the FDNY Honor Guard – a US Open tradition since 2002. The Cadets from the US Military Academy at West Point will also unfurl a giant American flag on court, followed by a coin toss ceremony featuring retired NYPD Detective and current USTA Director of Security Brian Maguire who served as a first responder during the September 11th terrorist attacks of 2001. During his 27 years of service with the NYPD, Maguire was assigned to the NYPD-FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force’s Special Events Team, where he helped oversee security and investigate threats involving major events and sporting venues throughout New York City and the FBI New York Office’s area of responsibility.

Additionally, the USTA is proud to support those affected by 9/11 through donations to Tuesday’s Promise, an organization offering ongoing support for families grieving traumatic loss, and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports military veterans, first responders, and the families of those killed in the line of duty.

The USTA has a long-standing tradition of honoring 9/11 victims and heroes, beginning at the 2002 US Open, the first tournament following the attacks. Since then, the tournament has hosted tributes whenever the date falls within its schedule.