With all eyes on tennis, the 2025 US Open has been one for the books. Under the new leadership of USTA Chairman & President Brian Vahaly, the tournament has solidified its role as the organization’s financial engine, fueling inner-city programs, national leagues, and player development initiatives. The 2024 event alone generated $559.6 million—an astonishing 90% of the USTA’s total revenue—while delivering profit margins close to 50%.

One of this year’s biggest highlights came even before the tournament began. The USTA revamped its mixed doubles event, multiplying the prize purse fivefold from last year’s record $200,000 and enticing top singles players to join the draw. Still, doubles is an art form, and specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori proved it by defeating singles stars Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud to capture the 2025 U.S. Open mixed doubles crown and a cool $1 million in prize money—much to the crowd’s delight.

Palm Beachers have been spotted courtside, cheering on familiar names including Renata Zarazua, Eliot Spizzirri, Madison Keys, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, and Leylah Fernandez—who paired with a 45-year-old Venus Williams in doubles.

Among the most poignant moments was a tribute to tennis icon Chris Evert, honored by her peers and ESPN colleagues on the 50th anniversary of her first U.S. Open title in 1975. That match, against Australia’s Evonne Goolagong, was played on the Har-Tru courts of the West Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills, where Evert triumphed 5–7, 6–4, 6–2. She would go on to win 18 Grand Slam titles, spend 260 weeks ranked No. 1, and amass 154 career singles trophies—second only to Martina Navratilova’s 167. On the doubles court, she added 32 titles, often alongside Navratilova, and was a fixture in Fed Cup play. Evert was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.

Tennis phenom Chrissie Evert in Fort Lauderdale in 1972. Photo by Slim Aarons.

Now 70, and a familiar voice as an ESPN commentator, Chris Evert grew up under the watchful eye of her father, Jimmy Evert, on the public courts of Fort Lauderdale. Today she resides in Boca Raton, where she can often be found with her brother, John Evert, scouting, training, and mentoring the next generation at the Evert Tennis Academy. She shares three sons with her former husband, ski champion Andy Mill—still a dear friend—and continues to give back to the sport as Chair of the USTA Foundation Board, which has raised millions to unite tennis and education. Through its support of programs in under-resourced communities, the foundation helps young players prepare not only for competition, but also for the greater challenges of life on and off the court.

PALMER had a front-row seat as Chris Evert marked this golden anniversary at the 2025 US Open…

You’ve long been described as “unflappable,” yet we saw you shed a tear or two when the announcer reminded the crowd it had been 50 years since your first U.S. Open victory. Why did this moment feel different?

I feel like I’ve lived two lives: my career, which was [a life of] holding a lot in and being cool, calm and focused…and then my life after I retired (in 1989), when I had a family and kids. And then when I got sick, it made me realize how important the love and support of family and friends really is, and that’s what really matters.

Thinking back to your debut match at Forest Hills in 1971, when you were just 16, what was that like for you?

They wouldn’t let me in! That was my first day. We went in the wrong gate, then we went in this other gate way behind the stadium. We had to walk all the way around. In those days, we had no bodyguards, no cellular phones—nothing. You just had your mother and two wood racquets.

What was it like playing as a woman back in the 1970s?

The culture at that time was that women athletes were frowned upon. They were strong. That was everything the culture dictated that a woman wasn’t. I came along, a teenager who was trying to be feminine. I wasn’t a Billie Jean King or Martina Navratilova with these big messages, but after I showed up it was okay. ‘Oh, those are beautiful tennis dresses and those are pretty ribbons. She wears nail polish.’

 

Friend and rival Martina Navratilova, with whom Evert appeared at The Society of the Four Arts last season, added: “There was something extremely relatable about Chrissie. She brought new fans to the game and made little girls and boys think, ‘Oh, I can do this. I can follow in those footsteps.’”

Billie Jean King, the leading pioneer of women’s professional tennis, also provided a little perspective, “You know what Caitlin Clark did this year for women’s basketball —actually, just basketball, period? Chrissie did that for tennis in 1971. I was there, so I can tell you all about it.”

 

Why do you think you were so often referred to as the “Ice Princess”?

My nature is one of keeping things inside, not being overly opinionated. My mother used to call me the peacemaker, because I could always see both sides. That’s really good—and not good. Because it prevents you from taking stands … on the other hand, I listened.

What changed after you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer?

“It really does change your mindset. You wake up asking, ‘What am I going to do today? I’m going to be disciplined and try something new. I’m going to keep in touch with my loved ones.’ You begin to realize that it can all be taken away at any point. I dropped my defenses, and it made me more humble. Speaking out—saying, ‘I have ovarian cancer, I believe in genetic testing, you need to be your own advocate’—it felt like the curtain opened the moment that happened.”

For more about the USTA Foundation, please visit ustafoundation.com