2021 US Open draws over 631,000 fans to historic event

With no spectators allowed at the 2020 US Open due to the pandemic, it came as no surprise that fans flocked in droves to witness this year's event.

This year's tournament saw 631,134 fans attend the last Grand Slam of the year, with the total number being accumulated over two weeks. This equals 85% of the 2019 attendance of 737,919, a tournament record.

The drop in numbers could be because fewer people came from abroad, largely due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. Previous numbers showed that about 20% of fans come from abroad just to see the Open.

Furthermore, fans were required to show proof of vaccination and this may have deterred several from attending.

Nonetheless, the fans played a major role in this year's event, as their presence added to the atmosphere, galvanizing players to perform their best. This led to there being a record-tying 34 five-set matches on the men's side, with several ladies matches also going the distance as competitors left it all on the court.