Kearney Couple Shares US Open Experience

For most of us, the closest we’ll get to the US Open is watching it on television. For Ty and Jane Strawhecker of Kearney, they were able to get up close and personal to many of the top players as they spent 15 days volunteering at the venue in Flushing Meadows. It was an experience they will never forget.

“Besides just seeing the amazing US Open campus and great tennis, our favorite part was meeting some amazing people,” Ty said. “Three people on our team in particular, and one took us on our last day to see the beaches on Long Island.”

The Strawheckers are avid tennis players and fans. They’ve played for many years, and continue to play on USTA Nebraska mixed, men’s and women’s teams. Since Jane was on sabbatical from her job as a professor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and they recently sold their family restaurant, it was the perfect time to do something like this.

“Jane thought, ‘what a great time to do this’ so she applied for both of us,” Ty said. We worked on Court 17 - it is a very intimate court and the newest one. We let people in and out on changeovers. Although we were the newbies, we were told, this is the toughest and busiest spot to work on.”

Although they were extremely busy working long hours, they were still able to watch some of the matches and see some top players including; Angelique Kerber, Frances Tiafoe, Elina Svitolina, Gael Monfils, Reilly Opelka, Coco Gauff and Nebraska’s own Jack Sock.

Perhaps the most exciting was meeting the young woman who would eventually win the US Open Women’s Final, 18-year old Emma Raducanu of Great Britain.

“Jane takes credit for her success,” Ty joked. “As Emma asked her how to get onto Court 17 and Jane commented on her outfit from a previous day when we saw her doing a drill and then Jane escorted her to the court.”