If I could go to the US Open every day, I would. Few things bring me more joy than the symphony of the Billie Jean King Tennis Center: the thwack of tennis balls ricocheting off racquets, oohs and ahs crescendoing into applause, empires crooning “15-love,” the screech of the No. 7 train in the distance. Add the anticipation of seeing my heroes fight for the coveted trophy over two weeks, and I’m positively giddy.

This year I led my family (ages ranging from six months to 77 years old) around opening day. We caught Ben Shelton’s astonishing power before Coco Gauff bageled her opponent, witnessed Taylor Townsend’s “delicious” win, and got a peek at Chris Eubanks’ killer serve as the heat beat down on our sunscreened faces.

Ahead of the evening session, I bid farewell to the fam, freshened up, and knocked on the door of the invite-only, courtside Emirates Suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which has historically welcomed the likes of Zendaya, the Biebers, Spike Lee, Maria Sharapova, Jimmy Butler — and now, me.

This year’s suite was redesigned to mirror the experience of flying first class on Emirates, which was something since the airline’s premier cabin has often been rated as the world’s best. The effect was impressive: With a palette inspired by the Dubai sunset, quilted leather banquettes, soft lighting, and a pristinely dressed cabin crew gliding through, the space truly felt as if it were inside an airplane. I nearly forgot we were hovering just above center court, thanks also to the most soundproof windows I’ve ever encountered (or maybe that’s the Dom Perignon and caviar talking).

Speaking of cuisine … the US Open serves up a lineup of extraordinary food options from the city’s top restaurants. Think Coqodaq, Crown Shy, even Carnegie Deli — plus dishes from chef Kwame Onwuachi and chef Masaharu Morimoto at the Aces Club. But with record attendance to the Open this year, the wait to order said food was similarly astounding. In the Emirates Suite, I had unfettered access to an epic seafood tower, then spooned fresh corn salad and salmon onto my porcelain plate, savoring it all with a Honey Deuce cocktail, cloth napkin, and metal flatware — courtside. There was dessert, too, from decadent flourless chocolate cake and petite key lime pies to samples of “The Fix,” a flavor-packed Tiktok-famous chocolate that nods to kunafah, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert.

The experience appealed to both of my tennis personalities. There’s the side that wants the comfort of air-conditioning; plush, quiet seats; and a fine glass of wine to nurse a match gone wrong (Sloane’s loss still hurts). And then there’s the feistier side who relishes being close to the action, yelling with the crowd, and nerding out on Novak Djokovic’s tennis IQ. I left on a high that I hope carries me through to next year.