As the Honey Deuce became the symbol of the US Open

The U.S. Open has always been considered different, a unique major and completely opposite to Wimbledon. While tradition is at home in England, elegance in the stands is a must and playing dressed in white without exceptions is a requirement. However, at the U.S. Open, the exception is the rule. In other words, everyone has the opportunity to be exceptional in their looks and anything that breaks with tradition is not only allowed but also welcomed and advertised so that it becomes a trendsetter. Not surprisingly, André Agassi displayed his most extravagant looks here, such as the famous Nike denim shorts and worn by the American at the 1989 edition. A look replicated by Serena Williams in 2004 with a denim skirt paired with a black tank top. But the examples don't end there, and the 2024 edition will already go down in history for the look worn by Coco Gauff in her match against Jelena Ostapenko.

However, what has always been missing at the U.S. Open was a distinctive feature, something beyond the court that was worth buying a ticket for. Something that could be shared on social media to show that you were really in New York. In short, the U.S. Open lacked the equivalent of Wimbledon's strawberries and cream. And this is where the Honey Deuce comes into play, a simple cocktail that over the years has become a must-have for anyone who passes through the gates of Flushing Meadows in New York. Specifically, according to the New York Times description, it is: "a mix of vodka, lemonade, raspberry liqueur, lemon juice, and green melon". What makes it even more special is the fact that the green melon is served in the shape of three small tennis balls placed on top of the glass. The perfect detail for sharing on social media.

The Honey Deuce made its debut in 2006 thanks to an intuition by Nick Mautone. The version is created in collaboration with Grey Goose, the partner of the U.S. Open who, as a sponsor of the event, entrusted Mautone with the task of creating an "interesting and memorable cocktail, but light enough to be served at a high-traffic event like the U.S. Open". One day, Mautone's attention was captured by the similarity between the green melon balls and the tennis balls. The rest is history. Today, the Honey Deuce can boast the title of the most expensive and most profitable cocktail at the U.S. Open. According to NBC estimates, for the 2023 edition alone, 450,000 Honey Deuces were sold at a price of $22 each, for a total income of almost $10 million. To give you a comparison, the Prize Money for the 2023 edition was $3 million each for the winners of the two singles. In addition to this, there are also earnings from merchandise: for $40 you can take home the official hat and for $14 you can buy the official glass. And the turnover is expected to increase as the Honey Deuce has become a must-have and has definitively taken over social media feeds, also taking advantage of the renewed interest in tennis. Oh, and for this edition of the U.S. Open, the price of the cocktail has risen to $23.