<p class="ingestion featured-caption">Aryna Sabalenka is the reigning US Open runner-up.Robert Prange/Contributor/Getty Images</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Open — the final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year — concludes on September 8.</li><li>BI spoke with 2023 US Open runner-up Aryna Sabalenka and 2016 winner Stan Wawrinka.</li></ul><p>The <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/serena-williams-subtly-promotes-her-makeup-brand-us-open-2024-9">US Open</a> is well underway in <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-moved-to-new-york-from-kentucky-surprising-things-2022-5">New York City</a>.</p><p>And while plenty of spectators, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-open-tennis-celebrity-sightings-2024-8">including A-listers like Serena Williams and Kerry Washington</a>, are descending upon the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center to take in the action and sip on cocktails, it's a much different experience for those on the court.</p><p>BI spoke with 2023 US Open runner-up and current semifinalist <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aryna-sabalenka-tennis-world-no-1-chase-tiger-2023-9">Aryna Sabalenka</a> and 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka to learn some behind-the-scenes facts fans might not know about the tournament.</p><p>Sabalenka called the US Open "a great tournament."</p><p>"I had a lot of good experiences there, a lot of great memories," said Sabalenka, who spoke to BI as part of her partnership with Maestro Dobel Tequila. "It's exciting to come back, especially being a runner-up last year. It's a big motivation for me to do a little bit better than I did last year, so I'm really excited to come back."</p><p>Wawrinka, who spoke with BI through his partnership with Evian, the official water of the US Open, offered a similar sentiment. "We always have an amazing atmosphere when you play. It doesn't matter which court, and I enjoy that," he said. "That's one of the reasons why I keep playing is to relive those moments, to have this emotion coming from the fans, and New York is really special for that."</p><p>From signature cocktails to branded outfits, here are six things you didn't know about the US Open.</p>