From Rackets to Rolex: The Global Supply Chains Behind the US Open
This year was my very first experience attending the US Open, and it was unforgettable. In the first round, I was lucky enough to watch Venus Williams vs. Karolína Muchova in the women’s match, followed by Carlos Alcaraz vs. Reilly Opelka in the men’s. The energy of the crowd, the speed of the rallies, and the atmosphere in Queens left me so inspired that I’m now even more motivated to continue my own tennis lessons. 🎾
And today, Sept 7, on the final day of the tournament, I’m watching Alcaraz play for the championship — what a full-circle moment! 🔥 🥰
Still, as someone deeply connected to the business world, I couldn’t help but analyze the event from another perspective, not just as a spectator. Beyond the thrill of sport, the US Open is also a showcase of global supply chains in motion:
- Tennis balls manufactured abroad, tested to exacting standards, and shipped in bulk.
- Uniforms and merchandise designed by luxury brands and produced across continents.
- Champagne, food, and coffee imported from around the world for fans in New York.
- Rolex clocks and international sponsorships reminding us how global brands use sport as a stage.
For two weeks, Flushing Meadows becomes a marketplace of global trade. Goods, services, people, and capital all converge in one stadium. Sport and trade share a common DNA: discipline and structure balanced by unpredictability and resilience. For me, the US Open has been both a thrilling personal experience and a vivid reminder of how deeply global trade is woven into everyday life, even in the joy of watching a tennis match.
I’ll also be talking more about this theme in the next episode of my podcast Circus & Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade — out next week. Stay tuned! And don’t miss today’s men’s final at 2:00 p.m.! 🎾
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