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Serena Williams is back at this year's US Open, only this time she's watching the tournament from the stands.
On Sept. 1, the six-time US Open champion attended day seven of the tournament, where she was photographed at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. In between cheering on fellow tennis stars Coco Gauff and Grigor Dimitrov, Williams made sure to try the US Open's signature cocktail, the Honey Deuce.
“Well, I’m at the U.S. Open and I’m drinking the famous drink,” the 23-time Grand Slam winner began her TikTok video on Sunday. “Everyone asks me, ‘Have you ever had one?’ And I’m like, ‘No,’ because I’ve always been playing.”
The Honey Deuce, a pink drink topped with three pieces of honeydew melon that look like tennis balls, is made from a mix of vodka, lemonade and raspberry liqueur. The drink has gained popularity in the years since Grey Goose became an official sponsor of the U.S. Open nearly 20 years ago.
Williams explained in the TikTok, which has been viewed more than 330,000 times, that she prefers to drink her Honey Deuce with Cincoro tequila rather than Grey Goose vodka. The mother of two then filmed herself drinking the official cocktail of the US Open, as her eyes widened after taking her first sip.
“Honey, that’s nothing special,” he said, sharing his initial reaction to the drink. “It’s called Honey Ad-In or Honey Ace. We’re going to change the name, because it’s good.”
Fans were thrilled that Williams had finally weighed in on the US Open's signature drink, though many pointed out how iconic it was that she was too busy playing in the tournament to try the Honey Deuce for herself.
“Just a subtle tease,” one person said, while another TikToker commented: “Cause I’ve always been playing, yeah QUEEN.”
Others noted that the Honey Deuce commemorative cup features the names of past US Open winners, including Williams.
“Look how many times you see your name on the mug!” one fan suggested.
“You drank from the mug with your name on it several times,” said another person. “It’s iconic.”
Since the 2024 US Open kicked off in New York City on August 25, the Honey Deuce is expected to surpass $10 million in sales before the tennis event ends on September 8. Despite its popularity, the Honey Deuce is also known for being quite expensive. The cocktail costs a whopping $23, along with the souvenir glass it is served in. In fact, the price of the Honey Deuce has increased fourfold over the past five years.
The drink debuted at the US Open in 2007, a year after Grey Goose began its official vodka sponsorship with the tournament. The liquor company has extended its deal with the US Open in 2023 for another five years. According to CNNThe Honey Deuce was invented by former Grey Goose ambassador and restaurateur Nick Mautone.
Williams announced her retirement in 2022, marking the end of her illustrious career in professional tennis. In an interview with FashionShe revealed that the US Open in August 2022 will mark her final tournament. “I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t seem like a modern word to me. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m doing is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving and moving away from tennis towards other things that are important to me,” she said.
Her legendary run came to an end during the third round of the 2022 US Open, where she was defeated by Australian Ajla Tomljanović at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Since her retirement, Williams has given birth to her second child with husband Alexis Ohanian. The couple, who married in 2017, welcomed daughter Adira Rivera Ohanian in August 2023. Williams and Ohanian are also parents to seven-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian.
