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US Open ’25… Lt. Joe Hunt Military Appreciation Day Stood Tall

By Mark Winters

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The US Open celebrated Lt. Joe Hunt Military Appreciation Day on Saturday, August 30th of Labor Day weekend.

Hunt, who attended the Naval Academy, in whose name the day was dedicated in 2019, is the only US player to win the National Boys’, Junior, Intercollegiate and Men’s Singles championships. On February 2, 1945, he was on a training exercise when his Hellcat fighter went into a spin and crash into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. Neither his body nor the plane’s wreckage were found.

Annually members from the five US military branches are invited to participate in a clinic and pre-match coin toss ceremonies then watch day and evening matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Here is a collection of photos from this year’s Lt. Joe Hunt Military Appreciation Day…

Participants ready for a hit. Photo: Jeff Dean / USTA
The morning clinic on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo: Jeff Dean / USTA
Jannik Sinner and Denis Shapovalov with a member of the military prior to their third round match, which Sinner won 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
Photo: Darren Carroll / USTA
Naomi Osaka and Daria Kasatkina with military members and an official before their third round match, which Osaka won 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.
Photo: Mike Lawrence / USTA
Joe Hunt (fourth from front eft) with Military Day Appreciation Day participants, is the great-nephew of the Lt. Joe Hunt and leads the family’s effort to ensure the lieutenant’s dedication to his country is never forgotten. Photo: Jeff Dean / USTA
The Lt. Joe Hunt Military Appreciation Day pageantry was inspiring. Photo: Jeff Dean / USTA

Title photo by Jeff Dean / USTA

US Open 2024:

US Open… Military Appreciation Day Recognizes Lieutenant Joe Hunt

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