So often in life, the mundane and the extraordinary exist side-by-side. The day of the US Open final can change a tennis player’s life, ending with a confetti-soaked celebration or lonely commiseration. Much of it is watched by the thousands inside Arthur Ashe Stadium and millions more on TV.

But off the court, the day is like any other at a grand slam tournament, governed by routines.

On a day so outside the ordinary, routines take on an added importance. Despite the stakes involved, the day of a US Open final isn’t hugely different from the day of any other grand slam match, said seven-time grand slam winner Mats Wilander. The routine is the same.

“One big difference is you know what time you’re playing,” Wilander, who reached 11 grand slam finals and won the 1988 US Open, told CN

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