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Its time to bust out your best tennis skirts and collared shirts: The 2025 U.S. Open is upon us, with singles play beginning Sunday, August 24. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York, is the place to be for tennis fans. If you cant get there in person, never fearwe’ll get into how to tune in. Fans should stretch their necks, to prepare to follow all the action swiftly moving back and forth across the court. Let’s take a look at how the tournament breaks down, and who’s favored to win it all in the singles categories. The 2025 U.S. Open schedule The U.S. Open is two weeks of tennis competition, a sort of Olympic-type event for one specific sport. Leading up to week one is fan week, which kicked off on August 18 and featured the mixed doubles tournament, qualifying matches, and lots of practice. There were also family friendly events such as Marvel comic giveaways.The singles competition, which is the the main event of the U.S. Open, begins on Sunday, August 24. This week also features men’s and women’s doubles competitions. Week two will continue the singles matches, culminating on Saturday, September 6 with the womens final. The men’s final takes place the following day. Junior competitors also get in on the action during the second week. For the full schedule of events, click here. How do players qualify for the U.S. Open? Most players qualify for the U.S. Open because of their high rankings. Others have to compete in the qualifying tournament during fan week to earn a spot. The third and final way to get a chance to compete is through a wild card invitation from USTA. Whos favored to become the U.S. Open women’s singles champion? Last years winner, Aryna Sabalenka, would love to win two years in a row. Coco Gauff, who recently won the French Open and was the U.S. Open champion in 2023, would love to reclaim the title as well. Iga Świątek, who also has 2025 Wimbledon and 2022 U.S. Open wins under her belt, is also a contender. Whos favored to become the U.S. Open men’s singles champion? On the mens side, defending champion Jannik Sinner is the number one ranked player in the world. He thrives on hard courts, so will use that to his advantage during the U.S. Open. Carlos Alcaraz, the number two ranked player, is determined to stop Sinner. He has a 2022 U.S. Open title to his name, and won the 2025 French Open. What are the prizes for winning the U.S. Open men’s and women’s singles? The men’s and women’s champions in the singles category will each take home $5 million in prize money. Those who make it to the quarterfinals are rewarded with $660,000. Semifinalists win $1.26 million, while finalists earn $2.5 million. How to tune in the U.S. Open The entire U.S. Open is broadcast across ABC, ESPNs networks, and the Tennis Channel. To catch the first round of men and womens singles play, tune into ABC on Sunday, August 24, at 12 p.m. ET. If that doesnt fit into your schedule, it will be re-aired at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Additionally, full primetime coverage of the first day begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.If you cut the cord, you can tune in with some live TV streaming services, such as Hulu + Live TV, which carries both ABC and ESPN2 in most regions. You can also stream it on ESPN+ from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET beginning on Sunday, August 24.
Category:
E-Commerce
Most business advice tells you to avoid making enemies. I’m here to tell you the opposite: if your brand doesn’t have an enemy, you’re doing it wrong. This isn’t to suggest you need to create conflict for conflict’s sake. But there’s power in opposition. When you stand so clearly for something that you inevitably stand against something else, you create clarity. And in this very cluttered marketplace, that clarity isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for survival. The Problem with Playing it Safe When brands attempt universal appeal, they typically achieve universal mediocrity. People think you’re fine. Fine pays the bills, but it doesnt create category leaders. The numbers prove it: distinctive brands see a 62% higher ROI than campaigns that lack distinctiveness. That’s no small difference between being remembered and being forgotten. Distinctive brands put a stake in the ground and say, “This is who were for,” whether through visuals, tone, or messaging. Brands chasing universal appeal usually sand off their edges and end up forgettable. The companies that break through today aren’t the ones avoiding conflict. They’re the ones brave enough to pick a side and fight for it. Why Your Enemy Isnt Your Competition Competition is tactical. It’s about market share, features, and pricing. Your enemy is philosophical. It’s a way of thinking, a set of values, or a specific worldview that your brand exists to challenge. Think of giving your business an enemy in this way: Bigger than a competitor: Your enemy transcends individual companies. Ideological: It represents a philosophy or approach you oppose. Galvanizing: It gives your audience something to rally against. Clarifying: It forces you to define what you really stand for. The Psychology of Taking Sides As humans, its natural for us to pick teams and stick with our tribe. Our brand choices become part of our identity, from the coffee we drink to the phones we carry. It’s those brands that establish clear us-versus-them psychology that win. They make customers feel “they get me.” This creates tribal loyalty where the brand becomes part of someone’s personaand they’ll defend it at any cost. Here are some examples of how some of the most memorable brands took on an enemy: Apple vs. Ordinary Apple positioned itself as the ultimate creative company, calling competitors “Orwellian” in its 1984 campaign and boring in the Mac vs. PC ads. It established its core as the creative side of humanity and never wavered. Sure, it’s 1,000 times larger now, but its commitment to opposing “ordinary” remains unchanged. Southwest Airlines vs. Complexity Southwest’s enemy was airline complexity. Buy a fare, grab a seat, and bring your bags. No extra charges, no caste system with 11 boarding groups, no material guilt about your life choices if you weren’t in the top five. Outsiders called this process a “cattle call,” but Southwest turned a deaf ear to the noise, and its core kept growing. However, Southwest recently announced it’s adopting traditional airline practices in 202526, abandoning its differentiating enemy. We’ll see how the loyalists respond now that there’s nothing separating Southwest from its competitors. Creating Your Enemy Ready to find your companys natural opponent? Here’s how to do it strategically:Step 1: Identify Your Natural Opposition Which way of thinking or doing business does your company naturally push back against? What frustrates your founders and leaders about the industry? What cultural perspective seems bonkers to you? Step 2: Articulate the Stakes Why does this opposition matter? What’s at risk if the enemy worldview wins? In its Mac vs. PC ads, Apple positioned the competition as out of touch and un-inventive, making the stakes crystal clear by casting itself as the creative outlet for the future. Step 3: Rally Your Core Communicate your position in a way that makes your ideal customers feel seen and understood. They should think: Finally, someone gets it. Dairy brand Tillamook rallied its core by leaning into quality over scale, unapologetically charging more for real ingredients and a small-batch approach, even when that meant losing price-sensitive shoppers. Step 4: Accept the Tradeoffs Not everyone will like you. That’s the point. Oatly came out of the gate directly challenging Big Dairy with its “like milk, but made for humans” stancefully accepting that it would alienate traditionalists in order to build a cult following among plant-based loyalists. Why This Works Now More Than Ever Differentiation is survival. People are overwhelmed with choices and increasingly loyal to companies that feel authentic and purposeful. Having a clear enemy provides both. Your enemy isn’t trying to destroy you. Instead, it’s saving you from irrelevance. Without something to stand against, there’s no reason for anyone to stand with you. Remember: you will never win without your enemy. Your enemy always wins without you.
Category:
E-Commerce
Youve heard plenty of solutions for stress. From meditation and nature walks to cold therapy and yoga, the list is long. But a less well-known strategy can deliver some powerful results: storytelling. In fact, there is evidence that storytelling is good for your mental health and well-being for multiple reasons. Thinking about the best ways to reduce stress has become increasingly relevant. According to Gallup, 49% of Americans report they frequently experience stress. A survey by Talker Research found that a third of people also say they expect this to be the most stressful year yet, with even more stress than the last three years. But storytelling can have a positive impact on how we feel and how we relate to others. Heres why, and how to use storytelling to feel better, enhance well-being, and beat stress. STORYTELLING BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS One of the biggest reasons that storytelling has a positive effect is because it can build relationships. Storytelling helps us find common experiences and bond. According to research, this was true from the first hunter-gatherer tribes in which storytelling helped to clarify the norms and expectations of the group and reinforce cooperation. In addition, storytellers tended to be popular. They were the people others choose to be with most. In another study where older adults wrote their life stories, researchers found storytelling reduced depression. The study found that developing stories was helpful, but the process of sharing stories and spending time together also had a significant impact on well-being. You can use storytelling to connect with others by asking questions, both at work and in your personal life. Instead of just asking someone how its going or what they did over the weekend, ask them a question that gives them a chance to tell a story: ask what surprised them lately or what made them laugh. Listen as they tell stories to answer your questions. Dont be afraid to share your own stories about things that are interesting or meaningful to you. All of these will create more space for enhanced time and connections. STORYTELLING CREATES MEANING Another key element of storytelling is that it can help us create meaning and identity. When we repeat the story about how we bravely stood up for something that was especially important to us at work, we reinforce that we are courageous. When we talk about the time we had the great idea that transformed a solution, were reinforcing our role as innovators on a team. When we share the adventures and antics that occurred on our family vacation, were reinforcing our love of family and our fun-loving nature. In one study by the Family Institute at Northwestern University, couples were asked to tell stories about their relationships. When couples developed stories about their experiences, it helped reinforce their shared identity and it gave them greater meaning and purpose. You can use storytelling to enhance well-being and create meaning by intentionally reflecting on your experiences. For example, at the end of a vacation, consider the time you spent with family and friends and what the experiences meant to you. Talk to each other about your favorite elements of your time together in order to cement your memories. Or the end of the workweek, reflect on your accomplishments and challenges and give thought to how they show your strengths and contributions to your team and your organization. Capturing these stories can help reinforce your meaning and identity. STORYTELLING HELPS US PROCESS Storytelling can also help us make sense of things. In, a survey of almost 30,000 people in 31 countries, GlobeScan found that 78% of respondents believe that the world is changing too fast for them to keep up, and its creating anxiety. Storytelling can help us think things through. We consider what happened to us, why it was important, and how we feel about it as we create a story. The process of reflecting so we can tell a story clarifies our thinking and helps us make sense of disparate facts. Storytelling can also help us put things into context and help us think about where to go next. In the Northwestern University study, when couples told stories, they were able to consider future growth and motivate themselves to be a legacy to others in their lives. A study of storytelling published in the journal Healthcare (Basel) found that when sick patients shared their stories, it helped them to make sense of their experiences and even nurture a more positive, healing viewpoint. You can use storytelling to enhance well-being and make sense of things by slowing down to reflect on whats happening and giving thought to why its important to you. Also prioritize how you might respond and how youd like the story to end based on the action you take. Use story to understand yourself and whats going on around you, as well as where youd like to go from here. THE POWER OF STORYTELLING We are moved by stories and they help us build empathy. Stories can also inspire us to take action. In fact, a study found when Super Bowl ads tell complete stories, they tend to get more views, more shares, better ratings; and they tend to result in greater sales. We prefer to learn through stories, and we thrive in communities with plenty of narrative shared among the group. When we face pressure, challenges, and struggles, storytelling helps us make connections, creat meaning, and make sense of it all.
Category:
E-Commerce
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