Late summer has its own rhythm.
Warm afternoons stretch into cooler evenings. Friends linger a little longer outside. Weekends feel worth celebrating. And for tennis fans, one of the most anticipated stretches of the season arrives in New York.
The 2026 US Open runs from August 23 through September 13, with the singles main draw beginning August 30. Day sessions give way to matches under the lights, and championship weekend brings the tournament to its dramatic conclusion.
You don't need a courtside seat to make the occasion feel special.
A few friends, a good match on the television, something easy to nibble on, and a cold drink can turn an ordinary afternoon or evening into your own sophisticated tennis watch party.
That's where US Open cocktails and mocktails made with Cocktail Stix come in.
Instead of spending half the match squeezing citrus, measuring syrups, and cleaning cocktail equipment, you can build an easy home bar around four Cocktail Stix flavors: Classic Margarita, Moscow Mule, Raspberry Martini, and Pineapple Spritz.
Cocktail Stix itself contains zero sugar, zero calories, and zero net carbs. The nutritional profile of your finished drink, of course, depends on everything you add—including spirits, sparkling water, garnishes, and other ingredients.
And alcohol is entirely optional.
You can make a Margarita for the evening session, a sparkling Pineapple Spritz for an afternoon match, or a Raspberry Martini-inspired mocktail when you want the ritual of cocktail hour without the alcohol.
Here are 10 original drinks—and plenty of entertaining inspiration—for making this year's tennis viewing a little more memorable.
These are independent, tennis-inspired recipes for enjoying the tournament at home. Cocktail Stix is not presented as an official sponsor, partner, or beverage of the US Open.
Why the US Open Is Made for a Great At-Home Cocktail Hour
Some sporting events almost demand a party.
Tennis offers something slightly different.
A match can unfold slowly over an afternoon, change direction in a handful of points, and continue into an evening that suddenly feels much later than expected.
That makes it particularly well suited to relaxed entertaining.
You don't need everyone sitting formally around a dining table. Set out a few appetizers, make the drinks easy to prepare, and let guests settle in for the match.
From Afternoon Matches to Night Sessions
The 2026 tournament gives fans plenty of opportunities for both daytime and evening viewing.
That naturally creates two different drink moods.
For an afternoon session, think cold, sparkling, and refreshing. A Pineapple Spritz or alcohol-free Margarita served over ice fits easily into a leisurely Saturday or Sunday.
When the lights come on and the evening session begins, you might transition to something a little more cocktail-hour inspired.
That's when a Raspberry Martini or Classic Margarita can make its entrance.
There's no reason to make five different drinks in one sitting. Match the drink to the moment and keep the experience simple.
Turn the Match Into an Occasion
You don't need tennis-ball decorations covering the house to create a themed watch party.
In fact, less can look considerably more sophisticated.
Use white serving platters, crisp cocktail napkins, clear glassware, and perhaps a restrained touch of green.
Set out snacks that guests can pick up between points.
Chill your sparkling water and spirits ahead of time.
Then put the tennis on.
The atmosphere should say late-summer cocktail party with tennis, rather than children's sports-themed birthday party.
Give Guests a Cocktail or Mocktail Choice
One of the easiest ways to make a gathering more welcoming is to stop assuming everyone wants the same drink.
Some guests may want a cocktail.
Others may want something without alcohol.
Someone might have one cocktail during the afternoon and switch to sparkling water or a mocktail later.
Cocktail Stix can be prepared with or without a spirit, which makes it easy to give people that choice without creating two completely different drink menus.
How to Build a US Open Cocktail Bar With Cocktail Stix
A home cocktail bar doesn't need to look like the back of a restaurant.
For a watch party, simpler is better.
You want to watch the rally—not spend it searching through a cabinet for a bottle nobody can find.
Start With Four Cocktail Stix Flavors
The Cocktail Stix lineup gives you four distinct directions:
Classic Margarita brings bright citrus character.
Moscow Mule combines ginger and lime-inspired flavors.
Raspberry Martini moves into berry territory.
Pineapple Spritz offers a tropical direction that's particularly well suited to sparkling drinks.
You can choose one or two flavors for a small gathering or put out all four and let guests experiment.
Add Your Spirit—or Don't
Keep the spirit choices just as streamlined.
Blanco tequila works naturally with Classic Margarita.
Vodka pairs easily with Moscow Mule and Raspberry Martini.
White rum or vodka can work with Pineapple Spritz.
And every one of those spirits can stay in the cabinet.
For an alcohol-free drink, prepare Cocktail Stix with cold water or unsweetened sparkling water instead.
The important part is making the mocktail feel deliberate.
Give it the same glassware, ice, and presentation as everything else you're serving.
Make Sparkling Water Your Secret Weapon
Unsweetened sparkling water is one of the easiest ingredients to keep on hand for a watch party.
It adds bubbles and volume without requiring another complicated mixer.
It's especially useful for Pineapple Spritz and sparkling Raspberry preparations, and it can turn Classic Margarita into a refreshing alcohol-free drink.
If maintaining a specific nutritional profile matters to you, check the label on the sparkling water you choose, particularly flavored varieties.
Set Up a Self-Serve Station
A good self-serve bar should answer most questions before your guests ask them.
Set out Cocktail Stix flavors, ice, chilled water, sparkling water, appropriate spirits, a measuring tool, and glassware.
Keep garnishes restrained.
Most importantly, make it obvious which bottles and prepared drinks contain alcohol.
If children will be present, keep alcoholic ingredients and completed alcoholic beverages appropriately separated and supervised.
Now you're ready for the fun part.
10 US Open Cocktails and Mocktails for Match Day
The following recipes use Cocktail Stix as the zero-sugar mixer foundation.
Because the nutritional content of spirits and other ingredients varies, check the specific products you use if you want the entire finished beverage to meet a particular nutritional goal.
The names below are original, tennis-inspired creations for watching the tournament at home.
1. The First Serve Margarita
Start the match with a classic. This is the straightforward option for the person who doesn't need six ingredients competing for attention.
Ingredients
1 Classic Margarita Cocktail Stix
1½ oz blanco tequila
6 oz cold water
Ice
Salt for the rim, optional
Directions
Add the Cocktail Stix, tequila, and cold water to a shaker or mixing glass.
Stir thoroughly to dissolve.
Add ice and shake or stir until chilled.
Pour over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
If you enjoy salt, use a light rim rather than coating the entire glass.
Make it a mocktail
Leave out the tequila and prepare the Cocktail Stix with additional cold water or unsweetened sparkling water.
Presentation
Keep it crisp. Clear glass, fresh ice, and a restrained salt edge are all you need.
2. Match Point Spicy Margarita
A little pressure makes tennis interesting. A little heat can do the same thing to a Margarita. The trick is knowing when to stop.
Ingredients
1 Classic Margarita Cocktail Stix
1½ oz blanco tequila
6 oz cold water
1 thin jalapeño slice
Ice
Directions
Combine the Cocktail Stix, tequila, and water.
Add one thin jalapeño slice and allow it to infuse briefly.
Taste.
Remove the pepper when you've reached the heat level you want.
Add ice, chill, and pour into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Presentation
Add one paper-thin jalapeño slice to the rim if desired. Avoid loading the glass with peppers. If you're carefully tracking carbohydrates, remember that fresh garnishes should be considered separately from the nutritional values of Cocktail Stix.
3. Centre Court Margarita Mocktail
An alcohol-free drink shouldn't look like the guest of honor forgot to arrive. This one is designed as a complete mocktail from the start.
Ingredients
1 Classic Margarita Cocktail Stix
7–8 oz chilled unsweetened sparkling water
Ice
Salt, optional
Directions
Pour a small amount of sparkling water into a glass or mixing vessel.
Add the Cocktail Stix and stir until dissolved.
Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice.
Pour in the mixture and gently top with the remaining sparkling water.
Presentation
Use a beautiful glass and, if you like, a light salt edge. Serve it exactly as confidently as you would a tequila version.
4. The Baseline Moscow Mule
Some drinks seem designed for long summer afternoons. The combination of ginger-and-lime-inspired flavor, cold ice, and vodka makes this an easy match-watching choice.
Ingredients
1 Moscow Mule Cocktail Stix
1½ oz vodka
6 oz cold water
Ice
Directions
Combine Cocktail Stix, vodka, and water.
Stir thoroughly.
Fill a glass with ice and pour the mixture over the top.
Give it one final stir before serving.
Make it a mocktail
Omit the vodka and replace it with additional cold water or unsweetened sparkling water.
Presentation
A copper mug is traditional, but certainly not required. A good rocks or highball glass works beautifully.
5. The Rally Cucumber Mule
This is the Mule to serve when the afternoon match turns into a five-set marathon. Cucumber adds a fresh visual element without requiring sugary additions.
Ingredients
1 Moscow Mule Cocktail Stix
1½ oz vodka
6 oz cold water or unsweetened sparkling water
2 very thin cucumber slices
Ice
Directions
Combine the Cocktail Stix, vodka, and water.
Add one cucumber slice while the drink chills.
Remove it before pouring.
Serve over fresh ice and add the second cucumber slice as an optional garnish.
Make it a mocktail
Skip the vodka and use sparkling water.
Presentation
Try a long, thin cucumber ribbon inside the glass. Simple looks better here.
6. Night Match Raspberry Martini
When the evening session begins, change the mood. The Raspberry Martini flavor is a natural choice for something that looks at home in a coupe under softer lights.
Ingredients
1 Raspberry Martini Cocktail Stix
1½ oz vodka
6 oz cold water
Ice
Directions
Combine the Cocktail Stix, vodka, and water in a shaker.
Add plenty of ice.
Shake until thoroughly chilled.
Strain into a chilled Martini or coupe glass.
Depending on your glass size, you may have more than one serving. Keep the remaining mixture chilled rather than overfilling the glass.
Make it a mocktail
Omit the vodka, use additional cold water, shake thoroughly with ice, and strain into the same elegant stemware.
Presentation
Skip the garnish. A beautiful glass and properly chilled drink can make enough of a statement.
7. Tie-Break Raspberry Sparkler
This is the bubbly alternative to the Martini preparation. It works equally well as a cocktail or mocktail, which makes it useful when you're hosting a mixed group.
Ingredients
1 Raspberry Martini Cocktail Stix
1 oz vodka, optional
6–7 oz chilled unsweetened sparkling water
Ice
Directions
Dissolve the Cocktail Stix in a small amount of sparkling water.
Add vodka if using.
Fill a stemmed glass with ice.
Add the Raspberry mixture and gently top with the remaining sparkling water.
Stir once or twice.
Make it a mocktail
Simply leave out the vodka.
Presentation
Serve in a stemmed wine glass or highball with plenty of clear ice.
8. Courtside Pineapple Spritz
A late-summer tennis party deserves at least one drink that feels like vacation hasn't quite ended. Pineapple Spritz delivers the tropical direction without requiring sugary pineapple juice or syrup.
Ingredients
1 Pineapple Spritz Cocktail Stix
1 oz vodka or white rum, optional
6–7 oz chilled unsweetened sparkling water
Ice
Directions
Dissolve the Cocktail Stix in a small amount of sparkling water.
Add your chosen spirit.
Fill a stemmed glass with ice and pour in the mixture.
Top gently with the remaining sparkling water.
Make it a mocktail
Omit the spirit and use sparkling water throughout.
Presentation
Think resort terrace rather than tiki bar. Good stemware and ice are enough.
9. Championship Pineapple Rum Cocktail
Save this one for a semifinal, final, or any match you have been waiting all week to see.
Ingredients
1 Pineapple Spritz Cocktail Stix
1½ oz white rum
6 oz cold water
Ice
Directions
Combine the Cocktail Stix, rum, and cold water.
Stir thoroughly until dissolved.
Add ice and chill.
Pour over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
If you'd like a little effervescence, replace part of the cold water with unsweetened sparkling water and add it after chilling.
Presentation
Use a low glass, large clear ice if available, and minimal garnish. Celebratory doesn't have to mean complicated.
10. The Four-Flavor Grand Slam Tasting
Can't decide? Don't. For a gathering, prepare all four Cocktail Stix flavors and let your guests taste their way through the lineup.
Ingredients
Classic Margarita
Moscow Mule
Raspberry Martini
Pineapple Spritz
Directions
Prepare each flavor separately with cold water or sparkling water.
For alcoholic versions, add a measured spirit that suits the flavor.
Rather than serving four full drinks to every guest, pour small tasting portions and share each prepared batch among the group.
You can also make the entire experience alcohol-free.
Arrange the flavors in a logical tasting order and label each clearly.
Presentation
Use matching tasting glasses if you have them. If not, complementary small glasses can look just as elegant. Make sure everyone knows which preparations contain alcohol before the first serve.
How to Host an Elevated US Open Watch Party
You have the drinks.
Now resist the temptation to turn your living room into a souvenir shop.
The most attractive tennis party can be surprisingly understated.
Take Inspiration From Tennis Whites
Start with white.
White serving dishes, white cocktail napkins, and clear glassware create an immediate visual connection without being overly literal.
Then add a small amount of green.
That might be a vase of greenery, green napkin detail, or a serving board with fresh cucumber.
You don't need tennis balls hanging from the ceiling.
Serve Food That's Easy to Enjoy Between Points
Choose food that lets guests keep watching.
Small cheese portions, nuts, olives, vegetables, dips, and other finger foods are easier than meals requiring knives, forks, and a dining-room relocation.
If you're hosting during a long session, put food out in stages rather than filling the table at once.
Start light.
Bring out something more substantial later.
And keep water readily available throughout the gathering.
Create a Cocktail and Mocktail Station
Instead of making every drink personally, give guests an easy system.
Put Cocktail Stix in one area.
Place chilled sparkling water and regular water nearby.
Keep spirits together with a measuring tool.
Then add ice and glassware.
A small card can explain which spirit pairs with each Cocktail Stix flavor.
Guests who don't want alcohol can skip that step completely.
If you're serving pre-mixed drinks, label them clearly.
Keep Garnishes Simple
Garnishes should help identify or enhance the drink—not make it difficult to drink.
A cucumber ribbon works for the Mule.
A restrained salt edge makes sense for the Margarita.
The Raspberry Martini can stand on its own.
The Pineapple Spritz doesn't need a fruit salad balanced on the rim.
This approach also helps readers who want greater control over what goes into the finished beverage.
Save a Signature Drink for the Night Match
One way to make a long tennis day feel like an event is to change the drink menu when the evening begins.
Keep afternoon options sparkling and refreshing.
Then, when the night session starts, bring out the chilled coupes and serve the Night Match Raspberry Martini.
It creates a transition without requiring additional decorations or activities.
Sometimes glassware is all the mood lighting you need.
Zero Sugar Without Giving Up the Cocktail Experience
For many adults, what goes into the glass matters just as much as how it looks.
Cocktail Stix gives you a zero-sugar mixer foundation while still leaving you in control of the rest of the drink.
Start With a Zero-Sugar Mixer
According to Cocktail Stix's current product information, each Stix contains zero sugar, zero calories, and zero net carbs.
That's the Cocktail Stix itself.
Once tequila, vodka, rum, sparkling water, fruit, or another ingredient enters the recipe, the completed drink needs to be evaluated based on those ingredients too.
That distinction matters.
A zero-sugar mixer doesn't automatically make every imaginable recipe zero sugar.
Pay Attention to What You Add
If your goal is a completed drink with no added sugar or zero sugar, read labels.
Plain sparkling water is different from sweetened soda.
One flavored sparkling water may have a different nutritional profile from another.
The same principle applies to garnishes and any additional cocktail ingredients.
Keeping recipes simple makes this easier.
Cocktail Stix, a measured spirit, water or sparkling water, ice, and an optional restrained garnish don't leave much mystery in the glass.
Let Flavor Replace the Sugar-Rim Mentality
A sophisticated cocktail doesn't have to be covered in syrup, sugar, or elaborate decoration.
Temperature matters.
Ice matters.
Glassware matters.
Bubbles matter.
Presentation matters.
A cold Margarita in a beautiful glass can feel complete without a thick sugar rim.
A sparkling Pineapple drink doesn't require syrup simply because it's tropical.
The experience comes from the whole drink—not one sweet ingredient.
Mocktail Doesn't Have to Mean Sweet
Alcohol-free drinks have sometimes been treated as glorified juice.
They don't have to be.
A Moscow Mule-inspired mocktail can be crisp and ginger-forward.
A Margarita-inspired sparkling drink can be citrusy and refreshing.
A Raspberry Martini preparation can be properly chilled and served in stemware without vodka.
For the person holding the glass, the experience should still feel grown-up and intentional.
Frequently Asked Questions About US Open Cocktails
1. What are good cocktails to drink while watching the US Open?
Good US Open cocktails are refreshing, relatively easy to prepare, and suited to the time of day.
A Margarita, Moscow Mule, Raspberry Martini, or sparkling Pineapple drink can all work well. For afternoon matches, you may prefer something sparkling over ice. For an evening session, a properly chilled Martini-style drink can feel more appropriate.
The best choice is one that lets you enjoy the match rather than spending the entire session making drinks.
2. What drinks should I serve at a US Open watch party?
Keep the menu focused.
Two cocktails, one mocktail, and plenty of cold water or sparkling water can be enough for most gatherings.
If you want more variety without building a huge bar, offer several Cocktail Stix flavors and let guests choose whether to add alcohol.
3. Can I make zero-sugar drinks for a tennis watch party?
Yes, but consider every ingredient.
Cocktail Stix itself contains zero sugar. If you want the completed beverage to remain zero sugar, check the labels and nutritional information for the exact spirits, sparkling waters, garnishes, and other ingredients you plan to use.
Don't assume the nutritional profile of the mixer automatically applies to the finished recipe.
4. What are good nonalcoholic drinks for watching tennis?
Cocktail Stix can be prepared without alcohol using cold water or unsweetened sparkling water.
Classic Margarita makes an easy sparkling mocktail, while Moscow Mule provides ginger-and-lime-inspired flavor. Raspberry Martini and Pineapple Spritz can also be prepared as alcohol-free drinks.
Serve them in proper cocktail glassware so they feel like part of the occasion.
5. How do I set up a self-serve cocktail bar for a tennis party?
Keep it organized.
Set out Cocktail Stix, cold water, sparkling water, ice, glassware, a measuring tool, and the spirits you plan to offer.
Add a few simple garnishes if desired.
Make it obvious which ingredients and prepared drinks contain alcohol, and keep alcoholic beverages appropriately separated when children are present.
6. Can I prepare drinks before the match starts?
You can prepare many components ahead of time.
Chill water, sparkling water, spirits, and glassware. Organize Cocktail Stix and garnishes. You can also prepare some non-carbonated mixtures shortly before guests arrive and keep them cold.
Wait to add ice until serving so drinks don't become unnecessarily diluted.
For sparkling recipes, add carbonation near serving time to preserve the bubbles.
7. What should I serve during a US Open night match?
An evening match is a natural time for a slightly more polished cocktail-hour presentation.
Try a chilled Raspberry Martini, Classic Margarita, or an alcohol-free version served in attractive stemware.
Dim the lights, put out a few simple appetizers, and let the tennis provide the entertainment.
8. How can I use Cocktail Stix for a US Open watch party?
Use the four Cocktail Stix flavors to create a compact cocktail and mocktail station.
Guests can choose Classic Margarita, Moscow Mule, Raspberry Martini, or Pineapple Spritz, then prepare their selection with water or sparkling water and add an appropriate spirit if they want one.
That lets one gathering accommodate different tastes without requiring a long list of traditional mixers.
Game, Set, Sip: Enjoy the US Open With Cocktail Stix
The best watch parties don't distract from what everyone came to see.
They make it better.
For the 2026 US Open, that might mean a Pineapple Spritz during an afternoon session, a Margarita when friends arrive, or chilled Raspberry Martini glasses coming out when the night match begins.
It might also mean skipping alcohol entirely.
That's the advantage of building the occasion around choice.
Cocktail Stix gives you four different flavor directions and the flexibility to make each one a cocktail or mocktail.
And with zero sugar, zero calories, and zero net carbs in the Cocktail Stix itself, you have a mixer that can fit naturally into a more ingredient-conscious approach to entertaining. Just remember that the final nutritional values depend on everything else you put in the glass.
Keep the bar simple.
Keep the appetizers easy.
Make sure there's plenty of water.
Then sit down and watch the match.
Because when the rally reaches 20 shots and everyone in the room has forgotten about their phones, you don't want to be in the kitchen making simple syrup.
This US Open season, serve up something different from your home court. Make it a Margarita, Mule, Martini, Spritz, or alcohol-free mocktail—and enjoy Cocktail Stix while watching every serve, rally, tie-break, and match point. Visit CocktailStix.com to explore all four flavors and find your match-day favorite.