This year is his second time at the U.S. Open and he wants to make the most of it. Last year, Ilhan only stayed for three days. “I have visited Times Square and Chinatown. I like Chinese food. I rode the subway,” he says. “I have been to parts of Manhattan and Queens.” He apologizes for not being as fluent as he would like in English, speaking just Russian and Turkish. He seems to do fine communicating when he really wants to do it. Ilhan describes his tennis routine as being hard work but a symbol of dedication working its magic.