Tennis players Elena Rybakina, Flavio Cobolli, Karen Khachanov, and Matteo Arnaldi competed in a ice cream sundae showdown at the restaurant, housed in The Benjamin Royal Sonesta Hotel, to celebrate the start of the US Open.
The Parliament invited the tennis stars to create their own topping loaded desserts in less than two minutes to celebrate the start of the tournament in New York City.
Photo Courtesy: Gabi Porter for The Benjamin Royal Sonesta
But first, there was trash talk. When talking strategy the players agreed your first serve should always be fast on the court, over 110 mph of course. When it came to building sundaes though, they took their time. Khachanov slowly drizzled chocolate fudge sauce in front of the crowd. Rybakina and Arnaldi carefully selected toppings like strawberries and chopped snickers for their creations.
Photo Courtesy: Gabi Porter for The Benjamin Royal Sonesta
Cobolli arrived fashionably late, but had a good reason. He strolled in straight from his win against Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles earlier that evening. He did receive a demerit for his tardiness in spite of the impressive win. His fellow players only granted him 20 seconds to put together his sundae creation before they served them up to the crowd.
Photo Courtesy: Gabi Porter for The Benjamin Royal Sonesta
There wasn’t a sundae that was deemed the best, but there was a clear winner of the night. As the players posed for pictures, the 2020 silver medalist Khackanov handed his sundae off to a kid in attendance. The boy got the privilege to enjoy the ice cream on the humid night before anyone else.
The spirit of the US Open continued after the competition was done while that DJ turned a casual Tuesday night into a lively celebration of the start of the tournament. Guests enjoyed Grey Goose’s classic Honey Deuce cocktail alongside The Parliament’s classic elevated American hors d’oeuvres.
The restaurant will continue to serve up the tennis star’s sundae creations throughout the tournament.
New York is certainly ready for the Open and to see who’ll come out on top.
