Back to the concrete jungle: Monfils, Humbert snap selfies at the US Open 

It’s time to head back to the concrete jungle. The players are arriving in New York, and US Open preparation is officially underway.

With less than a week until the final Grand Slam of the year begins, it’s time to get settled in the Big Apple and get to work. A few major names will be absent from the draw this year (Rafa, Roger, Serena, Dominic, and Venus), but that doesn’t mean the stars won’t be out in Flushing Meadows.

Naomi Osaka will soon be kicking off her title defense, while world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is on the hunt to make history by capturing Grand Slam No. 21. Both have been spotted getting a few reps in before the games begin.

As more players are spotted around the grounds, the excitement for the rest of the stacked draw continues to grow.

Western & Southern Open finalists and longtime friends Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev were seen taking a courtside break together. Matteo Berrettini and Diego Schwartzman teamed up for a sweaty practice session. Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka compared their animal tattoos, while Ugo Humbert and Gael Monfils snapped a few selfies. Coco Gauff looked calm, cool, and collected while taking instruction from her dad and coach Corey.

And can someone find Nick Kyrgios a practice partner?

The greatest talents in the game are setting up for what’s sure to a be a different and exciting US Open. Fans are back on-site and the energy will be at an all-time high. With a few of the established names out this year, it feels as if the opportunity in the air is palpable.

After-all it is New York. Alicia Keys said it best in the 2009 hit song, "Empire State of Mind." It's the city "where dreams are made of."