The Honey Deuce cocktail, which made its debut at the U.S. Open in 2006, is arguably as popular today as the tennis tournament itself. 

Case in point: An awkward moment occurred during a broadcast this week when a man returning to his seat with two of the cocktails — one of which was presumably for the woman next to him — was beaten to it by another man seated in the row behind him.

But if not for one man’s purchase of honeydew melon balls before a weekend in the Hamptons some years ago, the U.S. Open’s signature cocktail might not have looked as it does today.

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Fox News Digital spoke with Nick Mautone, a mixologist and hospitality industry consultant who served as brand ambassador for Grey Goose vodka, to discuss the birth of the beverage.

A New York native who lives in Seattle today, Mautone said he was tasked with creating a new cocktail for the U.S. Open when Grey Goose became the official beverage sponsor in 2006.

As Mautone was driving home in the Hamptons, he stopped to pick up some items to create a dessert salad that he intended to make for guests who would be visiting. 

On the grocery list were honeydew melon balls.

“Immediately the thunderbolt went off and I said, ‘Holy cow, these look just like tennis balls,’” Mautone recalled to Fox News Digital. 

“Holy cow, these look just like tennis balls.”

“So, from that moment on, I knew that that was the garnish, non-negotiable.”

Mautone presented it to the brand team at Grey Goose, who “fell in love” with the garnish; he also spoke to the U.S. Open staff.

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“The people doing the food service operations were less than thrilled at the idea of making a gazillion honeydew melon balls,” Mautone said.

That is, until they found a company that “makes hundreds of thousands of melon balls every day and ships them fresh to the U.S. Open.”

The U.S. Open’s Honey Deuce is made of Grey Goose vodka, fresh lemonade and a “drizzle” of Chambord black raspberry liqueur. The honeydew melon balls provide the garnish. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

Mautone played around with “a couple of iterations” of the cocktail at first, including one version that used blackberry liqueur, before settling on the final recipe.

It includes Grey Goose vodka, fresh lemonade, a “drizzle” of Chambord black raspberry liqueur and, of course, the honeydew melon balls.

The goal, Mautone said, was to avoid making “a very complex drink so that the bartenders can actually serve it without getting frustrated.”

“Lo and behold, it’s become a cultural icon.”

He added, “It’s a very simple two- or three-step process for a bartender to make the drink.” He said he was “dead set on a tall drink as well.”

Since the tournament is played in New York in August, Mautone didn’t want “something very spirit-forward because it’s too alcoholic and not pleasant to drink in the summer heat.”

Mautone said he believes patrons were “getting bored with beer and other libations” — so the Honey Deuce came along at the right time.

“Lo and behold, it’s become a cultural icon,” Mautone said.

The inspiration for the Honey Deuce cocktail came from honeydew melon balls, which resemble little tennis balls. (Grey Goose; iStock)

He attributes much of it to “old-school guerrilla marketing,” he said.

“It went viral,” he said.

The cocktail was crafted before Instagram existed and while social media was still in its infancy — so the Honey Deuce didn’t find fame outside of Queens, New York, until much later.

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“It’s become a cultural phenomenon by virtue of social media, specifically the honeydew melon balls, which I think a lot of people just look at as a genius garnish at a tennis match,” Mautone said. 

“So it’s become an Instagram-worthy drink that’s very friendly, very refreshing and inviting.”

The Honey Deuce has been the U.S. Open’s signature cocktail since Grey Goose took over as beverage sponsor in 2006. (Grey Goose)

The Honey Deuce has been in the news recently after its latest price hike, selling for $23. 

It sold for $22 at last year’s tournament.

Mautone said he thinks the beverage, which comes with a souvenir cup, is priced appropriately.

“If I was in midtown Manhattan or a great craft cocktail bar in Brooklyn and I ordered a craft cocktail, I’d be paying $18,” he said. 

“So, when you say $23, it’s not that much more for the experience you’re getting at, to me, one of the greatest sporting events in the country.”

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

Mautone said he plans to attend the U.S. Open. 

And when asked if he intended to order a Honey Deuce while he’s there, his answer was emphatic: “Absolutely.”

It’s rather poetic that meteorological summer ended Sunday — we’ve made it past moving day, college students are back on campus, and Boston Public Schools are about to be in session. We may be waving “goodbye” to summer, but not to free things to do in the area. This week, check out a civic-minded panel in Dorchester, and the return of the Boston Arts Festival. Plus, free admission to the Institute of Contemporary Art all day Labor Day.

Free events

OPTIMUS PRIME-TIME Pack a blanket or a lawn chair and head out to Seaport for an outdoor screening of the 2023 autobot-action flick, “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.” Food truck snacks and wine and beer will be available for purchase, though the hosts also encourage guests to BYOP (bring your own picnic) or pick up takeout from the surrounding restaurants. Rental chairs are available for $10 a pop, and free treats — like popcorn, swag, and soft drinks — will be up for grabs throughout the night. Sept. 2, 7 p.m. Free. 88 Seaport Blvd. bostonseaport.xyz

EDUCATE As November’s election nears, the BPL’s Dorchester branch is hosting a civic-minded panel discussion. Led by Andrés Ballesteros, community director of White Snake Projects, the panel will feature Occidental College Assistant Professor Ainsley LeSure and Boston-based activists Eric Kennedy and Madison Foley. The event will also feature a performance from Naomi Westwater, a local folk-rock and poetry artist. Sept. 4, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free. 690 Adams St., Dorchester. bpl.bibliocommons.com

JAM OUT At the Christian Science Plaza, the summer vibes are far from over with a free concert on the lawn, featuring folk artist Farayi Malek; the Robbie Pate Group, who will play R&B and soul covers; and Albino Mbie, who will play Afro-pop originals. Then cool off with a new world view with free admission to the Mapparium, the iconic, stained glass domed structure — representing the globe circa 1935 — where sound, vibration, and light bounce and reflect in extraordinary ways. Sept. 6, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Free. Christian Science Plaza, 210 Massachusetts Ave. christianscience.com

ARTIST’S POINT This coming weekend, Christopher Columbus Park hosts over 50 artists at the annual Boston Arts Festival. The festival, which has been hosted since 2003, will feature two days of music — including performances from local artists like Fly By Brass Band, blindspot, and the 94s. Plus, there will be numerous vendors, including paintings by Joseph Mushipi, clothing by Sherry Divedi, and ceramics by Lori Gardinier. Sept. 7 and 8, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. Christopher Columbus Park, 100 Atlantic Ave. thebostonartsfestival.com

NOT A ROOK-IE MISTAKE Try a twist on chess with a free meetup in Harvard Square. The Creative Chess Club invites likeminded gamers to take on a non-traditional variant — from Magic the Gathering hybrid, Eternal Kings, to eight-player Party Chess. The group encourages new members (and novices) and meet every other Saturday. Check their website or join their Discord for up-to-date locations and times. Sept. 7, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center, 1350 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. bostonscreativechessclub.com

VOCAL CHORD ACADEMY The Boston Lyric Opera and Boston Conservatory at Berklee join forces for an opera masterclass featuring Lawrence Brownlee. Brownlee, who will star in the titular role in Mozart’s “Mitridate” at the BLO later this month, will coach five singers through technique, and offer performance and acting tips. Members of the public are welcome to sit in on the lesson and get a glimpse behind the scenes of the world of opera. Sept. 8, 3 p.m. Free. Seully Hall, 8 Fenway. bostonconservatory.berklee.edu

Deals & Steals

ON-THE-HOUSE ARTS In honor of Labor Day, the Institute of Contemporary Art will offer free admission all day long. Visitors can catch the Firelei Báez exhibition and Hew Locke’s The Procession (located at the ICA’s Watershed) on their final day at the museum. Advance tickets are required. Sept. 2, 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Free. Institute of Contemporary Art, 25 Harbor Shore Drive. icaboston.org

Emily Wyrwa can be reached at emily.wyrwa@globe.com. Follow her @emilywyrwa.

Pittsburgh police are continuing to search for a missing 13-year-old girl.

Detectives first began looking for Tabitha Clark at the start of August.

On Sunday, police released new photos of the girl — one showing her wearing glass and another where she appears to be on public transit.

Clark was reportedly last seen as recently as mid-August in the Hill District.

She is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall with brown eyes and black hair. She’s known to spend time on the North Side, Downtown, or McKees Rocks.

Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7141 or 911.

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