US News

A SURGE OF ‘NET’ PROFITS

Scalpers hawking US Open tickets have some racket going.

Ducats for next month’s Grand Slam tennis tournament in Queens have become this summer’s hottest ticket, with those for the men’s final now being peddled for an astounding $10,000 each, according to sellers.

Such Internet-based vendors as StubHub! have seen ticket prices soar after last week’s thrilling Wimbledon final, won by Rafael Nadal over Roger Federer, as fans hope for a repeat performance at Flushing Meadow on Sept. 7.

“There’s a lot of money to be made,” said one seller, who did not want to give his name. “Tennis fans spare no expense, and the US Open is the sport’s premier event in this country. There is no shortage of people who want tickets.”

At this time last year, the most expensive ticket for the men’s final was selling for about $6,000.

The US Open’s Web site lists tickets for this year’s men’s and women’s final in the range of $86 to $100.

On StubHub!, the priciest ticket was a courtside box seat for the men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which has a capacity of about 23,000, at a price of $9,750.

The average price for premium seats to the match on the site is about $4,000, depending on the seat.

Tickets to the women’s final, slated for Sept. 6, also are selling well above face value.

Peddlers who hope sisters Venus and Serena Williams reach the final, as they did at Wimbledon, are selling tickets for upward of $7,900.

Last year, tickets for the women’s final were selling for about $4,500 around the same time.

“The women’s final generally sells for less than the men’s, but they have steadily risen in price over the past few years,” the seller said. “The price of those tickets should go up as we get closer to the tournament.”

The US Open will be played from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7.

Sellers have flocked to eBay or ticket brokers, because it’s better than trying to pawn off their ducats to fans outside the venue on the day of the event.

The state’s ticket-scalping laws were loosened last year by the Legislature, and restrictions on ticket-resale prices were removed. But the law that tickets cannot be resold within 1,500 feet of sites that seat at least 5,000 fans was left unchanged.

Last year, undercover cops stationed outside the US Open complex, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, cracked down on the practice, arresting fans whenever they tried to sell tickets.

Offenders face a misdemeanor fine of $500.

A spokeswoman for Ticketmaster, the company in charge of selling Open tickets, said the business discourages ticket holders from trying to sell spares outside a venue. The company said it offers a resale service called TicketExchange, for a fee.

clemente.lisi@nypost.com