U.S. Open aces
The grounds' crew dries the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium after a period of rain delayed matches at the U.S. Open. (Aug. 28, 2013) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
ACE. A racket-company T-shirt spotted on the National Tennis Center grounds: "Please string responsibly."
FAULT. It is just not possible to play hard-court tennis on wet courts.
FAULT. The Arthur Ashe Stadium roof isn't ready yet.
FAULT. The U.S. Open's ongoing insistence of spreading men's first-round play over three full days and nights is haunting organizers again because of yesterday's rain. As of 6 p.m. last night, there still were 18 first-round matches unplayed.
By the numbers . . .
3rd Dimension. What makes live tennis better than televised tennis.
35 Years to the day since the National Tennis Center opened in Flushing Meadows. Bjorn Borg, who won 10 major titles but never the U.S. Open, defeated Bob Hewitt in the debut match.
38 The number of Slambonis in the new fleet of court-drying machines -- so called as a cross between Zamboni and Grand Slam -- out in force, and often, during yesterday's rain delays. (The old fleet was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy last year.)
Furthermore
This year's Tennis Hall of Fame exhibit on the National Tennis Center grounds recalls the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" match won by Billie Jean King over aging male chauvinist Bobby Riggs. The display includes Riggs' "Sugar Daddy" warm-up and King's gaudy tennis dress, created by tennis designer
Ted Tinling.
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