Reigning US Open tennis champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams will begin defending their titles today as an opening-day match list released on Saturday also had Venus Williams and Andy Roddick at night. The year's final Grand Slam tournament commences on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts on Monday with former world number one Kim Clijsters of Belgium facing Ukraine's Viktoriya Kutuzova in the first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium where us open tennis tickets are hardly available.
Federer, who has won the past five US Open men's titles and has not lost at the Open since the fourth round in 2003, begins his quest for six in a row.
Clijsters is making her first US Open appearance since winning the 2005 women's title, her only Grand Slam crown. She returned to the court earlier this month after a layoff of more than two years to start a family.
Federer, who has won the past five US Open men's titles and has not lost at the US Open since the fourth round in 2003, begins his quest for six in a row against 18-year-old American Devin Britton in the second match at Ashe. "Doesn't matter who you play, where you play. If you think the guy is not going to make a game that's absurd," Federer said.
"That's how tennis is. You have to be very careful. I have to make sure I put in a good performance." Federer recalled being shocked at 17 when he faced Andre Agassi in his hometown of Basel, so he can relate to Britton's situation. "You try to enjoy it, put in a good fight," Federer said. "Best-of-five-set match is maybe something Britton has never played before, but a good thing in tennis is you always have a chance."
US fifth seed Andy Roddick's advice for Britton was to find ways to help cope with a signature moment on the big stage. "There's nothing like going out on that court and playing," Roddick said. "I would like him to be sure to have a look around when he walks out on the court, take it all in before you go start warmup so you don't catch yourself looking around too much when you start." Serena Williams, who won her 11th career Slam title last month at Wimbledon, begins her quest for a fourth US Open title in the following match against American Alexa Glatch and most of the first day us open tennis tickets are sold.
The main court's night session starts with US third seed Venus Williams meeting Russia's Vera Dushevina followed by men's fifth seed Roddick facing Germany's Bjorn Phau. US Open officials have said they plan to stage a women's match after a men's match at some point during the Flushing Meadows fortnight. Men usually play the later matches in part because they are bestof-five compared to the best-of-three on the women's side.
US open 2009 - Will Federer repeat Tilden’s feat?
Roger Federer will bid to become the first man in 84 years to win six straight US Open titles when the Swiss star opens the defence of his crown from Monday. The last time six in-row happened here was in 1925 when “Big” Bill Tilden defeated William Johnston for the fifth time in six years on the grasscourts of Forest Hills.
The 28-year-old Swiss star knows that a new wave of younger players are closing in on him and are sure to make it hard in boisterous New York, but he insists he is fit and ready to retain his crown. Evidence of this came last weekend when he scored back-to-back wins over two of his main challengers, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, to win the Cincinnati Masters.
Indeed Federer has lost just the once, to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinal of the Montreal Masters, since the start of May. That is in stark contrast to this time last year when Federer had lost his beloved Wimbledon crown and number one ranking to Nadal and also lost early at the Beijing Olympics as he struggled for form.
“I was lucky enough that when I got to the New York that the fans were trying to push me back to number one right away,” he said. “It was something that I’ve never really experienced before in New York and I think that really helped turn it around for me.
“Because after having the disappointment at Wimbledon and also in Beijing ...I was sort of disappointed coming into the US Open. The fans for me turned it around and that’s why this year I’m so excited about going back.”
Federer certainly knows what it takes to win in New York having chalked up 35 straight wins since losing to David Nalbandian in the fourth round in 2003. Indeed only twice — against Andre Agassi in the 2004 quarterfinals and in the fourth round last year against Igor Andreev — has he been taken to five sets.
Unlike last year the main challenge is not expected to come from Nadal, who has just returned to action following the 10-week layoff he took to heal his painful knees after losing his French Open crown to Robin Soderling, and who admits to not yet being back to his best both physically and mentally.
Instead the 22-year-olds Murray and Djokovic are well placed to contend especially as they comprise the last two losing finalists to Federer in New York. Murray in particular is a threat having won five titles this year already to take the world number two spot away from Nadal.
He also enjoys a winning 6-3 career record over Federer although he was brushed aside by the Swiss in straight sets in last year’s US Open final and lost to him last week in Cincinnati. However, the Scot said that he had had “the perfect preparation” for New York with his win at the Montreal Masters and run into the semis in Cincinnati and his fitness appears to be markedly better that it was last year.
Djokovic is also returning to top form just in time for New York, evidence of which was his straight sets dismissal of Nadal in the Cincinnati semifinals and he is looking to new coach Todd Martin to fire his challenge for a second Grand Slam title after the 2008 Australian Open.
Current champions
Roger Federer is the defending Gentleman's champion, after beating Andy Murray in 2008
Score: 6–2, 7–5, 6–2
Serena Williams is the defending Ladies' champion, after beating Jelena Jankovic in 2008
Score: 6–4, 7–5
The us open 2009 tickets are selling online like hot cakes and every tennis lover is waiting for the event. Get your US open 2009 tickets and be ready for the US open tennis chompionship. Lets have funtastic week ahead.
The 28-year-old Swiss star knows that a new wave of younger players are closing in on him and are sure to make it hard in boisterous New York, but he insists he is fit and ready to retain his crown. Evidence of this came last weekend when he scored back-to-back wins over two of his main challengers, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, to win the Cincinnati Masters.
Indeed Federer has lost just the once, to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinal of the Montreal Masters, since the start of May. That is in stark contrast to this time last year when Federer had lost his beloved Wimbledon crown and number one ranking to Nadal and also lost early at the Beijing Olympics as he struggled for form.
“I was lucky enough that when I got to the New York that the fans were trying to push me back to number one right away,” he said. “It was something that I’ve never really experienced before in New York and I think that really helped turn it around for me.
“Because after having the disappointment at Wimbledon and also in Beijing ...I was sort of disappointed coming into the US Open. The fans for me turned it around and that’s why this year I’m so excited about going back.”
Federer certainly knows what it takes to win in New York having chalked up 35 straight wins since losing to David Nalbandian in the fourth round in 2003. Indeed only twice — against Andre Agassi in the 2004 quarterfinals and in the fourth round last year against Igor Andreev — has he been taken to five sets.
Unlike last year the main challenge is not expected to come from Nadal, who has just returned to action following the 10-week layoff he took to heal his painful knees after losing his French Open crown to Robin Soderling, and who admits to not yet being back to his best both physically and mentally.
Instead the 22-year-olds Murray and Djokovic are well placed to contend especially as they comprise the last two losing finalists to Federer in New York. Murray in particular is a threat having won five titles this year already to take the world number two spot away from Nadal.
He also enjoys a winning 6-3 career record over Federer although he was brushed aside by the Swiss in straight sets in last year’s US Open final and lost to him last week in Cincinnati. However, the Scot said that he had had “the perfect preparation” for New York with his win at the Montreal Masters and run into the semis in Cincinnati and his fitness appears to be markedly better that it was last year.
Djokovic is also returning to top form just in time for New York, evidence of which was his straight sets dismissal of Nadal in the Cincinnati semifinals and he is looking to new coach Todd Martin to fire his challenge for a second Grand Slam title after the 2008 Australian Open.
Current champions
Roger Federer is the defending Gentleman's champion, after beating Andy Murray in 2008
Score: 6–2, 7–5, 6–2
Serena Williams is the defending Ladies' champion, after beating Jelena Jankovic in 2008
Score: 6–4, 7–5
The us open 2009 tickets are selling online like hot cakes and every tennis lover is waiting for the event. Get your US open 2009 tickets and be ready for the US open tennis chompionship. Lets have funtastic week ahead.
US Open Tennis History
The US Open tennis has come a long way in the 121 years since it was first held. Far more than the other three Grand Slams it has been willing to change its name, location, choice of playing surface - and the rules. It is now the richest tennis tournament in the world with over $14.5m in prize money - but it has not always been that way.
The event first came about after the US Lawn Tennis Association was founded in May 1881 and its members decided to hold a national championship.
Twenty-six players entered the inaugural competition - called the US National Singles Championship - which was held at the Newport Casino, Rhode Island that August.
Only players from clubs who were members of the US National LTA were eligible to enter.
The first singles winner was Richard Sears - who won without dropping a set - and he went on to defend his title successfully for the next six years.
Things were slightly easier for him than in the present day however - until 1911 a challenge system was used whereby the defending champion automatically qualified for the next year's final.
Clarence Clark and W.F. Taylor took the first doubles title, but Sears was also part of the winning team for the following six years.
Women entered for the first time in 1887 but at a separate venue, the Philadelphia Cricket Club, with Ellen Hansell taking the first ladies title.
The US Open differs from the other three Grand Slam tournaments in that there are final-set tiebreaks. In the other three tournaments, the fifth set for men and the third set for women continue until someone wins by two games.
All-non-US-citizen singles finals
Since the U.S. Championships began in 1881, there have been only five years when an American reached neither the men's nor women's singles final: 1959, 1973, 1988, 2004, and 2007.
Today, the US Open remains an event revered for its history and respected for its drama; thousands tune-in world wide to watch their favorite players in prusuit of the US Open Championship. Are you ready with your US open tennis tickets for the years last tennis festival?
The event first came about after the US Lawn Tennis Association was founded in May 1881 and its members decided to hold a national championship.
Twenty-six players entered the inaugural competition - called the US National Singles Championship - which was held at the Newport Casino, Rhode Island that August.
Only players from clubs who were members of the US National LTA were eligible to enter.
The first singles winner was Richard Sears - who won without dropping a set - and he went on to defend his title successfully for the next six years.
Things were slightly easier for him than in the present day however - until 1911 a challenge system was used whereby the defending champion automatically qualified for the next year's final.
Clarence Clark and W.F. Taylor took the first doubles title, but Sears was also part of the winning team for the following six years.
Women entered for the first time in 1887 but at a separate venue, the Philadelphia Cricket Club, with Ellen Hansell taking the first ladies title.
The US Open differs from the other three Grand Slam tournaments in that there are final-set tiebreaks. In the other three tournaments, the fifth set for men and the third set for women continue until someone wins by two games.
All-non-US-citizen singles finals
Since the U.S. Championships began in 1881, there have been only five years when an American reached neither the men's nor women's singles final: 1959, 1973, 1988, 2004, and 2007.
Today, the US Open remains an event revered for its history and respected for its drama; thousands tune-in world wide to watch their favorite players in prusuit of the US Open Championship. Are you ready with your US open tennis tickets for the years last tennis festival?
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