The Big Apple is calling - US Open 2006

[safinbgfan]

Thanks very much ;D

[alsl]

YOWZA already on the 4th page and the USO hasnt even started yet!!

OMG doesnt it just feel like ANY picture of marat can go into the drooling thread at the mo..

[SAFINNO1]

Marat kicks off his Us Open title hunt on Tuesday. He does not play tomorrow

Monday OOP
www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/index.html

[Annie]

Thanks Ily, good luck to Misha, Lena and other Russian girls tomorrow ;D ;D ;D ;D

[kuniochi]

So tomorrow no Marat, no Rafa, no Fed. Ok, will wait for Tuesday! ;D ;D ;D

Thank you all for the picz and info!

[marats]

Looking out at tuesday ................ Marat !!!

[sonya]

alsl said:

OMG doesnt it just feel like ANY picture of marat can go into the drooling thread at the mo..

ooo,it sooo does!!!

[Annie]

Men's Doubles Draw is out...Marat is not playing. Dima will play with Grosjean ;D ;D

[Annie]

Soooo... new week new Slam ;D ;D ;D ;D Let's rock n' roll!!!!!! ;D

Opening Night to Feature Andre Agassi Match and Billie Jean King Tribute

FLUSHING, N.Y., August 26, 2006 - The USTA has announced that Opening Night of the 2006 US Open will feature two legends - Andre Agassi and Billie Jean King. Agassi will play his first round match against Andrei Pavel following a special ceremony renaming the USTA National Tennis Center in honor of Billie Jean King. USA Network will begin live coverage of this memorable night beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

King will be honored by tennis champions Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Venus Williams in a special on-court tribute that will officially rename the USTA National Tennis Center in King's honor. Legendary pop diva Diana Ross will cap the ceremony with a special musical performance.

Agassi, who announced earlier this summer that he will retire after the 2006 US Open, is scheduled to play on Opening Night at the US Open for the eighth time in the past nine years. The two-time US Open champion reached the final last year, losing to Roger Federer.

[Annie]

Instant Replay Comes to the US Open

The 2006 US Open will mark a historic year in the evolution of tennis. Instant replay will make its Grand Slam debut on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium. Some are calling it the biggest innovation in the game since the advent of the tiebreak in the 1970s. Others have called it one of the most exciting fan enhancements to become part of any sport.

Whichever view you take, instant replay has arrived in 2006 -- and it joins a long list of Grand Slam firsts to which the US Open lays claim].

Instant replay technology has been around for several years as a television enhancement, allowing viewers at home to see an approximation of where the ball landed on their television monitors.

But a controversial call between Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati at the 2004 US Open became the motivating force for the USTA to harness this existing technology as an on-court officiating tool. Over the next year, the USTA brought together a task force including former players and ATP, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and broadcast officials. Their work concluded in July 2005 – too soon before the 2005 US Open to be implemented.

Hawk-Eye Innovations, which had introduced Hawk-Eye on television, had improved and refined its system to the point where the ball mark could be measured within three millimeters – about the size of the fuzz on the ball – and Hawk-Eye Officiating was chosen as the instant replay technology provider for the 2006 US Open Series and 2006 US Open.

Instant replay and the player challenge system made its pro tennis debut at the 2006 NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami this past March and has been used throughout the 2006 US Open Series on all stadium courts. The technology not only benefits on-court officiating but adds fan excitement with the player challenge system.

Here’s how it works:

Each player will receive two challenges per set to review line calls.
If the player is correct with a challenge, then the player retains the same number of challenges.
If the player is incorrect with a challenge, then one of his/her challenges is lost.
During a tie-break game in any set, each player will receive one additional challenge.
Challenges may not be carried over from one set to another.

[yse]

[Annie]

Picture number 4 - LMAO ;D ;D ;D

Thanks yse..what a good morning ;D

[Annie]

www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=15867&bannerregion=<br%20/>

Safin's Session
by Hairload

I watched two practice sessions for Safin on Wednesday. First, he practiced with Gasquet on the main practice courts near the players' entrance. He was in a serious yet playful mood. On court very serious, in between, joking on the side with Gasquet's coach. Let me start off saying Safin probably dropped 10 to 15 pounds (probably hoping for less pressure on his knees). Nobody can put you in trouble in a point from the baseline faster than Safin. His flat two-hander is a rocket. If Gasquet hit anything short it was over. Gasquet was in awe. Hrbaty was Safin's next practice partner, in Armstrong (Stadium) later that day. It's very funny to see Safin on the court without a coach..He picks up his own tennis balls, and seems looser, although the rackets are flying and breaking at a faster pace, though I think he thinks he should never miss. Hrbaty hits a flatter ball than Gasquet, so Safin added a little more top to his strokes and played very well. His first serve was big, his second explodes off the court. A friend told me he saw Alexander Volkov working with Safin Friday, maybe he's going to help him here or he's the new coach. Maybe Volkov is part of the Russian Davis Cup deal and is around for that.

[Annie]

US Open Preview: Facts and Stats by ATP... some interesting stuff there ;D

www.atptennis.com/1/en/newsandscores/news/usopen_preview1.asp

[emma]

Thank you ladies!