Liguori: Roger Federer Tops US Open's Opening Schedule
By Ann Liguori
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Hope you got through Irene safe and sound! It's times like these that pull all of us together and we take time to support each other and appreciate all that we have.
The power in my home has been out since 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning. It was still extremely windy late Sunday afternoon on the East End of Long Island. Obviously, it could have been a lot worse! Irene, good riddance!
The storm will hardly alter Monday's schedule on the first day of the US Open.
The USTA is reporting that the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center came through Tropical Storm Irene with minimal damage. Play will commence on a majority of the courts (including Louis Armstrong Stadium) at 11 a.m., with the first match in Arthur Ashe Stadium starting at 1 p.m. Gates will open to the public at 10 a.m.
Full schedule details can be found at www.usopen.org, the official website of the tournament.
And five-time US Open champ Roger Federer will make his first-round appearance on Monday, hoping to become the fourth man in history to win six or more titles here!
Federer is ranked third in the world as he begins this US Open, seeded third. He arrives in New York without a Grand Slam title to his season, unfamiliar territory for the Swiss maestro who has won at least one Grand Slam title every year since capturing his first major at 2003 Wimbledon. But this year, Federer has lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open, finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and fell in the quarterfinals to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Wimbledon.
A win Monday will put Federer in 2nd place, tied with Andre Agassi, for the most Grand Slam match wins in the Open Era. (Jimmy Connors has the most wins with 233, Agassi is currently in 2nd place with 224 and Federer is in 3rd with 223).
He will play one of three Colombian players in the draw, Santiago Giraldo.
Every time Federer takes the court, he brings a special aura with him. So much history he has made and can continue to make!
Do you predict any upsets on Day 1? Let Ann know in the comments below!
