Countdown to the US Open
Defending champions Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova warmed
up for next week’s US Open by winning the 2007 US Open
Series men’s and women’s titles on Sunday. The
two players will now compete for the largest payout in tennis
history at the 2007 US Open — $2.4 million ($1.4 million
for winning the US Open and a $1 million bonus for winning
the US Open and the US Open Series).
World No. 1 Federer won his first US Open Series title of
2007 on Sunday, defeating James Blake 61 64 in the final at
Cincinnati to guarantee first place on the men’s leaderboard.
Justine Henin’s victory at last week’s WTA event
in Toronto meant that no woman could overtake Sharapova, a
winner earlier this summer in San Diego.
Second and third place finishers of the US Open Series will
also compete for bonus prize money at the US Open. Second
place US Open Series finishers can win an additional $500,000
bonus if they win the US Open. Third place US Open Series
finishers can win an addition $250,000 bonus if they win the
US Open.
Federer is bidding for a fourth successive men’s singles
title in New York, while Sharapova will look to defend the
title she won with a straight sets victory over Henin last
year.
The USTA announced that Americans John Isner, Alex Kuznetsov,
Jesse Levine, Wayne Odesnik, Ryan Sweeting, Donald Young,
Michael McClune, plus Australian Alun Jones have been awarded
men’s singles main draw wild card entries. Americans
Lauren Albanese, Madison Brengle, Audra Cohen, Alexa Glatch,
Jamea Jackson, Ahsha Rolle, Ashley Weinhold, plus Australian
Jessica Moore are the eight women’s wild cards.
The USTA also announced that the tournament will celebrate
the 50th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s historic title
victory at the US National Championships with an Opening Night
celebration themed, ‘Breaking Barriers’. As part
of the ceremony, Gibson will be inducted in the US Open Court
of Champions, based on the result of an international media
vote. Gibson became the first African American tennis player,
male or female, to win the title at the US National Championships
(now the US Open) in 1957.
“Althea Gibson’s talent, dignity and unrelenting
desire to achieve made her a great champion,” said Jane
Brown Grimes, President and Chairman of the Board, USTA.
The US Open qualifying event begins tomorrow, Tuesday 21
August, and runs until Friday 24 August. Men’s singles
qualifying sees 128 players contest 16 places in the main
draw, while women’s singles qualifying sees 96 players
chase 12 places in the main draw.The 2007 US Open takes place
at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from Monday
27 August until Sunday 9 September. The draws will be held
at the Empire State Building at 11:00 local time on Wednesday
22 August.
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