- Title: USA: ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM HOSTS US OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT
- Date: 29th August 2005
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 29, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM 2. TENNIS COURTS AT STADIUM COMPLEX 3. VARIOUS OF LINDSAY DAVENPORT AT PRACTICE 4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING DAVENPORT 5. DAVENPORT AT PRACTICE 6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT MATCH SCHEDULE 7. SERENA WILLIAMS WALKING INTO PRESS CONFERENCE 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SERENA WILLIAMS SAYING: "For me it's the biggest stage. I love playing in New York. I love the U.S. Open. I love the court, I love everything about it, except sometimes the line calls, but other than that, it's a great place to be at." 9. WILLIAMS AT PRESS CONFERENCE 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SERENA WILLIAMS SAYING: "No one gets me more motivated than Venus because I don't want her to catch up with me yet. She's at five now, I'm still at seven, so I've got to keep ahead." 11. TENNIS COURTS AT STADIUM COMPLEX 12. CROWD OUTSIDE OF STADIUM 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TENNIS FAN NANCY GILROY SAYING: "Agassi, of course. He's the best. it may be his last time, so I'm really excited. I hope he takes it home." 14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TENNIS FAN GARRETT CARTER SAYING: "I like Roger, Roger Federer. He's a good player, so I'd like to see him win." 15. ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th September 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAD25B2A9MA34HGZZFT4OY243RS
- Story Text: New York City's Arthur Ashe Stadium hosts the first
day of the 2005 U.S. Open.
Tennis fans poured into New York City's Arthur
Ashe Stadium Monday (August 29, 2005) for the 2005 U.S. Open.
The first day of the final grand slam tournament of the
year was slated to host several top seeded players.
Fans filtered through the stadium's complex to see
women's top seed Maria Sharapova of Russia play Greek Eleni
Daniilidou, men's number two seed Rafael Nadal taking on
American Bobby Reynolds, and number seven Andre Agassi
facing Romanian Razvan Sabau.
But before fans caught the big matches inside the
stadium, many strolled thorough the ground's practice
courts, hoping to get a glimpse of their favorite players.
Number two seed, Lindsay Davenport worked up a sweat
during her practice match, and gathered a large crowd of
supportive spectators.
While Davenport practiced outside, Serena Williams
played inside, overwhelming Taiwanese teenager Yung-Jan
Chan 6-1 6-3 in the first round. Williams said she was
excited to be back on the New York courts. She said, "For
me it's the biggest stage. I love playing in New York. I
love the U.S. Open. I love the court, I love everything
about it, except sometimes the line calls, but other than
that, it's a great place to be at."
Serena, who could face older sister Venus Williams in
the fourth round, said that playing her sister always keeps
her on track. Said Serena, "No one gets me more motivated
than Venus because I don't want her to catch up with me
yet. She's at five now, I'm still at seven, so I've got to
keep ahead."
Arthur Ashe stadium was packed for it's opening day, as
fans were eager to get the games underway: however, not
tennis fan Nancy Gilroy, "Agassi, of course. He's the
best. it may be his last time, so I'm really excited. I
hope he takes it home."
However, another fan, Garrett Carter, disagreed. "I
like Roger, Roger Federer. He's a good player, so I'd like
to see him win," he said.
The U.S. Open, which is celebrating its 125th
anniversary year, will play through Sunday, September 11.
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