US Open Honors Champions Past in 2008Opening Ceremony
After a humid first day at the US Open with clouds threatening rain all afternoon,fans who purchased tickets to the Open’s night session were treated to a beautiful opening ceremony at dusk at Arthur Ashe Stadium under a clear New York sky.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was a keynote speaker and ushered in this year’s tournament by addressing the crowd.
“On behalf of the city of New York,welcome to the one and only US Open,”Mayor Bloomberg said to rally the crowd.
This year’s Open is a special one as it marks the 40th Anniversary of the tournament and the first tournament of the Open Era.From 1881until 1968,the U.S.National Championship was limited to amateurs.In 1968the modern era of tennis was born when the US Open replaced the U.S.National Championship and opened its doors to all who qualified to compete.
Since 1968,Bloomberg said that the US Open is “the best attended annual sporting event in the world.”
The host of the evening's festivities was Oscar winning actor Forrest Whitaker,who spoke about the history of the tournament and the tumultuous year of 1968.
In 1968,the U.S.became even more embroiled in the Vietnam War,protests and social unrest erupted throughout the country,Martin Luther King Jr.was shot and killed,and the highly politicized summer Olympic games took place in Mexico City.And in 1968Arthur Ashe became the first ever men’s champion and the first ever African American Champion of the U.S.Open,which was held at West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills,New York,for the first time,becoming one of the only bright spots during a difficult year for the country.
In honor of that special moment in tennis history,Whitaker introduced a procession of 25past champions of the tournament including Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe and her daughter Camera Ashe as well as Virginia Wade,the first women’s singles US Open champion.
The Champions entered the stadium in chronological order of when they won their titles.Rod Laver,the only man to complete a Grand Slam in the history of tennis followed Wade.Billie Jean King,the winner of the US Open in 1971,1972and 1974,the winner of 39Grand Slams and revolutionary figure for women’s sports entered Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to rousing cheers from the crowd.Chris Evert and John McEnroe were also hometown favorites as they took the stage.Martina Navratilova,the winner of 59career slams,was present as was Ivan Lendl,Mats Wilander and Monica Seles.
Champions still in the game –Lindsay Davenport,Marat Safin,Serena and Venus Williams,Svetlana Kuznetsova,Andy Roddick,Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer,the only man to win four consecutive US Open titles –were all introduced to the fans at Arthur Ashe.
The fans were treated to the music of Earth Wind and Fire,who sang God Bless America as members of the U.S.Marine Corps opened a flag that covered the entire center court.Just as the ceremony closed,red,white and blue fireworks erupted atop the stadium.
“Rod Laver,Billie Jean King,John Newcombe –they’re still champions,”Chris Evert told reporters following the moving ceremony.“It’s an elite group of players that have something in common.It was just wonderful.”
Fans stayed on after the ceremony to take in two matches featuring three American players.First,Jelena Jankovic of Serbia versus Coco Vandaweghe,followed by James Blake versus Donald Young.
