A look at the U.S. Open
Surface: Hard courts.
Site: The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Schedule: Play begins Monday. The women’s singles final is Sept. 12; the men’s singles final is Sept. 13.
On TV: ESPN2 (starting Monday), Tennis Channel (starting Monday), CBS (starting Saturday).
On the Web: The tournament’s official site, which will stream matches live, is https://www.USOpen.org
2008 men’s singles champion: Roger Federer, Switzerland.
2008 women’s singles champion: Serena Williams, United States.
Last year: Each singles final was delayed a day because of rain. Federer beat Andy Murray, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2, for a fifth U.S. Open title in a row. Williams won her third U.S. Open championship -- first since 2002 -- by beating Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 7-5.
New this year: Video replay technology has been added to the Grandstand, giving the tournament three courts with electronic line-calling. Night sessions may have a men’s match scheduled first, followed by a women’s match; it has been the other way around in the past.
Key statistic: 34 -- Consecutive U.S. Open matches won by Federer. He is bidding to win a sixth consecutive title at the American Grand Slam tournament, something that hasn’t been done by anyone since Bill Tilden in 1920-25.
Prize money: Total of $21.6 million, with $1.6 million each to the men’s and women’s singles champions.
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