Diana Ross will perform, and Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Venus Williams will participate in next week's opening night ceremony at the U.S. Open.
The focus will be the renaming of the U.S. Tennis Association National Tennis Centre in honour of former Tennis player and pioneer Billie Jean King.
Some nine years after christening its stadium for Arthur Ashe, the United States Tennis Association is adding Billie Jean King’s name to the National Tennis Centre in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The change will take effect Aug. 28, during an opening-night ceremony at the United States Open.
“I’m still in shock,” King said. “I’d heard the rumours, but it’s still a dream, and I just wish my dad were alive. He would have loved it.”
Diana Ross is expected to perform one of her classics as a tribute to Billie Jean King, and "God Bless America”, Members of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts Concert Choir will assist her.
2006 US Open prize money is set to top a record $18.5 Million with a total potential $21.1 Million payout.
For the 34th consecutive year, the USTA will offer equal prize money to both men and women will be equal, as it has been since 1973. All players also receive per diem payments to help with the cost of accommodations and other expenses.
2006 US OPEN PRIZE MONEY FOR TOP FINISHERS
Winner: $1,200,000
Finalist: $600,000
Semi-finalist: $280,000
Quarter-finalist: $140,000
All eyes will be on Andre Agassi as he bids his farewell to his long and successful tennis career as he plays his final tournament at the US open in August.
Will the Williams Sisters be back? Can Serena continue her return form injury and see her world ranking soar as a result of some good wins? Will Lindsay Davenport return to play her last tournament before possibly retiring? The defending Women’s open champion, Kim Clijsters is unable to defend her title due to the wrist injury she picked up in Montreal last week.
The draw was announced yesterday and Britain’s Tim Henman will face Greg Rusedski in the first round. British number 1, Andy Murray, seeded 17 at the event, is drawn against a qualifier.
Men’s top-seed and two-time defending US Open champion Roger Federer headlines the top half of the draw, along with American star James Blake, who is seeded fifth in the tournament. The two could potentially meet in the quarter-finals.
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