In the 18th and 19th centuries, Flushing, now the home of the US Open, was known for its nurseries. Robert Prince created the first commercial greenhouse in America, planting eight acres of gardens in 1737 and 113 acres during the Civil War. The site was so attractive that George Washington once traveled by barge to the western end of Flushing just to visit the shrubbery. The British, during the Revolutionary War, treated the site with such respect that they surrounded it with soldiers just to protect its fields. If you were in the mood to see some of the best fruit gardens and trees in the world, you headed to Flushing. Tennis wasnt even an organized sport yet.
Times have changed.
Centuries later, celebrities and luminaries from around the world still visit Flushing in August but for a different reason. They come to see the US Open.
The nurseries have been replaced by sprawling tennis stadiums, and the objects of affection have been replaced by the best tennis players in the world. From August 25 to September 7, players like Andre Agassi and Venus Williams transform what used to be a peaceful sanctuary for flowers into a hotbed of tennis.
And like every year, the Open carries with it the intrigue of a page-turner.
With some of the biggest names injured or mulling retirement, the pressure to provide fireworks this year falls on a mixed bag of men and women led by an American and a pair of Belgians.
Andre Agassi, the mens top seed and the No. 3 player in the world will try to capture his second major title of the year after winning the Australian Open in July. Playing out from under the long shadow of Pete Sampras, who beat Agassi in the finals last year and is sitting out this years Open with talk of retirement, all eyes are on Agassi to avenge last years defeat. With Sampras out of the way, Agassi will be gunning for his third Open title. He enjoys a 62-15 record at the Open and has appeared in five finals since 1990.
Switzerlands Roger Federer was given the second seed, no surprise considering that the Swiss sensation won Wimbledon this year and his serve and volley game may be the perfect antidote for Agassis baseline game. If Federer reaches the finals, he could walk away with the mens No.1A ranking. Critics point to his less-than-stellar record at grand slam events as reason to worry. In 16 career slams going into Wimbledon, he won only 29 matches and reached the quarterfinals just twice.
Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain collected the third seed, and "the Mosquito" created a buzz after he won Roland Garros, the first grand slam title of his career. Unfortunately, his dexterity away from clay has not been as impressive. He was bounced early at Wimbledon and many experts believe hell be lucky to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Rounding out the top five are Andy Roddick of the US at No.4 and Guillermo Coria of Argentina at No.5. Roddick has reached the quarters each of the last two years at the Open.
The womens seeds have more subplots that a James Ellroy novel.
Kim Clijsters of Belgium, the top seed in the womens draw, will be looking to avenge her French Open final loss to No.2 seed and countrywoman Justine Henin-Hardenne. Hardenne also beat Clijsters in the finals of the Acura Classic. They are the first women from the same country other than the United States to receive the top two seeds at the Open. Clijsters, 20, seized the No.1 spot on the WTA Tour rankings on August 11 after capturing her sixth singles title of the year to lead the tour. She reached her second French Open final in June and was a semifinalist at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon this year. In four appearances at the US Open, she is 10-4, and her best showing came in 2001 when she reached the quarterfinals.
The 1998 US Open champion, Lindsay Davenport of the United States is seeded third. She owns the distinction of having reached the quarterfinals of the Open every year since 1996. The oft-injured Davenport, who has suffered injuries to her wrist, back, and knees, enters Flushing displaying a fresh pinched nerve in her toe, an injury Davenport says will require surgery. Davenport has limited the number of tournaments she has entered in this year in order to rest her body for the exhausting two-week session at Flushing.
Venus Williams has the fourth seed, but all eyes will be on her to capture her first Open title since 2001 now that sister Serena is a no-show because of a knee injury. Standing in her way is an abdominal injury she suffered and carried with her her in the finals of Wimbledon when she lost to Serena. If she faces Hardenne somewhere in the draw, she will try and exact revenge for Hardennes upset victory over Serena in the French Open semifinals. Rounding out the top five is Amelie Mauresmo. To date, she is the only player in 2003 to have beaten both Serena and Venus Williams in singles play.
NOTE: Day sessions begin at 11 a.m. on Aug.20-Sept.6 and at noon on Sept.7-8.
Night sessions begin at 7:05 p.m.
All events are at the USTA National Tennis Center, except where noted.
Tuesday, Aug. 19 Friday, Aug. 22
US Open Qualifying Tournament
