 | « Back to article | Print this article |
The US Open is the biggest tournament in America's tennis calendar. Enough reason for the big personalities from Hollywood, former tennis champions and other celebrities to catch their favourite tennis stars in action.
Rediff.com gives you a peek at those famous faces who graced Flushing Meadows this year.
Look! It’s the gorgeous Anna Kournikova.
Look who dropped in to support Roger Federer at US Open...
Spotted at US Open! Heidi Klum plants a passionate kiss on boyfriend
The Russian stunner is one of the best known tennis stars worldwide, despite her never winning a WTA singles title.
All were engrossed in the proceedings, on the edge of their seats, though the match ended tamely. Marin Cilic hit all the right notes in a dominant 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win over Kei Nishikori in the US Open final on Monday.
Tech moghul Bill Gates was also involved in the tennis action.
The final was a strange and unfamiliar one for tennis fans, the match marking the first time since the 2005 Australian Open that at least one of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were not playing for the title.
At Flushing Meadows, fans had also been used to seeing one of the 'Big Four' walking away at the end of the fortnight with the silver trophy, Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Andy Murray lifting every US Open title in the last decade except one.
Hollywood hottie Bruce Willis also made it to the US Open men's final on Monday.
Although Kei Nishikori was beaten 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 by Marin Cilic in Monday's final, his riveting run at the US Open has brought new life to a dormant sport in his homeland.
Like so many of Japan's sporting greats, Nishikori's path to stardom led to the United States, where his raw ability was refined and he developed into a top-10 player.
Actress Eva Longoria went casual chic for her day out as World No 1 Serena Williams swept past good friend Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-3 in the US Open final to move up in the record books with her 18th Grand Slam title.
The ‘Hey Baby’ hitmaker, Gwen Stefani was cheering her lungs out for none other than good friend Roger Federer.
But Marin Cilic completed a sensational set of semi-finals shockers by upsetting 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday.
After golf, skier Lindsey Vonn is seen at the US Open tennis courts. The Olympian was seen supporting Federer.
Also songstress Gwen Stefani’s 6 month old son debuted at the US Open.
But the ride wasn’t rosy for Federer. The powerful 6-foot-6 (1.98 m) Cilic had lost all five previous meetings with the Swiss master but was in charge from the outset, with his booming service game and heavy groundstrokes which Federer failed to find an answer for.
Cilic completed his dismissal of second seed Federer with three aces and a sizzling backhand winner up the line as he served a love-game to finish a fast one hour 45 minute demolition of the Grand Slam king.
Federer said the reason for his defeat was not complicated.
"It's fairly simple," the 33-year-old Swiss said. "I think Marin played great.
"I maybe didn't catch my best day, but I think that was pretty much it in a nutshell."
Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan has become a common sight in Federer’s box. The NBA great was leading the cheering for the 17 time Grand Slam champion.
Even though they had just met it was clear that Federer and Jordan share a unique bond, their excellence uniting them in a way few could understand.
"His longevity, the way he made it look easy, his will to win, wanting to be the best, delivering under pressure, being a superstar in a team sport, carrying his team for so many years," said Federer, rolling out a long list of superlatives that many would use to describe his career.
"There's so many things that he did well and represented the game really nicely, I thought.
"That's why he also became my idol.
"He wanted to know some things about tennis. How I prepare, all these things, how much I play, where I go next.
"These kind of things, you exchange each other's ideas about your respective sports and that's kind of what you talk about."
Martina Navratilova proposed to longtime girlfriend Julia Lemigova at US Open Tennis Championships.
The 57-year-old tennis legend popped the question during a break while she was providing colour commentary for the men’s matches and the moment was telecast on the Jumbotron, a large screen television, at the New York’s Arthur Ashe stadium.
Navratilova got down on one knee and offered her girlfriend a diamond-studded ring, to which Lemigova teared up before embracing her and said 'yes'.
The proposal followed the first men’s semi-final match, in which top seed Novak Djokovic was trounced by Japan’s Kei Nishikori.