The good thing about the U.S. Open is that there are usually a lot of events and campaigns going on.While Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are busy with their Nike campaigns, world no. 3 Novak Djokovic has the privilege to join Jane Brown Grimes, Chairman of the Board and President of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to ring the NASDAQ Opening Bell to celebrate the 2008 US Open and the 40th anniversary of the Open Era.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of tennis’ Open Era, there will be the Opening Night Ceremony being held this coming Monday with a parade of more than twenty-five former US Open singles champions!The on-court ceremony will be hosted by the Oscar-winning actor/director Forest Whitaker and will feature special musical performances by Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Earth, Wind & Fire and the Tony® Award winning Jersey Boys. USA Network will carry the ceremony live. Throughout the tournament, the US Open will feature additional celebrations and special tributes to past champions.
Among the tennis greats expected to be on-hand for Opening Night are Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Rod Laver, Ivan Lendl, Tracy Austin, Martina Navratilova, Stan Smith, Boris Becker, Gabriela Sabatini, John Newcombe, Ilie Nastase, Guillermo Vilas and Mats Wilander.
The celebration will include a look back to the very first US Open in 1968 and will include Virginia Wade, the first women’s singles US Open champion, and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe and her daughter Camera Ashe, who will represent their late husband and father Arthur Ashe, who won the 1968 men’s singles title.
Additionally, present day players expected to appear in the celebration include Roger Federer, Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Marat Safin and Andy Roddick.
Pheww... this year's U.S. Open is surely a HUGE and PRESTIGIOUS one!
(Via NASDAQ)
