Past US Open champions and fans’ favourites treated an Arthur Ashe crowd to superstar matchups and hilarious mic’d-up interactions during the Stars of the Open at Flushing Meadows.
If bright smiles could have secured a victory, Carlos Alcaraz and Andre Agassi could have easily stated their case, but it was the pair of four-time US Open singles champions, Novak Djokovic and John McEnroe, who defeated the Spaniard-American duo 10-8 at the Fan Week exhibition. Italians Matteo Berrettini and Jasmine Paolini began the night by defeating Sebastian Korda and Iga Swiatek 11-9.
Juan Martin del Potro, former World No 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, made a grand return to Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 2009 titlist, who earlier practised with Djokovic, partnered fellow Argentine Gabriela Sabatini to an 11-9 win against Andy Roddick and Caroline Wozniacki. Home favourites Sloane Stephens and Frances Tiafoe closed the night with a 10-6 victory against actor Boris Kodjoe and Taylor Townsend.
Hurkacz and Jabeur ring the Nasdaq Closing Bell
In tennis, the closing bell is when the chair umpire calls, “Game, set and match”. Hubert Hurkacz and Ons Jabeur participated in a different version of it in Manhattan.
The ATP and WTA stars visited the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square to ring the Closing Bell alongside USTA Chairman of the Board and President Dr Brian Hainline and USTA CEO Lew Sherr.
“It was so cool. Didn’t know what to expect coming here. That was just so much fun,” Hurkacz told ATPTour.com. “Obviously Nasdaq is so big. To take part in such an event that is really well known around the world is special. To see your face in Times Square is a little bit surreal.”
“It was super fun being here today to ring the closing bell at Nasdaq,” Jabeur said.
“It was a fun experience, I’d never done that before. There is always fun stuff to do (for) the first time. It was very nice to start the week in New York here.”
The US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year, will be played from August 26-September 8.
![Andre Agassi (right) of the US and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain play against John McEnroe of the US and Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Stars of the Open exhibition match at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. (AFP)
Andre Agassi (right) of the US and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain play against John McEnroe of the US and Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Stars of the Open exhibition match at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. (AFP)](https://cdn4.premiumread.com/?url=https://gulf-times.com/gulftimes/uploads/images/2024/08/22/213933.jpg&w=800&q=100&f=webp)
Andre Agassi (right) of the US and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain play against John McEnroe of the US and Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Stars of the Open exhibition match at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. (AFP)