In winning the U.S. Open, Serena Williams "immediately
provided more power, more diversity, more marketability to a
sport that, in America at least, had been declining in
popularity," according to Frank Fitzpatrick of the
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, who writes that a "momentus shift
signaled by the Open was the clear ascension of women's
tennis." USTA officials were "overwhelmed with interview,
appearance and endorsement inquiries" following Williams'
win. One USTA exec said, "Now I know how the PGA felt
[after Tiger Woods won the Masters in 1997]." John McEnroe
adds, "I'll bet if you went to a tennis facility in the
inner city today, you'd see a heck of a lot more kids than
were there yesterday" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/14).
McEnroe said on the "Late Show" with David Letterman last
night that Serena Williams is "unbelievable." McEnroe: "The
junior players ... look like pip squeeks compared to her."
Letterman: "They're not as good?" McEnroe: "I don't mean as
good. They're half the size" (CBS, 9/13). The AP's Steve
Wilstein writes Serena and Venus Williams "brought a new
level of interest to tennis" at the U.S. Open, with both
"capturing millions of young people, black and white, who
might never have paid attention to the sport" (AP, 9/14).
In S.F., Bruce Jenkins writes that Serena brought "style, a
thrilling brand of athleticism, and the proper way to act,"
to the U.S. Open winner's circle. Jenkins: "Saturday was a
great day for tennis, and a better day for America" (S.F.
CHRONICLE, 9/14). In N.Y., Robin Finn writes that the U.S.
Open provided "great strides, great ratings and ... a bold
17-year-old" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/14).
THE EDITORIAL PAGES: An ORLANDO SENTINEL editorial
states, "In victory, Serena Williams exuded maturity, good
sportsmanship and good humor" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/14). A
N.Y. TIMES editorial calls the last U.S. Open of the century
"a dandy," the results of which "confirmed a generational
shift in the women's game" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/14). The SAN
ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS states the Williams sisters'
"prodigious athletic gifts and exuberance, plus the drama of
a sibling rivalry, promise to enliven the sport for years to
come" (S.A. EXPRESS-NEWS, 9/14). The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE,
under the header, "Sister Act," states "two gifted,
dazzlingly athletic sisters ... hold the promise of
providing many more thrills" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 9/14).
WHERE IS CORPORATE AMERICA? In an editorial, the BOSTON
GLOBE states, "If further evidence were needed that women's
tennis is as exciting as the men's game -- and that players
deserve equal pay for equal sweat -- this year's US Open
should have ended the argument. ... Yet antiquated sexism
still pervades the courts, particularly in foreign events."
The editorial notes the WTA Tour's search for a title
sponsor and states that the "corporate world is also lagging
behind reality" in finding a title sponsor (B. GLOBE, 9/14).
