When the "nude 14-foot bronze statue" in front of Arthur Ashe Commemorative Garden was unveiled last night at the USTA National Tennis Center, "some in the crowd were confused over its meaning, while others remarked of its power," according to Liz Robbins of the N.Y. TIMES. The "imposing figure," sculpted by Eric Fischl, was "designed to commemorate Arthur Ashe's legacy but not his likeness," and "this was the root of the confusion." USTA President Judy Levering prefaced the unveiling by saying that the statue was "provocative as well as elegant." But "some spectators ... were shocked" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/29). NEWSDAY's Barker & Price-Brown write "reaction was mixed" to the statue. While Fischl said that it is "intended as a tribute and memorial" to Ashe's "spirit and not to be a direct likeness," there were "some in the crowd not too pleased that their hero is being memorialized in the buff" (NEWSDAY, 8/29). OLD MAN TAKE A LOOK AT MY LIFE: Pete Sampras called "New Balls, Please," the tagline of the ATP Tour's ad campaign promoting its young players, an "interesting slogan." Sampras: "I think it's a sign of what the ATP is trying to do, how they're trying to push the young guys. A lot of people in the public don't know the young Europeans. We'll see how the marketing strategy unfolds. I admire the effort." Additionally, Sampras said, "It's no insult to me or like they're pushing me out" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/29). BODY HEAT: Martina Navratilova "isn't sure what to make of the recent rash of female athletes posing nude for magazines." Navratilova: "I have really mixed emotions about it. I mean, it's great they feel they can do it. I just don't see the necessity for it. You don't see the guys doing it. If you had done it 20 years ago, that would have been the end of you. It seems to be the in-vogue thing to do. I don't think women's liberation had this in mind when they wanted equality. ... It's their choice, obviously, but I don't think it makes you a better athlete." But Navratilova added, "It's attracting another audience. I don't know if you necessarily want those guys coming to the matches, but we do get a wider audience" (NEWSDAY, 8/29). NEWS & NOTES AROUND THE OPEN: The Tennis Industry Association held a trade show at the National Tennis Center "in conjunction with" the U.S. Open. With the "exception of one company, every major tennis manufacturer was in attendance" for the three-day event that ended yesterday (AP, 8/29)....John McEnroe appeared on "The Early Show" and discussed with Bryant Gumbel the Heineken U.S. Open T-shirt that he designed. McEnroe noted this is the fourth year for the T-shirt and added, "This is somewhat of proof that I actually am supposedly an artist." Gumbel, on the design: "That's pretty good, that's not bad" (CBS, 8/29)....Serena Williams rang the opening bell at the NYSE yesterday, along with officials from Chase Manhattan Bank (THE DAILY).