USTA officials said that the U.S. Open will put "9-11-01" on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court "for the women's and men's final ... to commemorate the 10th anniversary" of the terrorist attacks on N.Y., according to Marc Berman of the N.Y. POST. The men's final is scheduled to be played on Sept. 11 "for the first time" since the attacks. A memorial tribute "will be held before the men's final," and a flag "will be unfurled to cover the entire court during the ceremony." Sources indicated that "important politicians and members of the NYPD, FDNY and Port Authority who responded to the initial call will be honored guests that day." Berman notes USTA, CBS and N.Y. officials "have been in agonizing discussions for weeks to make plans to have the moment commemorated tastefully" (N.Y. POST, 8/12). The AP's Howard Fendrich reported the temporary "9-11-01" display will be "placed near the net -- across the court from where the chair umpire sits and players go to rest during changeovers -- and will be painted on the green background that surrounds the blue playing surface." It will be added on the second Friday of the tournament, when there are "no matches scheduled to be played." Other commemorative plans include each player in the event being given a "U.S. Open hat with '9-11-01' stitched on the side (AP, 8/11).
