The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):
11:20 a.m.
Play has begun at the U.S. Open, with third-seeded woman Karolina Pliskova and seventh-seeded man Kei Nishikori among the first to take the courts.
That’s a prelude to a big opening-day lineup that includes eight former U.S. Open champions in the lineup, including top-ranked defending champion Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Angelique Kerber.
The main event comes in the opening night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, when Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova face each other at the U.S. Open for the first time. Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Sharapova five.
Weather is not a factor. Players took the courts under partly cloudy skies, with no rain in the forecast and an expected high of 75 degrees (24 Celsius).
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10 a.m.
The year’s last Grand Slam tennis tournament gets started with quite a matchup: Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are scheduled to face each other at the U.S. Open for the first time.
The two stars meet in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night.
Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Sharapova five. Both own a career Grand Slam. Both have been ranked No. 1.
As defending champion and top seed Naomi Osaka put it: “Of course I’m going to watch it. I know you all are going to watch it. I think everyone in New York is going to watch it.”
And not just in New York.
Other past U.S. Open champions in action on Day 1 include defending champion Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Williams’ older sister, Venus.
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