Aussie tops Gasquet
A GLEAMING new retractable roof is the crown jewel in a $600 million US Open makeover that bets big on tennis as the sport enters a transition period.
Anticipation for the final Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2016 has been mounting, in part because it will mark the premiere of a sweeping transformation of the US Open’s home, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in Queens.
The centrepiece of the upgrade is the movable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium, the facility’s mammoth centre court, ensuring continuous play, including for the final weekend’s championship matches.
Other major modifications include the launch of a new 8000-seat Grandstand court and the relocation of almost all of the tournament’s outside courts, a shift that has allowed for more walkways and retail space.
A 50 per cent increase in the number of Wi-Fi access points will provide better connectivity for smartphone-addicted patrons across the site.
The US Open begins on Tuesday morning.