RETRACTABLE ROOF TO BE BUILT OVER ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM
NEW YORK CITY, NY - The USTA announces that a retractable roof will be built over Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of its $500 million expansion plans. With rain pushing the men’s final to Monday for the past five years, the organization had been investigating the possibility of the roof for some time, but until recently could not find a cost-effective solution. The USTA has said in the past that not only did a roof have to be affordable, but also be light enough for stadium, which opened in 1997, to be able to support its weight.
The USTA will hold a press conference on Thursday to unveil the new design.
The USTA is already committed to tearing down the aging Louis Armstrong Stadium and the Grandstand and replacing them with new stadia, among other projects as part of its transformation of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, where the U.S. Open is held.
In a press release, the USTA said it will unveil designs for the two new stadia, the southern relocation of some courts, and a practice-court viewing plaza, so presumably all of those projects are still to be completed. However, sources have told TENNIS.com in the past that if a retractable roof was to be constructed, extra money beyond the $500 million would have to be found, or other projects might have to be put on hold.
It is unclear when the roof will be constructed, but earlier this summer sources said that having it completed by 2016 was far-fetched. The New York Daily News is reporting that 2016 is a possibility if all goes well, including what could be a lengthy permit process.
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TSONGA WITHDRAWS FROM THE 2013 US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the world #8, has pulled out of the US Open due to a knee injury.
The runner-up at the 2008 Australian Open will miss the year's final grand slam, which starts at Flushing Meadows on August 26, having not completely recovered from the injury that he sustained after hurting his knee at Wimbledon in June.
Tsonga, 28, has looked to be closing in on a maiden grand slam title, reaching the quarter-finals in Melbourne in January and last four at the French Open.
The Frenchman, who will miss the US Open for a second time in the past four years, said there was no point in competing if his injury meant that he would be unable to win the tournament.
"It would be stupid to go there knowing full well that I have no chance because I'm not prepared enough," Tsonga told L'Equipe.
"Go there to win one, two or three matches if all goes well, it does not really interest me."
Tsonga is expected to return to action on September 16, when the Moselle Open starts in Metz.
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E va beh, invece questa news era telefonatissima, purtroppo per il francese.
Ovviamente questa fa il paio con il ritiro dal tennis attivo di Marion Bartoli: che ci mettono nell'acqua francese?
