Anyone who has attended the U.S. Open is likely to say the same thing: There's no other tennis event in the world quite like it.
"It's so exciting," former WTA Tour standout Mary Joe Fernandez said. "It's totally different than the other Grand Slams. It's electric, especially the night matches. It's such an excited crowd. They really get behind the players. You have butterflies when you first step out there, then you're like, "This is great.' "
The event has New York stamped all over it.
The crowds are loud. The pace is frenetic.
And, yes, the stars always come out.
"It's just incredible," CBS/USA announcer Bill Macatee said.
LISTEN UP: Macatee, 47, is covering his 15th Open. He's announcing matches and is USA's prime-time studio host. He spends much of the time working with lead analyst John McEnroe, a four-time Open singles champ.
"I've done a lot of interesting things here, not the least of which is working with John," Macatee said. "He's unbelievable to sit beside. John has an amazing mind. It's great sitting beside him, and you don't know where that mind is going to take you. Sometimes he doesn't know either. You've got to pay attention, he's so sharp. It's like riding a bull. You just try to hang on."
PLAYING WITH A PURPOSE: Corina Morariu, a 1999 Wimbledon doubles champion, is fighting cancer - again. Morariu was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a rare form resulting in a malignancy of bone marrow, in 2001. The disease went into remission 14 months later and she returned to a full schedule this year.
Morariu, 25, has joined the Fight to Ace Cancer, a fund-raiser sponsored by Hoffmann-LaRoche (the U.S. prescription drug unit of the Roche Group, a research-oriented health care group). For every ace she serves at the Open, the company will donate $1,000 to help advance cancer prevention and treatment programs.
"I feel lucky to be able to be out here playing," Morariu said. "I basically owe my life to the people that have donated money and raised money for cancer research, and companies like (Roche) that have really worked hard to find innovative medicines to help people with cancer. ... This is something that I'm passionate about and I'm really excited about."
Morariu lost to Maja Matevzic in her singles opener Monday 3-6, 5-7 and had no aces. She still has doubles to play.
A BET IS A BET: Brad Gilbert, coach of American star Andy Roddick, said he would sky dive with his student if Roddick won the ATP Tour's recent Montreal event. Roddick claimed the title and Gilbert later delivered on his promise.
"Oh, yeah, he's been," Roddick said last week. "I don't think he liked it too much, judging by him keeled over on the side of the road afterward."
BIG SERVE: Tampa's Mardy Fish, a first-round Open winner Monday over Joachim Johansson (6-3, 6-2, 6-4), entered the tournament with 521 aces this season to rank fourth on tour. Roddick led with 698.
FOR THE CHILDREN: Thousands attended Saturday's Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the USTA National Tennis Center (site of the Open), which was free to the public. Children participated in various interactive games.
In a game called Survivor Tennis, played by rising stars Fish, Robby Ginepri and Maria Sharapova, players were voted off by the audience. Sharapova, a 16-year-old Russian who trains in Bradenton, was the winner.
ODDS AND ENDS: Tampa's James Blake, a 6-2, 6-4 loser to No. 11 Paradorn Srichaphan in Sunday's TD Waterhouse Cup championship, was making his first final appearance of the year and third of his career. ... Pete Sampras, 32, officially retired from competitive tennis Monday, but he should have enough money to enjoy life. He earned more than $43-million on tour.
LAST WORD: "Everything is going to be put on hold until after New York. And then afterwards, hopefully I'll have a couple of things to celebrate" - Roddick, who turns 21 on Saturday.
