Opening Night at the US Open

Maria Bueno is currently in New York enjoying the US Open.

On Monday she attended the USTA Foundation’s Opening Night Gala as a guest of benefactors Chris and Courtney Combe, who were honoured during the dinner for their unstinting support of the charity.

“It was a very special evening and I was thrilled to be included by Chris and Courtney, with their family and friends,” said Maria. “They do so much for various different charities and deserve to be recognised.”

Hosted by Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin and Emmy Award-winning journalist and news anchor Katie Couric, the 15th annual gala raised around $750,000.

Opening Night Gala

It was a glittering night in New York, with the likes of Alec Baldwin, Katie Couric, Anna Wintour, Martha Stewart, Vanessa Williams, Shaun T and former Mayor David Dinkins gracing the President’s Box after the fund-raising dinner.

The charitable arm of the USTA provides lifetime sport of tennis and education for young people every year and is helping to rehabilitate wounded, ill and injured service men and women. It aims to increase this support over the coming years, thanks to the efforts of celebrities, generous donations and fund raising activities, such as the USTA Foundation’s Opening Night Gala.

“Why do Courtney and I support the USTA Foundation?  Because it is changing lives,” said Chris Combe in his acceptance remarks.

“The Foundation supports programs that are providing life lessons of physical and mental activity, competing, persevering, and sportsmanship.

“I personally think tennis can be one answer to the pandemic of obesity in the US and the world.

“The USTA Foundation is providing life mentors, coaches, and teachers for 237,000 young people including our student speaker this evening – Kallah Masudi, as it did for Arthur Ashe, James Blake, Todd Martin, and Katrina Adams.”

Kallah Masudi, a senior at Foundation Collegiate Academy and a product of the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton was celebrating her eighteenth birthday, and she delivered a rousing speech on the merits of the program she has benefitted from since the age of ten.

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“I had the pleasure of sitting next to Kallah at the dinner and she is a delightful personality,” continued Maria. “She was a bit nervous about her speech but managed it beautifully. I was impressed!”

The highlight of the night was a live auction led by Baldwin and Couric.

In addition, an online auction at www.charitybuzz.com/usta allows supporters to bid on exclusive experiences, items, memorabilia and more. The online auction closes at the end of the tournament.

The opening ceremony featured a light show of the newly installed roof structure on Arthur Ashe Stadium and multiplatinum-selling Josh Groban performing songs off his recent album ‘Stages’, as well as an appearance of the ever-popular Billie Jean King and the current Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio.

“I think it was the best opening I’ve seen at the US Open,” said Maria. “It was very classy and appealed to everyone. The duet that that Josh [Groban] did with Lena Hall was fantastic!”

First up on the world’s biggest tennis stage was Serena Williams against Vitalia Diatchenko in what proved to be a disappointingly one-sided whitewash.

Diatchenko struggled with an ankle injury throughout the match before eventually withdrawing two games into the second set, but Williams later praised the Russian for attempting to compete on the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.

“It isn’t very good to see a match like that,” said Maria. “It doesn’t help the game at all and it seems to me that something needs to be done about players struggling onto court to make sure they get their prize money.

“I know what its like to have to go on to the court just so you can get paid, but these days tennis is entertainment and if you are not up to performing you should not be there.

“It is not heroic to just turn up, you have to be able to play at your best.”

Wildlife…

In the President’s Box the main excitement was the appearance of a squirrel swirling around the legs of the TV camerman and storming up the steps in an attempt to flee from the assembled guests.

“It was unbelievable, the poor thing was obviously a bit frightened and he was trying to make a break for it!”

Fortunately for the rest of the house and the organisers, the opening-round match between Rafael Nadal and the unseeded 18-year-old Boran Coric did not disappoint.

“Coric is a real talent and it was a great match in which Rafa was tested and won,” said Maria. “He seems to be finding himself, which is great!”