while one part of the world’s television audience watched the 2006 Emmys, admired or critiqued red carpet fashions and argued or agreed with the awards, a brilliant opening night for tennis was witnessed by a capacity crowd in the newly renamed USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. the largest public tennis court in the world, also home to the U.S. Open , is the first major sports facility named in honor of a woman athlete, and one who was a pioneer in the sport, womens and gay rights.

however, for me, and part of the other television audience who are his fans, the highlight of the evening was the match of the andres in the Arthur Ashe Stadium. andre agassi faced the younger andrei pavel, who had remembered winning against him years before.

known for his flamboyance on the court, he has never missed an Open for 21 years. he is also known for giving back to his own community, even more flamboyant las vegas. as his wife, wimbledon champ steffi graf, and family members looked on, agassi overcame long-term back pain and, nearly matched ace for ace and fighting through three tiebreakers, gave the
crowd an exciting ending to the first evening of his last US Open in the style of a true, legendary court champion.

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