US Open Betting / Barry Millns / 01 August 2008 /

With the smell and smoke of fast food stalls in the vicinity, aeroplanes flying overhead and adjacent motorways, Flushing Meadows is a million miles away from the leafy, quintessential surroundings of SW19. But that's not to say its any less interesting, as Barry Millns tells us.

It is 30 years since the US Open was first played at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. The venue has been upgraded considerably since 1978 but there are some things about the final grand slam of the season which remain the same.

Stuck out in the borough of Queens on a site which used to be a swamp gives you some idea of its surroundings and the prevailing weather conditions at this time of year - hot and humid! Add to that the criss-cross of freeways surrounding it, plus the Long Island railway rattling close by, as well as the stream of jets roaring overhead in and out of La Guardia, and you feel a million miles away from the leafy gentility of Wimbledon.

Previously held at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, for many years on grass and then briefly on clay, the US Open's move to hard courts in the public park facility at Flushing was a brash and brutal upgrade into the modern world of professional tennis. The titanic clashes featuring the likes of Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova in the Louis Armstrong stadium, often under the lights at night, were high-octane happenings which drew record crowds and captivated the country.

When a tornado struck the event during 1985 it caused serious damage to the grounds, including downed power lines, major flooding and uprooted trees. Yet the next day the tournament resumed in full and for the players then and now the ability to keep focus and concentration regardless of what is going on around them is absolutely vital for success.

With the open walkways inside the main stadiums, plus the smoke and smells from the nearby food stalls and the general hubbub of thousands milling around, Flushing Meadows at times still feels more like a zoo more than an international sporting event. But since 1997 with the gigantic Arthur Ashe Stadium as its centrepiece, turning the site into the USTA National Tennis Center has at least reminded all who visit it what lies at its heart.

Now when fans enter the grounds, even if they are new to the sport, they are made aware of its rich tradition, not least in the US Open Court of Champions which honours and celebrates the achievements of the event's greatest champions in its 126-year history. The outdoor pavilion, next to the Arthur Ashe Commemorative Garden and Sculpture, also features a complete listing of all U.S. singles champions since the competition began in 1881.

Among them is Stefan Edberg, the quiet, unassuming Swede whose character seemed totally at odds with the 'loud' surroundings and who used to loathe Flushing Meadows before he found a way to love it. This was no doubt partly due to his experience in 1983 when, aged 17, he completed the junior grand slam.

During the boy's singles final Richard Wertheim, a linesman, was hit in the groin by a ball struck by Edberg. Wertheim fell backwards off his chair, fractured his skull and died in hospital shortly afterwards.

But eight years later Edberg finally claimed the men's title and again in 1992 when he put up one of the greatest defences ever seen. En route to the final in which he beat Pete Sampras, Edberg came back from successive fifth-set deficits against Richard Krajicek, Ivan Lendl and Michael Chang.

The semi-final against Chang, played on the traditional Super Saturday which also includes the prime-time women's final, lasted five hours and 26 minutes! Whether Roger Federer, currently trading as second favourite at [3.85] behind Rafael Nadal [2.68] will be as hard pressed to retain his title this year remains to be seen but for all who take part it is likely to be much more than a stroll in the park.

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