INTRODUCTION TO TENTH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE BOOK

NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER

The U.S. Open Tennis Championships has become one of the
world's premiere sporting events, thanks in no small part to the
creation of the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow.

The Open in New York has added a colorful and democratic
tint to this most international sport. Each year, young men
and women from all over the world come here for two exciting
weeks bringing their skill and optimism to us. The city and
citizens of New York have responded with growing enthusiasm. In
ten short years, the U.S. Open has taken on the flavor of New
York; and New Yorkers have become among the keenest and most
knowledgable of tennis fans. Whether playing on the courts 50
weeks in the year or watching from the stands at the end of each
summer, New Yorkers are grateful to their city and to the U.S.T.A.
for building the National Tennis Center here.

All of us who have enjoyed the championships wish the
U.S. Open continuing success. Congratulations to the champions
of the past and to the winners of the 1987 U.S. Open.

-- Henry A. Kissinger

DRAFT INTRODUCTION TO TENTH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE BOOK -
NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER:

The U.S. Open Tennis Championships have become one of the world's premiere sporting events, thanks in no small part to the creation of the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows.

The Open in New York has added a colorful and democratic tint to this most international sport. Each year, young men and women from all over the world come here for two exciting weeks bringing their skill and optimism to us. The city and citizens of New York have responded with growing enthusiasm. In ten short years, the U.S. Open has taken on the flavor of New York; and New Yorkers have become among the keenest and most knowledgable of tennis fans. Whether playing on the courts 50 weeks in the year or watching from the stands at the end of each summer, New Yorkers are grateful to their city and to the U.S. T.A. for building the National Tennis Center here.

US
OPEN

1987

MAY - 7 1987

The Honorable Henry Kissinger
350 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022

May 7, 1987

Dear Mr. Kissinger:

The U.S. Open Tennis Championships are about to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the USTA National Tennis Center by the publication this summer of a high quality commemorative book. These Championships have been often honored by the presence of you and your wife.

Our mutual friend, Lew Rudin, suggested that we write to you to extend the invitation, and to ask the favor, that you compose a few short introductory paragraphs for the book. Your love of New York City, your unique international background, your attendance at the matches, and your command of the language would result in an introduction that would honor the City and the most international and democratic sporting event held here.

Enclosed as background information are comments made by Mayor Koch, The New York Times, Daily News, Philippe Chatrier (President of the International Tennis Federation), Jack Whittaker of CBS/TV, and Arthur Ashe. Needless to say, we would be happy to provide your staff with any other information or help you may suggest.

With highest regards, I am

Enclosures
cc: Lewis Rudin

UNITED STATES OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 (212) 302-3322. Cable Address: US Tennis New York. Telex 424499

"This facility represents the best in cooperation between the public and private sectors; as well as the evolution of tennis from the country club to the public park, from a sport for the privileged few to a game of the masses."

Mayor Koch, at the finals of the 1978 U.S. Open Tennis Championships

"A year and a half ago, the Louis Armstrong Stadium was a crumbling, graffiti covered building. It is now the center piece of a thriving, public tennis center, which in effect was a gift to the City."

New York Times

August 28, 1979

"The greatest tennis tournament in the world, the U.S. Open begins today. It begins at a public park in the Corona section of Queens, at the very best tennis facility ever conceived for tennis fans."

New York Daily News

August 26, 1980

# I.T.F. News

by Philippe Chatrier

When tennis historians look back on the development of the game in the 1970's, they may well feel that the most significant event of the decade was the United States Tennis Association's achievement in planning and building the first great new stadium of the modern era of the game.

The first U.S. Open at Flushing Meadow was a deserved success. The singles titles went to two Americans, which added to the national excitement — Chris Evert won the women's singles for the fourth successive year and Jimmy Connors, ending Bjorn Borg's attempt on the Grand Slam. avenged his defeat at Wimbledon. As for the stadium itself, it was a great advertisement for the expansion and prosperity of the modern game and an object of curiosity and admiration for the whole tennis world.

Many of the other major stadiums operated by our national associations were built in the period of the great tennis boom of the 1920's. But here was a new stadium designed to meet the needs of modern players and spectators. There are 19,600 seats in the main court and for those who watch on the secondary courts there is easy access and plenty of room to move. Refreshment and other facilities have been carefully planned and ordinary New Yorkers will be able to play on the courts when they are not being used for the USTA's special events.

Slew Hester, the President of the USTA, and his team have already received loud praise from all kinds of quarters for their courage in embarking on this venture. By their hard work and skill in negotiation, they built a proper relationship with the City of New York and the labour unions, and, keeping to their timetable, completed

public for what they are and not as part of the genuine tournament game. We understand the view of many of our smaller national associations, who feel that exhibition event, played over one or two nights, gives their public its only opportunity to see some of the greatest leading players, but as we share in the responsibility for the policies of MIPTC we tell them that we can approve such events if they are played the weeks that have not been allocated to Grand Prix tournaments with $175,000 more in prize money.

Such rulings are unpopular because we tell our clubs to dissociate themselves from exhibitions, they invariably staged on unaffiliated courts, and from promoters who have no links with national associations. In other words, private enterprise takes over because public game is sticking to its contracts, obeying the rules. Our national associations and their clubs thus lose valuable share of revenue and the chance to participate in events which have to be publicized the game.

It is a considerable sacrifice ... that would seem more worthwhile if MIPTC's policy was, in fact, succeeding in reducing the number of exhibitions to in the $175,000 (or Super Series) category. But that is not happening. We are called to a period when three Grand Prix courts run simultaneously — in Europe, America and Asia. With such a calendar, the demand for players is bound to be a peak time of employment for members of the Association of Professionals.

Unfortunately, it is also a peak time for exhibitions and, to the dismay of promoters who have put in large quantities of