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Home  » Sports » Celebrities hit the US Open courts

Celebrities hit the US Open courts

September 09, 2014 14:37 IST
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The US Open is the biggest tournament in America's tennis calendar. Enough reason for the big personalities from Hollywood, former tennis champions and other celebrities to catch their favourite tennis stars in action.

Rediff.com gives you a peek at those famous faces who graced Flushing Meadows this year.

Anna Kournikova, US Open

Anna Kournikova, centre, watches as Marin Cilic of Croatia plays against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the men's singles final match of the US Open. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

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Tony Parker, Axelle Francine, Andrea Rajacic and Thierry Henry

From left, Tony Parker, Axelle Francine, Andrea Rajacic and Thierry Henry watch Kei Nishikori of Japan plays against Marin Cilic of Croatia. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

All were engrossed in the proceedings, on the edge of their seats, though the match ended tamely. Marin Cilic hit all the right notes in a dominant 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win over Kei Nishikori in the US Open final on Monday.

Bill Gates, US Open

Bill Gates watches as Marin Cilic of Croatia plays against Kei Nishikori of Japan. Photograph: Elsa/Getty Images

Tech moghul Bill Gates was also involved in the tennis action.

The final was a strange and unfamiliar one for tennis fans, the match marking the first time since the 2005 Australian Open that at least one of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were not playing for the title.

At Flushing Meadows, fans had also been used to seeing one of the 'Big Four' walking away at the end of the fortnight with the silver trophy, Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Andy Murray lifting every US Open title in the last decade except one.

Bruce Wills, US Open

Actor Bruce Willis, left, and his wife, model and actress Emma Heming watch. Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Hollywood hottie Bruce Willis also made it to the US Open men's final on Monday.

Although Kei Nishikori was beaten 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 by Marin Cilic in Monday's final, his riveting run at the US Open has brought new life to a dormant sport in his homeland.

Like so many of Japan's sporting greats, Nishikori's path to stardom led to the United States, where his raw ability was refined and he developed into a top-10 player.

Eva Longoria, US Open

Actress Eva Longoria attends the women's singles final match between Serena Williams of the United States and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Actress Eva Longoria went casual chic for her day out as World No 1 Serena Williams swept past good friend Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-3 in the US Open final to move up in the record books with her 18th Grand Slam title.

Gwen, US Open

Gwen Stefani attends the men's singles semifinal match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Marin Cilic of Croatia. Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The ‘Hey Baby’ hitmaker, Gwen Stefani was cheering her lungs out for none other than good friend Roger Federer.

But Marin Cilic completed a sensational set of semi-finals shockers by upsetting 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday.

Lindsey Vonn, Gwen, US Open

Lindsey Vonn watches while Singer Gwen Stefani hold her son Apollo Bowie Flynn Rossdale during the men's singles quarterfinal match between Roger Federer of Switzerlandand Gael Monfils of France. Photograph: Elsa/Getty Images

After golf, skier Lindsey Vonn is seen at the US Open tennis courts. The Olympian was seen supporting Federer.

Also songstress Gwen Stefani’s 6 month old son debuted at the US Open.

But the ride wasn’t rosy for Federer. The powerful 6-foot-6 (1.98 m) Cilic had lost all five previous meetings with the Swiss master but was in charge from the outset, with his booming service game and heavy groundstrokes which Federer failed to find an answer for.

Roger Federer, Mirka

Editor-in-chief of American Vogue Anna Wintour, left, Mirka Federer, and Stefan Edberg attend the men's singles semifinal match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Marin Cilic of Croatia. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Cilic completed his dismissal of second seed Federer with three aces and a sizzling backhand winner up the line as he served a love-game to finish a fast one hour 45 minute demolition of the Grand Slam king.

Federer said the reason for his defeat was not complicated.

"It's fairly simple," the 33-year-old Swiss said. "I think Marin played great.

"I maybe didn't catch my best day, but I think that was pretty much it in a nutshell."

Michael Jordan, Roger Federer

TV personality Ahmad Rashad, left, and Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan attend the men's singles semifinal match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Marin Cilic of Croatia. Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan has become a common sight in Federer’s box. The NBA great was leading the cheering for the 17 time Grand Slam champion.

Even though they had just met it was clear that Federer and Jordan share a unique bond, their excellence uniting them in a way few could understand.

"His longevity, the way he made it look easy, his will to win, wanting to be the best, delivering under pressure, being a superstar in a team sport, carrying his team for so many years," said Federer, rolling out a long list of superlatives that many would use to describe his career.

"There's so many things that he did well and represented the game really nicely, I thought.

"That's why he also became my idol.

"He wanted to know some things about tennis. How I prepare, all these things, how much I play, where I go next.

"These kind of things, you exchange each other's ideas about your respective sports and that's kind of what you talk about."

Martina Navratilova

Tennis great Martina Navratilova kisses her partner Julia Lemigova (left) after making the proposal. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Martina Navratilova proposed to longtime girlfriend Julia Lemigova at US Open Tennis Championships.

The 57-year-old tennis legend popped the question during a break while she was providing colour commentary for the men’s matches and the moment was telecast on the Jumbotron, a large screen television, at the New York’s Arthur Ashe stadium.

Navratilova got down on one knee and offered her girlfriend a diamond-studded ring, to which Lemigova teared up before embracing her and said 'yes'.

The proposal followed the first men’s semi-final match, in which top seed Novak Djokovic was trounced by Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

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