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The U.S. Open comes to a close tonight and Rafael Nadal is hoping to end his losing streak against top-ranked player Novak Djokovic in the men’s finals. He’ll look to capture something of the underdog spirit embodied by Samantha Stosur — the Australian who beat Serena Williams in last night’s women’s final. Williams captured attention both for the amazing comeback she made from a life-threatening illness earlier this year, and also for the anger and frustration she exhibited on court during some fiery exchanges with the umpire.

They don’t know it, but America’s littlest tennis players are in the midst of a dramatic downsizing: it’s called 10 and Under Tennis, and it shrinks the game down to a kid’s size, with smaller rackets, low-bouncing big foam balls, lower nets and a smaller court. It is changing in the way  kids are learning the sport.

Because of intense rain at the National Tennis Center in Queens last week, the U.S. Open men’s singles final will be held on a Monday for the fourth-consecutive year. The match-up will also be a repeat of last year’s final: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will duel it out for the winner’s trophy. But regardless of what happens inside Arthur Ashe stadium, both players could take home a champion’s trophy — but one will have to pay for it.

For years, tennis players have complained that, unlike many other pro sports, there is no designated commissioner of tennis, an objective decision-maker who can point the game in the right direction. And in his post-match press conference, Andy Roddick was asked about whether he might be the right guy for this job.

The United States is faring well in the U.S. Open so far, with Christina McHale hailing a victory against France yesterday. But there was bad news for the U.S. team yesterday, as well. Venus Williams announced that she has pulled out of the tournament, due to health problems related to Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and fatigue.

The largest court in the United States Tennis Association's complex in Flushing Meadows, where the US Open has taken place since 1977, is named after Arthur Ashe, one of tennis's great ambassadors. Today we give you a chance to listen to the late Ashe, in a 1987 installment of WNYC's broadcast of Voices at the New York Public Library, where he spoke about his upcoming book on racism in sports.

How was it that Gershwin and Schoenberg came to enjoy a fiercely-fought tennis match each week? Why was Prokofiev so interested in the game? As the U.S. Open heats up, host Midge Woolsey considers the links.

Will Ferrell, Taio Cruz and Carmelo Anthony are among the stars who will participate in this year's U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. The grand slam will also include 9/11 tributes from Queen Latifah and Cyndi Lauper.

22-year-old Rory McIlroy made golfing history at the U.S. Open yesterday, closing his four-day onslaught and setting twelve Open records at 16-under-par 268—eight shots ahead of his closest competitor, and four shots better than the U.S. Open record set by Tiger Woods. McIlroy is from Northern Ireland, and is the youngest winner of the tournament since the legendary Bobby Jones won in 1923. Mark Simpson, from our partner the BBC, joins us from McIlroy's Northern Ireland hometown, Hollywood, to discuss the match.

Rain forced the postponement of the US Open men’s singles final on Sunday, but no amount of rain could have saved the women’s final on Saturday night. Has the time come for the women to play best-of-five sets in the final of the US Open?

I really wanted to see a Rafa/Roger final at the US Open. In the press box, we were quietly rooting for it. It would have been a compelling and dramatic story. But Novak Djokovic spoiled the storyline, with his dramatic, hard-fought upset of Federer in their semifinal.

Weary of reading about five-set thrillers on Armstrong Stadium, or another crushing victory by Rafael Nadal? Here are the non-tennis headlines I’ve been following this US Open.

Spain’s Fernando Verdasco was playing two opponents at the US Open last night: his fellow countryman, Rafael Nadal, and the wind.

Undeniably, one of the great pleasures of attending a sporting event is eating and drinking. Food plays a major role in the way fans experience any pro sports competition. How else would they have the energy to clap and scream and shout? And at no other sporting event is the food and drink better than at the US Open. While attending a day or night match, tennis fans can satisfy their sophisticated palettes with a wide selection of some of New York’s finest food and beverage offerings. While it may cost you a limb, you might be tempted to make the trade.

Yesterday afternoon, Indians and Pakistanis found cause to celebrate together in New York. The bi-national, men’s doubles team of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam Qureshi advanced to their first-ever Grand Slam doubles final at the US Open. One break was all it took to beat the Argentinean team of Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos, 7-6, 6-4, in just under an hour and a half.

Some news was made off the tennis courts at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows this week. Patrick McEnroe announced he's resigning as captain of the United States' Davis Cup team, a position he's held for 10 years. He coached the team to a victory in 2007, after a 12-year drought. McEnroe says he's stepping aside to spend more time in his role as general manager of the United States Tennis Association's player development program.

WNYC's Amy Eddings had a chance to speak with McEnroe about the development of U.S. tennis players. There's a lot of hand-wringing in the tennis world about America's fading dominance in the sport, and the rise of multiple top players from Russia and Spain.

The most shocking result of this weekend in U.S. Open tennis was, without a doubt, the stoic exit of Glasgow, Scotland's golden boy, Andy Murray, the world's No. 4 seed. Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka, the No. 25 seed in the world, knocked Murray out on Sunday, 6‑7 (3), 7‑6 (4), 6‑3, 6‑3.

U.S. Open ticket holders didn't get washed out this weekend by Hurricane Earl. But tennis fans and players did come up against some seriously blustery weather in Flushing Meadows on the penultimate weekend of the tournament. Swirling winds on Saturday exceeded 25 miles per hour at times. While the elements were kinder to some players than others, it seemed the weekend's wind gusts were all that anyone could talk about.

At the U.S. Open here in New York, a lot of the big names have advanced to the next round. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams all made it easily through their matches over the weekend. But there were a few upsets: Great Britain's Andy Murray and American  John Isner both lost yesterday.

WNYC's Amy Eddings was there. She spoke with WNYC's Marc Garber about this weekend’s action in Flushing Meadows.

As the players ended the first week of the U.S. Open, many familiar faces moved on: Venus Williams advanced in straight sets, and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both won. Amy Eddings, host of "All Things Considered" on New York Public Radio, was at the U.S. Open on Sunday. She wraps up all the weekend's action.