Sports 101

September 8, 2000

Colorful cows made of plaster graze the grounds outside the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., site of the US Open.

Fans are also doing a little grazing of their own. They're not only eating more hamburgers and pasta this year, they're eating up all the action in record numbers. Despite rain delays, attendance is on pace to break records. Through the first seven days of this Grand Slam event, the Open attracted 362,685 spectators, up from 348,741 last year. This weekend, expect packed stands as the US Open enters its final stages.

Q: Who is left in the US Open?

A: Surprisingly, Pete Sampras and Lindsay Davenport. Both competed against players (Richard Krajicek and Serena Williams) who have given them trouble in the past. Also, No. 1 seed Martina Hingis will take on third-seeded Venus Williams, who won Wimbledon earlier this summer, in today's semifinals.

Q: Who is the only unseeded player to make the semifinals?

A: Russia's Elena Dementieva. She plays Davenport in the semifinals today.

Q: How did Martina Navratilova fare?

A: Coming out of retirement, Navratilova lost her third-round women's doubles match (partnered with Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario). "I'm planning on being back," she says. "No reason to get nostalgic yet."

And finally ...

Donald Trump wants to put up $1 million for a modern battle-of-the-sexes match between John McEnroe and Venus Williams. After reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open Sunday, Venus replied, "Right now, I'm just really focusing on trying to win this US Open...."

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society