The US Open gets under way with top seeds Roger Federer and Justine Henin playing at the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday.

 

 

Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a return to Scoville Jenkins of the US during their match at the US Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York August 27, 2007. (Photo: Reuters)

 

Federer, the Swiss seeking his 12th grand slam title, should have little trouble against American Scoville Jenkins. The 20-year-old is ranked 320th in the world and has a 2-3 record in 2007.

 

Belgium's Henin is also expected to roll over Germany's Julia Georges in their first-ever meeting. The 2006 Open finalist, however, is refusing to take anyone lightly.

 

"My first match remains something really important to me," said Henin, the 2003 champion, who lost to Maria Sharapova in last year's final.

 

Sisters Serena and Venus Williams will play under the lights on Monday night during an evening session dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Althea Gibson's groundbreaking US Open triumph.

 

Gibson in 1957 became the first African-American player, male or female, to win the title at the US National Championships.

 

"She didn't even get to play professional until she was way older when she could have probably won so many more titles," Serena told reporters.

 

"I just really, really am glad I have an opportunity to be able to play.

 

"I'm happy. Althea makes me happy and excited to be black."

 

Eighth-seeded Serena will play Angelique Kerber of Germany while number 12 Venus will face Hungary's Kira Nagy.

 

(CRI via Reuters August 28, 2007)