UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL THAROOR TO LAUNCH US OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT DRAW CEREMONY, WEDNESDAY, 25 AUGUST

Note to Correspondents

UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL THAROOR TO LAUNCH US OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT

DRAW CEREMONY, WEDNESDAY, 25 AUGUST

Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information, Shashi Tharoor will launch the United States Open Tennis Tournament Draw ceremony at an event to be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, 25 August in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium.

United Nations Messenger of Peace and former world-ranked tennis player Vijay Amritraj will also address the gathering.  During the ceremony, Zina Garrison, United States Olympic Tennis Coach and Patrick McEnroe, United States Olympic Tennis Coach and Davis Cup Captain will provide commentary and analysis of the Draw to determine pairings of players for this year’s United States Open Tennis Tournament, which begins on 30 August.

Officials of the United States Tennis Association (USTA):  Alan Schwartz, USTA Chairman of the Board and President; and Arlen Kantarian, Chief Executive Professional Tennis; Jim Curley, United States Open Tournament Director; and Brian Earley, United States Open Tournament Referee, will participate in the Draw.

More than 120 tennis and other sports media –- print, photo and television journalists -- are expected to cover the event.  United Nations correspondents are invited to attend.

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