Sports

Raise the roof: USTA to address possibility of taking cover

To raise the roof or not to raise the roof. That is the $150 million question that is back on the USTA’s radar after Flushing Meadows will be forced to move the men’s U.S. Open final to Monday for the second straight year.

Last year, after the rain fiasco on the final weekend, former USTA chief operating officer Arlen Kantarian announced a proposal that would place a $150 million roof on top of Ashe Stadium, unveiling blueprints. But in the fall, Kantarian left the USTA for undisclosed reasons and the recession destroyed the ongoing plans, according to a USTA source.

Kantarian was so bold last September, he said, “I would say it’s a question of when as opposed to if.” Kantarian said a new study on erecting the roof with lighter materials without hurting the foundation had been discovered and called its arrival two years off.

The USTA will address the roof issue this morning with the media. Kantarian’s insistence on a roof is believed to be among the several reasons he left the USTA. He was never replaced.

The Open is the lone Grand Slam without a roof or a plan to add a roof. The Australian Open has a roof on its two showcourts. Wimbledon this year unveiled its $140 million retractable roof. And the French Open is construing a new 14,000-seat stadium that will have a $162 million cover ready by 2013.

This will be the fourth time the Open final has been moved back to Monday.

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The women’s doubles final may have to be played Monday too if Serena Williams advances to the finals of women’s singles. Venus and Serena Williams are already through to the doubles final.

The men’s doubles final is slated to be played today with Lukas Dlouhy/Leander Paes taking on Mahesh Bhupathi/Mark Knowles. Fernando Gonzelez leads the field among remaining players with 71 aces.