Sports

USTA looks to Monday

The chances of the U.S. Open staging a Monday night prime-time men’s final next year is “50-50,’’ according to a USTA source.

Today’s Andy Murray-Novak Djokovic men’s final is the fifth straight year it has been pushed back from Sunday to Monday. There’s a surge of support from USTA officials to make Monday permanent, but in prime time.

On the eve of the Open, USTA CEO Gordon Smith said next year the men will definitely have one day of rest between the semifinals and final. Smith said a Friday semifinal-Sunday final scenario was being discussed, but wouldn’t rule out a Saturday-Monday finish.

Turns out the USTA prefers the Super Saturday-Monday night scenario but is fearful the ATP will object because it adds on extra day of work.

The USTA is intrigued about a Monday night scenario as it is part of the U.S. sporting culture.

Besides Monday Night Football, the NCAA men’s championship basketball game is played on Monday night. The argument about going up against the NFL on Monday night is empty since the Sunday final already directly competes against a slate of football’s season openers.

Andre Agassi, with Andy Roddick in attendance, was formally inducted yesterday into the US Open Court of Champions, given his plaque.

In an emotional speech, Agassi said, “To describe the sound you made in big matches, it’s like a jet engine.’’