Roof closed on Ashe as rain delays US Open

The roof to Arthur Ashe Stadium is opened as Phil Collins performs "In The Air Tonight" during the opening ceremony of the 2016 U.S. Open. Photo: Geoff Burke

The roof to Arthur Ashe Stadium is opened as Phil Collins performs "In The Air Tonight" during the opening ceremony of the 2016 U.S. Open. Photo: Geoff Burke

Published Sep 1, 2016

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Simona Halep and Lucie Safarova became the first players to start a match under the $150 million Arthur Ashe Stadium roof at the US Open Thursday as rain brought delays to outside courts.

The retractable roof had been called into action for the first time on Wednesday night midway through the second set of Rafael Nadal's win over Andreas Seppi.

But with heavy rain lashing New York, organisers kept the roof shut on the 22 000-capacity Ashe arena from the start of play on Thursday.

On the outside courts, play was delayed until 1200 (1600GMT) at the earliest.

AFP

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