NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):
2:15 p.m.
Arthur Ashe Stadium’s retractable roof will be shut for both U.S. Open women’s semifinals because the forecast calls for severe thunderstorms with strong winds.
The U.S. Tennis Association made the decision to close the arena about five hours before Serena Williams is to face Anastasija Sevastova in the first semifinal at night. Madison Keys plays Naomi Osaka in the second.
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1:30 p.m.
Some members of Congress from Virginia and West Virginia have announced plans to commemorate Arthur Ashe on the 50th anniversary of his 1968 U.S. Open title.
The bicameral resolution honors Ashe’s contributions to civil rights, education, the movement against apartheid in South Africa, as well as HIV and AIDS awareness.
Ashe was a native of Richmond, Virginia. He died in 1993 at 49 from AIDS-related pneumonia.
The 1968 championship was the first in the open era and the first of three Grand Slam titles for Ashe. He was the first black player to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.
The announcement comes as the semifinals of the 2018 U.S. Open are to begin in the stadium named for Ashe.
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Noon
Hot and humid weather continues to cause problems at the U.S. Open.
Wheelchair and juniors matches have been put on hold because of the weather, with temperatures again expected to rise into the 90s in Flushing Meadows.
Officials say they will check the forecast every half hour to decide when those matches can be played.
In addition, the extreme heat rule has been put in effect for a fourth straight day.
The policy will allow for a 10-minute break between the second and third sets of the women’s singles semifinals if either player requests one. Those aren’t scheduled to start until 7 p.m.
It was already 88 degrees (31 Celsius) with 68 percent humidity outside Arthur Ashe Stadium just before noon.
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11:30 a.m.
Serena Williams and Madison Keys will attempt to make it another all-American women’s final at the U.S. Open.
Williams is looking to reach the final for the ninth time. She plays a semifinal against No. 19 seed Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, who is appearing in the last four of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. Sevastova ousted defending champion Sloane Stephens in the quarterfinals and has never faced Williams.
Keys, the No. 14 seed and runner-up a year ago, faces No. 20 Naomi Osaka of Japan in the night’s other semifinal. Keys has beaten Osaka all three times they have played, including this year at the French Open and two years ago at the U.S. Open when she rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the third set.
Williams first won at the U.S. Open in 1999 and has won the tournament six times. She is looking for a 24th Grand Slam singles trophy that would tie Margaret Court for the most in tennis.
