| WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) -- For the first time in Grand
Slam tennis history, a final will be played during prime time.
The U.S. Tennis Association said Tuesday the women's championship at
the U.S. Open on Sept. 8 will begin at 8 p.m. EST Saturday and will be
televised by CBS.
The women's final will follow the men's semifinals. The men's final
is Sunday, beginning, as usual, at 4:30 p.m. EST.
``This is a significant breakthrough for the coverage of tennis on television,''
USTA chief executive Arlen Kentarian said.
The new schedule will be tested on a one-year basis.
Last year's women's final between Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport
produced the highest rating for any women's sports event in the United
States in 2000. It was the second-highest rated women's final since 1985.
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