Tennis, Anyone?

If you've got U.S. Open fever and simply can't wait till the matches begin next week, New York Insider has got your prescription. Stop by Bryant Park anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. today, when the home of the HBO movie fest will be transformed into two tennis courts, with live play by top pros including the Williams sisters, John McEnroe and James Blake. Starting at 1:00 p.m., USTA members (none of the aforementioned champions, sadly) will be on hand to provide lessons to New Yorkers looking to improve their serves or put some extra spin on their backhand.

The event is being sponsored by DIRECT TV and ESPN; together the networks promise to provide more hours of tennis coverage than you can shake a titanium racket at.

If the idea of chasing a yellow ball on a grass court on an August afternoon in midtown does not appeal, take heart. Your chance to enjoy a different sort of Bryant Park experience—Fashion Week—is right around the corner.

To see the pros compete, be sure to stop by Bryant Park between 11 and 1. The U.S. Open takes place from August 31 to September 13.