A look at the U.S. Open

Surface: Hard courts.

Site: The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

Schedule: Play begins Monday. The women’s singles final is Sept. 12; the men’s singles final is Sept. 13.

On TV: ESPN2 (starting Monday), Tennis Channel (starting Monday), CBS (starting Saturday).

On the Web: The tournament’s official site, which will stream matches live, is https://www.USOpen.org

2008 men’s singles champion: Roger Federer, Switzerland.

2008 women’s singles champion: Serena Williams, United States.

Last year: Each singles final was delayed a day because of rain. Federer beat Andy Murray, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2, for a fifth U.S. Open title in a row. Williams won her third U.S. Open championship -- first since 2002 -- by beating Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 7-5.

New this year: Video replay technology has been added to the Grandstand, giving the tournament three courts with electronic line-calling. Night sessions may have a men’s match scheduled first, followed by a women’s match; it has been the other way around in the past.

Key statistic: 34 -- Consecutive U.S. Open matches won by Federer. He is bidding to win a sixth consecutive title at the American Grand Slam tournament, something that hasn’t been done by anyone since Bill Tilden in 1920-25.

Prize money: Total of $21.6 million, with $1.6 million each to the men’s and women’s singles champions.