US Open organisers are confident the tournament will be able to start on time after Hurricane Irene passed through without inflicting major damage.
Hurricane damage not as bad as first feared
US Open organisers have confirmed they hope to begin play as scheduled at 11am local time (4pm BST) on Monday but the opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium has been pushed back to 1pm.
The first day's play at the year's final grand slam had been in doubt because of the arrival in New York on Sunday of Hurricane Irene, which was predicted to cause widespread damage.
The hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm before it made landfall in the city and, although there was some flooding and damage to trees caused by the rain and high winds, it was not nearly as extensive as had been forecast.
However, New York's transport network is expected to be affected, making it difficult for spectators and staff to get to Flushing Meadows, which is across the water from Manhattan in Queens.
A statement on www.usopen.org read: "The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center came through Hurricane Irene with minimal damage.
"We are currently preparing the venue for the gates to open at 10am ET (Eastern Time) as scheduled. Play around the grounds will commence as close to 11am as possible with the first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium starting at 1pm."
Moved
The delayed start on Arthur Ashe has caused the order of play to be altered slightly, with Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova's match against Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru, which had been due to open proceedings, moved to Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Top American Mardy Fish is now first up on Arthur Ashe against Germany's Tobias Kamke, and that match will be followed by Britain's Heather Watson, who on her debut at the tournament will take on third seed Maria Sharapova.
The night session, featuring Venus Williams and Roger Federer, is due to start on time at 7pm, while Britain's Laura Robson faces Ayumi Morita of Japan second on Court 13.
