U.S. Open:

The USTA will host an open casting call at Radio City Music Hall today, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., for children to sing the national anthem live at Arthur Ashe Stadium during this year’s US Open.

The auditions, which are free of charge, are open to boys and girls age 12 and younger as of August 25, 2008. Children will be asked to sing “America the Beautiful” a capella in front of a panel of celebrity judges from the music and entertainment industry including Constantine Maroulis, a Boston Conservatory graduate, Top 10 contestant on Season 4 of American Idol and most recently, a star on the Broadway version of the “Wedding Singer.” Maroulis will be joined by Laura Bell Bundy, current star of the Broadway hit, Legally Blonde and MTV VJ and former Miss USA, Susie Castillo.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

The USTA will announce final selections in mid-July and winners will receive a US Open gift bag and tickets to their performance session - - in addition to exposure in front of as many as 24,000 fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The casting call will officially launch the US Open season, with tickets for the 2008 US Open going on sale to the general public the same day.

Tickets can be purchased by logging on to www.usopen.org or by calling 1-866-OPEN-TIX starting today.