Flushing Meadows, N.Y., August 5, 2013 – The USTA today announced that four-time Grammy Award winning rocker Lenny Kravitz, who has sold 38 million albums world-wide, will headline the Opening Ceremony of the 2013 US Open on Monday, August 26. Kravitz will perform his internationally acclaimed hit “Are You Gonna Go My Way.”
Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre, style, race and class into a 20-year musical career, one which revels in the rich influences of ’60s and ’70s soul, rock and funk. Kravitz’s talents as a writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist have resonated through nine studio albums into a timeless catalog. He has won four consecutive GRAMMY Awards, setting a record for the most wins in the “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” category. He is currently recording a new album that will be released in 2014.
ESPN, the domestic television partner for Opening Night, will carry the performance live, and the performance will be incorporated into the US Open’s world-feed for international television partners which is seen in more than 180 countries around the world.
In addition to Kravitz, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will be making his 12th consecutive, and final appearance as New York City Mayor. Each year since 2002, Mayor Bloomberg has welcomed the world to New York for the start of America’s Grand Slam.
The Opening Night Ceremony will conclude with the performance of the “Star-Spangled Banner” by 11-year-old Frenie Acoba, currently making her Broadway debut as Lavender in the hit musical Matilda. Acoba is a former winner of the US Open casting call making her fourth appearance in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The colors will be presented by the FDNY Color Guard and NYPD Honor Guard.
This year’s US Open is scheduled for Monday, August 26 through Monday, September 9, with the US Open Qualifying Tournament beginning on August 20.