By Liza Horan

New York—One of the hot issues that spurred Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to join the ATP Player Council in June for two-year terms is the jam-packed tournament schedule. Constant travel, training, and competing—as well as fulfilling media and sponsor obligations—wears out the players. Worst are the injuries that cause them to withdraw from play or threaten the ability to peak at the majors. (Nadal, right, putting in time with the media and fans on Arthur Ashe Kids' Day.) 

The good news is that both the ATP and WTA streamlined the schedule for improvements on all counts. (Read press releases: ATP & WTA.)

This year was especially hard on players who traveled to Beijing for The Olympic Games. Most of them came to the United States one week before the U.S. Open to adjust to the time zone and prepare for competition. However, it wasn't much of a break.

Besides the usual stuff—settling into a new hotel room, hitting the gym and working out on court—the players hit the town. It was all business. Well, a little fun was had, too.

Here are highlights of pre-U.S. Open events.

Wednesday, Aug. 20

• Aussies Roy Emerson and Mark Woodforde (right) participated in a wine blending competition at an intimate dinner party called "A Taste of Australia" and hosted by the Tennis Channel and McWilliam's Wines at the W's Heartbeat restaurant in midtown. Australian parliament member John Olsen and wife Helen attended the dinner, as did American pro Zack Fleishman. Click for story.
• Though a bum shoulder kept her from competing at the U.S. Open Maria Sharapova made an appearance on behalf of Canon Powershot cameras at South Street Seaport. Click for story.

Thursday, Aug. 21

• Jim Courier and Katrina Adams replaced Patrick McEnroe and Mary Joe Fernandez this year as analysts at the U.S. Open Draw Ceremony, held for the first time at TheTimesCenter, a lush theater with the newspapers' headquarters on West 41st Street. Courier told the crowd—which included former Mayor David Dinkins, USTA brass, and the media—"For me, this feels like the Serbians versus the (Williams) sisters…yeesh!" after reflecting on his picks for the women's final. Click for story.
• James Blake (right) auctions off a weekend with himself to raise funds for cancer research. Just the first stop for many good causes. Click for story.
• Andy Roddick, Robbie Ginepri, Jelena Jankovic, and Svetlana Kuznetsova were among the players who helped top chefs—like Ingrid Hoffman of the Food Network, Brian Young of Tavern on the Green, and Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar & Grill—serve their miniature-sized, big-tasting creations at the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis. Going to the Australian Open? Word is that the organizer of this event is working to pull together a Melbourne edition.

Friday, Aug. 22

• At noon a champagne reception was held at the W Times Square to present images from the 2009 ATP Player Calendar, featuring Bob and Mike Bryan, Tommy Haas, Tommy Robredo, Fernando Velasco, Dmitry Tursunov, Marcos Baghdatis (right), Tomas Berdych, and others. While the photos are black and white and sultry, the guys all approached the project with a sense of humor. "It's definitely the first time we've taken pictures with our shirts off. It's a little embarassing," Bob says in a behind-the-scenes video on ATPTennis.com. Mike adds, "We didn't know we were going to be Victoria's Secret models, but it was still fun." The exhibit by French photographer Corinne Dubreuil continues through Sept. 22. Click to buy the calendar and view behind-the-scenes video of the shoot.
• James Blake was the most visible player around town on this day and evening. Between sponsor appearances and the official U.S. Open Player Party, he made tracks. With all the Heineken and Evian surrounding the guy, you've gotta wonder if he's always thirsty, or is he just the ideal celebrity endorser for beverages? Click for story.
• A few blocks from the Player Party, boxing big-mouth Don King was hyping the nicest rivalry in sports—Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal—to a bunch of kid tennis players lucky enough to land there to play along with the mock press conference. The "Grapple in the Apple" promo by Nike also was seen all over town on the tops of taxicabs and other big ad spaces.
• For tennis fans who want official U.S. Open gear without the schlep to Flushing Meadows, a new temporary store in Soho opens today. The shop takes over the former Phat Farm space at the corner of Prince and Wooster streets. Click for story.

Saturday, Aug. 23

• Venus and Serena Williams, Jelena Jankovic, Lindsay Davenport, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, and Novak Djokovic were just some of the players who participated in Arthur Ashe Kids' Day presented by Hess, the entertainment/tennis festival and benefit.
• Dinara Safina, the Williamses, Jankovic, Federer, Nadal, Roddick and Djokovic all put in some time with the media during pre-tournament press conferences in the U.S. Open Media Center, while Kids' Day was happening. Click for highlights.
• Venus and Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro, and retiring Jonas Bjorkman (right) were among the players hitting Mansion nightclub for the Wilson bash. Click for story.

Sunday, Aug. 24

• Jelena Jankovic and Tracy Austin hit two tennis birthday parties in two days—they were surrounded by more than one Sugar Daddy at one of the parties. Click for story.

Main draw play begins Monday, but that doesn't mean the tennis stars aren't hitting the town. On Friday, Sept. 5, the International Tennis Hall of Fame's "Legends Balls" takes place at Cipriani 42nd Street. Michael Chang, who was inducted to the hall in July along with the late Mark McCormack and Eugene L. Scott, and Billie Jean King are among the dozens of top names who will attend. Cliff Drysdale will serve as Master of Ceremonies, and Barbara Walters will present King with the Eugene L. Scott Award. For details, click links:
Tennis Legends, Capturing 184 Grand Slam Titles, Attend "Legends Ball" Benefit for ITHF
Sony Ericsson Honored by International Tennis Hall of Fame