Second-seeded Serena Williams makes a moment's appearance at TheTimesCenter. Sabine Lisicki arrives at the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis Jarmila Groth serves Australian lamb treats by La Luna Bistro, which participated in the inaugural Taste of Tennis during the Australian Open. As always, the 10th edition of the Taste of Tennis featured a silent auction to benefit Food Bank of NYC.

Today's "Tweet Sandwich" in the countdown to the Official Day One of the U.S. Open.

By Liza Horan

11:45 AM Heading to the draw ceremony at TheTimesCenter. Catch it live on ESPN at noon.

Today was the U.S. Open draw presentation, not the draw ceremony as in the past 17 years that I've attended. In recent years the gathering drew press and VIPs of the game—from former NYC Mayor David Dinkins and USTA brass (staff and national volunteers) to seeded players and commentators Mary Joe Fernandez and Patrick McEnroe—to watch an explosive video previewing the U.S. Open and participate in the selection of seeded players' names to fill in the lines of the draw. It was a long process but it was news in the making.

This year the draw was made the night before the ceremony, and the finished draw was unveiled at noon on ESPN. This time Fernandez and McEnroe were sitting not in front of the invited gathering at TheTimesCenter in Times Square, but in an ESPN studio. They provided commentary in quick, prepared sound bites and then beamed in top seeds Roger Federer and Serena Williams for a couple of comments. The players were in TheTimesCenter, but not where the rest of us were assembled. After the live ESPN show, Williams entered the theater and answered one question from the event host and she and Federer posed for photos.

This new format of unveiling the draw on ESPN is a no-brainer: Excellent exposure for ESPN's inaugural coverage of the U.S. Open and certainly a more succinct presentation for all who attended. News of the first-round matches reached millions of people faster than ever before. Bravo to the USTA and ESPN.

However, next time don't tease the press: There is no incentive to cover this 'event' without exclusive access to the commentators or the players. We could have covered this 'draw presentation' from our own living rooms.

12:55 PM USOpen "draw presentation" was a bust. Could've watched it from home. No Williams final possible. Murray has a tough go, but he is tough.

Related Story: Catching the U.S. Open has never been easier or cheaper, thanks to ESPN, DIRECTV, Tennis Channel, American Express and USOpen.org.

12:56 PM Serena is at Madame Tussaud's wax museum to unveil herself.

Player appearances continue throughout the day...

• Serena Williams' likeness in wax at Madame Tussaud's.
• Venus Williams' likeness on the NY Water Taxi thanks to Powerade Zero, then rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
• Andy Roddick pitching at Yankee Stadium, guesting on Letterman's Late Night, then playing bartender at the Taste of Tennis at the W Hotel.
• James Blake launching Fila's Thomas Reynolds Collection at Lord & Taylor to fans, with a VIP party on the 11th floor.
• Maria Sharapova launching Cole Haan's Maria Sharapova line of accessories at Rockefeller Center (click for video), then later wishing Gossip Girl's Blake Lively a Happy 22nd Birthday (click for photos) atop the Cooper Square as Tiffany & Co. teamed with InStyle to fete Sharapova and Frank Gehry on his jewelry designs for her.
• Joining Roddick at the Taste of Tennis were Lleyton Hewitt, Sabine Lisicki, Vera Zvonareva, Sam and Jarmila Groth, New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, Top Chefs Carla Hall and Ariane Duarte, and Real Housewives of New York's Bethenny Frankel and Mario Singer, among others.
  
  Click for photo of Frankel and Roddick mixing "The Andy Roddick" with Rums of Puerto Rico, a splash of ginger and a splash of grapefruit juice.

8:00 PM Interviewed Rums of Puerto Rico on why they sponsor Taste of Tennis. Details tomorrow.
9:30 PM Loved La Luna Bistro's Australian lamb dish...straight from oz. Dj is playing Brick House...aRod and bethenny frankel etc.