When Belarusian ace Victoria Azarenka next returns to the court at the U.S. Open, we have a good idea what’ll be playing on her mental jukebox: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Vika, as she likes to be called, checked out “Motown: The Musical” on Broadway just before this year’s Open began at the USTA National Tennis Center in Queens, Tweeting right after curtain: “What an amazing show #motownmusical. I was mesmerized! One of the best things I ever seen in my life!”
It’s no surprise the Motown sound inspires Azarenka, since the No. 2 seed has been dating Motown founder Berry Gordy’s son, LMFAO singer Redfoo, since at least last year’s tennis tourney. Redfoo, a.k.a. Stefan Kendal Gordy, even traveled Down Under to cheer on Vika earlier this year at the Australian Open.
Word of Vika’s Tweet got us wondering whether other Open athletes were breaking for Broadway, and it turns out the distance between Flushing Meadows and Times Square is shorter than we thought.
Russian pro Maria Sharapova, sidelined this year by a shoulder injury and with time on her hands, has taken in both “The Book of Mormon” and the just-closed “Vanya & Sonia &” -- wait for it! -- “Masha & Spike,” tennis insiders tell us.
On Tuesday, some 20 of the world’s top wheelchair athletes made the trip to the August Wilson Theatre to enjoy “Jersey Boys,” meeting up with the musical’s stars afterward, all the better to be primed for the U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Competition, underway Thursday through Sunday.
Soft-hearted Spaniard Rafa Nadal has acknowledged his love of musicals, telling reporters that he’s seen “The Phantom of the Opera” at least “six times” in the past. No word yet on his post tourney theater plans this year.
Broadway
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic saw “Mamma Mia!” during a previous Open appearance, USTA officials report. Retired Belgian pro Kim Clijsters was spotted last year at “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.” And retired American star Chanda Rubin this year took a break from her activities to see “The Lion King.”
The athlete-actor love affair seems to work in both directions. This year’s opening night ceremony concluded with a performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Long Islander Frenie Acoba, 11, who is now making her Broadway debut as Lavender in the musical “Matilda.”
And what did First Lady Michelle Obama do immediately after her appearance at the Aug. 24 Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day? She took Sasha and Malia to see “The Trip to Bountiful.” According to backstage spies, the trio slipped into their seats just as the first act was starting, and visited with Cicely Tyson, Vanessa Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr. right after curtain.
Follow Robert Kahn on Twitter@RobertKahn
