New York, August 24-26, 2006 – New York was taken over by tennis pros this week as events leading up to the U.S. Open tournament swept the city. Maria Sharapova was in town early to plug some of her endorsement contracts – TAG Heuer wristwatches, Land Rover – while her supposed boyfriend on the down-low, Andy Roddick, participated in a children’s tennis clinic at Grand Central Station.

Uptown aspiring tennis players were thrilled when Serena Williams taught a clinic to members of the Harlem Junior Tennis Program. 54th and Lexington was the sexiest corner in Manhattan on Thursday when hotties Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played a “Street Slam” exhibition match in front of Golfsmith Golf & Tennis store.

Ellen DeGeneres kept everyone laughing at Saturday’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, the annual tennis and music festival featuring entertainment, games and, of course, tennis. Pros Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf, Serena Williams and James Blake were joined by entertainers including singing sensations Teddy Geiger, Cheyenne Kimball, Ne-Yo, the Cheetah Girls and actors Jason Biggs and Shannon Elizabeth. Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova taught the kids a valuable lesson in discretion by staying studiously apart during the festivities.

During her Q&A session, Maria did say that it's difficult for her to have a boyfriend because she's always traveling.