New York, August 23-25 – New York City is awash in tennis stars hitting events while in town for the U.S. Open tournament. Boy, did we feel fat surrounded by all the athletes at Thursday’s Taste of Tennis benefit at the W Hotel, so we soothed our egos - by eating! Andy Roddick was concentrating so hard on his cooking lesson with chef Marcus Samuelsson that he found it difficult to look up for the cameras. (Guests at the event had no trouble ogling Roddick, however.) Maria Sharapova showed up, but left after only minutes.

Roger Federer told kids at Nike Town in Manhattan on Friday that he used to cry when he lost a match, but now he cries when he wins - which, he said, feels much nicer.

Saturday’s heat didn’t stop hordes of kids turning up for Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day to catch high-energy performances by the Jonas Brothers, Kat DeLuna, Sean Kingston and Lil’ Mama. Pro skateboarder Tony Hawk seemed a bit out of place at the tennis center, as did pro wrestler John Cena, who hilariously hit tennis balls into the stands while trying to play a doubles game with Roddick. Handsome Rafael Nadal drew the most sighs from the female attendees, and Saturday Night Live’s Chris Kattan, a judge at the event, drew all the laughs, dressed in a tennis skirt and a wig.

Photos: Joy E. Scheller/LFI; Federer by Dennis Van Tine