The US OPEN tournament director for 26 years, Brian Earley has dealt with all sorts of storms. In the days before a roof, you saw him on Louis Armstrong, walkie talkie in hand, deciphering the extent of moisture in the air. In 2009 you saw him on Ashe trying to calm the storm of emotion coming from Serena Williams as she suggested what she might do with a tennis ball to a lines judge who called her for a foot fault. And last year, you saw him take the court during the most memorable moment in modern tennis as a torrent of screams fell down upon him from the upper reaches of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

And while you’ve certainly seen his face, you’ve probably not heard his voice. Until now.

US OPEN cornerstone BRIAN EARLEY discusses how he became the most important rule maker in tennis. He describes the most difficult situation he ever had to deal with. And tells us which player he found the most congenial. And he managed to do all this while following the USTA rules imposed upon him… don’t talk about any current players or situations.

Interview conducted at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows New York.

(Recorded August 26, 2019. Released September 4, 2019).

UNDER REVIEW is a podcast in which tennis insiders share unique stories and insightful perspective. For more information, please contact info@underreviewtennis.com

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:

For episodes of UNDER REVIEW centered on the 2019 US OPEN:

BIANCA ANDREESCU (with MICHAEL JOYCE on the Men’s Draw) [Ep43]

BELINDA BENCIC  (with MICHAEL JOYCE on the Women’s Draw) [Ep42]

SOFIA KENIN [Ep41]

For an in depth discussion on the 2018 incident at the Women’s Finals, check out our episode with ASHLEY HARKLEROAD