The U.S. Open that more than 700,000 fans enjoyed last year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center bears, in many ways, little resemblance to the tournament started 129 years ago. It has evolved from an exclusive men’s singles and doubles tournament in 1881 to a two-week sports and entertainment extravaganza, changing its name from the U.S. Championships to the U.S. Open and its location from Rhode Island to Pennsylvania to its current home in Flushing, N.Y.
Mike Rodriguez, shown below, is director of security for the USTA and is responsible for providing a secure environment for all of the guests, players (including 2010 Men's Winner Rafael Nadal, shown right), vendors and employees. He employs more than 1,000 licensed security guards for the two-week event.