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LAYKOLD - 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW NEWS & STORIES | 51 | THE EVOLUTION OF THE COURT TENNIS WINS ON THE BIGGEST STAGE SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 "The USTA is very pleased with our decision to switch to Laykold as the surface of this year's US Open. With excellent consistency across all courts, Laykold was able to meet the US Open pace rating and performance exactly." Daniel Zausner, Chief Operating Officer, USTA National Tennis Center, Inc. 2020 was Laykold's first year as the official court surface of the U.S. Open and it was a privilege to play our part on the sport's biggest stage. The fact the tournament went ahead is a win for tennis and a huge credit to the USTA who maintained their vision and commitment to the game despite the toughest of circumstances. ADVANTAGE ALL Congratulations must also go to all of the players, winners and officials who gave it their all and helped to ensure that play could go on despite such challenging times for the global sporting scene. It was inspiring to see tennis make a safe and successful comeback and an encouraging sign that the sport will not only continue to survive but to thrive. COURTING SUCCESS Whilst Serena Williams was unable to clinch a home advantage and secure the elusive 24th Grand Slam singles title that will make her a joint record-holder, that day is surely just a matter of time and a semi-final win was still an incredible achievement. As revealed at the U.S. Open press conference ahead of the tournament, Serena's preparation for the competition left no stones unturned. Tournament Director Stacey Allaster announced that Laykold had been installed at Serena's home. The US Open surface is installed with a Laykold Gel system which provides enhanced force reduction. The insight into Serena's preparation is testament to the focus, determination and attention to detail required to stay at the top for over 20 years.

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