The U.S. Open tennis tournament takes place in New York City each September. This year, the women's final took place on September 11. It was two Russian women who stepped onto the Flushing Meadows court this Saturday. Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Elena Dementieva in straight sets. But the significance of the date was not lost on either of the young competitors. Nineteen year-old Kuznetsova dedicated her win to the victims of September 11 and the victims of the horrific school attacks that took place in her home country on September 1 of this year. But, it was the twenty-two year-old Dementieva who gave the most stirring remarks. Just moments after losing the most important match of her life, this young Russian not only mentioned the victims of worldwide terror but also urged the United States to hold steady in this great struggle. I commend both of these ladies for their poise and grace in both victory and defeat on this difficult date.
