The U.S. Open, one of the world's most prestigious tennis tournaments, will observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with a series of special tributes. These include lighting Arthur Ashe Stadium in light blue from dusk until dawn and flying American flags at half-mast. The event will also feature a minute of silence before both men's singles semi-finals on Friday. A large American flag will be unfurled on the court before the night session, and R&B singer JoJo will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner," the U.S. national anthem, during the evening match. James Blake, an American tennis player, was in Augusta, Georgia, on September 11, 2001, and recalls the day as one that "shattered the guise of safety" felt by many Americans and athletes. At the time, Blake was living in Florida, and after the attacks, he had to drive back to Tampa by hire car because all commercial flights were grounded. His father was still in New York, where he was working, and Blake described the anxiety of waiting to confirm his safety due to overloaded mobile phone networks. Blake reflected on how the return of competitive sports helped the nation heal after the attacks. He cited the moment when then-President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch at a New York Yankees game as a significant sign of returning normalcy. The 2001 U.S. Open had just concluded two days before the attacks, with Australian player Lleyton Hewitt winning the men's singles title. In the aftermath of 9/11, many domestic sporting events were paused, and the Ryder Cup, a major golf competition between teams from the United States and Europe, was postponed for a full year.