Rain forces organisers to cancel men's matches

Former champion and sixth seed Lleyton Hewitt and third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero were both given the night off at the US Open on Monday after organisers cancelled men's play.

Former champion and sixth seed Lleyton Hewitt and third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero were both given the night off at the US Open on Monday after organisers cancelled men's play towards the end of a day destroyed by rain.

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Hewitt's match against 11th seed Paradorn Srichaphan and Ferrero's match-up with Todd Martin were eventually called off shortly after 2130 (0130 GMT).

Spectators for the Flushing Meadows evening session were told they could exchange their tickets for days later in the week after the session -- due to start at 1900 -- had failed to commence by 2145.

Day session tickets holders had earlier been afforded the same privilige after a virtual washout on day eight of the $17.1 million grand slam.

Only one match had been finished by 2030 -- Jennifer Capriati's fourth round victory over Elena Dementieva -- and no play had been possible on other courts due to persistent drizzle throughout the day.

Organisers remained confident of finishing more matches on Monday night even though the air was heavy with moisture and intermittent showers were forecast.

Second seed Justine Henin-Hardenne was due to play Dinara Safina under the floodlights.

Anastasia Myskina's match against Mary Pierce and Ai Sugiyama's clash with Francesca Schiavone were also due to be completed on Monday night.