Williams was told by the United States Tennis Federation that she couldn't play in the knee-high black go-go boots she used in the warmup because there were not "customarily acceptable tennis attire".

Besides the stylish footwear, Williams made a fashion statement with her studded tank top and matching jean skirt and jacket.

Williams has a multi-million dollar endorsement deal with American footwear and garment giant Nike and the trademark swoosh was prominent on the items she showcased on Monday.

Williams was ranked 60th in last year's Forbes magazine's Top 100 Celebrity power list, which measures a person's earning power and media hits. Her older sister Venus was 65th.

The highest ranking athlete is golfer Tiger Woods, at third.

Serena agreed to an endorsement deal last year with the shoe firm. Nike declined to disclose specifics of the contract, but it believed to be under the five-year 40 million dollar deal Venus inked with Reebok in 2000.

Venus' deal is was the richest ever endorsement for a female athlete.

TURNING TO BALL GIRL
American Jennifer Capriati had to pull some strings with a ball girl in order to beat Czech Denisa Chladkova 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round.

The eighth seeded Capriati struggled early to find her game losing the first set of her three set match.

At one point she handed her racket to a ball girl to get it restrung during a changeover.

The ball girl returned with racket in hand and Capriati won the next two sets to advance to the second round.

Last year the moody Capriati complained about the overhead blimp distracting her from her game and asked the chair umpire if he could get someone to make it go away.

BITTER SANDWICH!
American tennis fans are finding a sharp hike in food prices a bit hard to swallow at the US Open.

A pastrami or roast beef sandwich that cost 12.50 US dollars last year now costs 18.50 and a lobster rolls have increased to 16.75 dollars from 15.75 dollars.

An American style hamburger will set a spectator back 7.50 dollars and a hotdog 4.75 dollars. Pizza is 7.75 dollars.

"What can you do?" asked a spectator. "It is not like you can bring your own sandwiches."

HIGH SECURITY
Law enforcement officials are carrying a new weapon in the battle against a potential terror attack at the US Open -- a device which detects biological, chemical and radiation levels.

There are also bomb sniffer dogs and SWAT teams on standby as security personnel at this year's Grand Slam tennis tournament is up 50 percent over 2003.

Several police officers are also carrying devices that can detect cyanide and nerve gas.