U.S. Open is supposed to start at noon. Hah!

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As the rain continues to fall heavily and nonstop, the kind public address announcer at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has told us that tennis will begin ‘no sooner than 3 p.m.,’ which is noon your time and which isn’t happening anyway.

Already the schedule has been changed to accommodate this unwelcome weather front. If the rain stops, the Serena Williams-Kim Clijsters semifinal singles match will be played on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, the continuation of the Rafael Nadal-Fernando Gonzalez quarterfinal match will be on the Louis Armstrong court, and the Yanina Wickmayer-Caroline Wozniacki semifinal will be on the Grandstand court.

It’s open seating on Louis Armstrong and Grandstand and, bless their hearts, there are a few dozen fans in each sitting huddled under umbrellas. They’ve staked out seats in the front rows. If tennis is played, they’ll be thrilled. The weather forecast -- for rain continuing through midday tomorrow -- seems to make those fans crazy optimists. But once you’re wet, it doesn’t matter how much wetter you get.

As for the chances of getting this tournament completed by Sunday, well, let’s hope those silly optimists with the rain dripping off their noses are right and that tennis will be played today.

-- Diane Pucin