How's this for mixed doubles: Andrew Agassi and Maria Sharapova vs. Jack Nicholson and Nicole Kidman?

Only at the U.S. Open, where the Oscar set mingles with practitioners of the overhead smash each summer. It's a two-week photo op where the boldfaced names can outnumber the backhands, and the star power burns as brightly in the luxury boxes as on the baseline.

Academy Award winners like Nicholson, Kidman and Dustin Hoffman share the spotlight with Grand Slam greats Agassi, Sharapova and Roger Federer. Celebrities are so eager to make the scene that they willingly venture into Queens -- a locale most A-listers avoid like Baghdad during the 50 non-Open weeks.

"I'm sure a lot of them don't even know they're in Queens," said Janice Minn, editor-in-chief of Us Weekly. "Their driver just stops, and they get out."

Upon arrival, the high-profile attendees are caught in a crossfire of photographers. Minn said her magazine will dispatch reporters to the Open for its duration to grab impromptu interviews. Gossip columnists will treat the national tennis center like it's the VIP lounge at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club.

Even the celebrities, who start arriving on Monday's opening day, find themselves doing a bit of star-gazing.

"I remember seeing Anna Wintour there last year, and really admiring her pain threshold," said singer Vanessa Carlton, a hard-core tennis fan. "The outfit she was wearing -- the height of the heels, the tightness of the skirt -- you go, Anna!"

Last year, the men's final drew Hoffman, Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong and NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon. Other famous fans included comedian Robin Williams, New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and filmmaker Spike Lee.

Two years ago, "Inside The Actor's Studio" host James Lipton turned out with enough stars to fill a season's taping: Oscar winner Hillary Swank, Alec Baldwin, Ed Burns, Ed Norton, Jake Gyllenhall, Joe Pesci and Jeremy Piven.

Non-Hollywood types included former President George H. W. Bush and supermodel Naomi Campbell (who managed not to cause a racket).

"For celebrities on the hunt for a great photo op, a big scene in the bleachers at the U.S. Open is better than being seen stumbling out of a nightclub," said Minn.

New York sports and celebrity fans are a long-standing tradition, with the stars as recognizable as the venues they visit: Billy Crystal in the box seats at Yankee Stadium. Jerry Seinfeld cheering in Shea Stadium. Woody Allen -- or maybe tennis great John McEnroe -- cheering at Madison Square Garden.

But there's something different about the Open.

"It's like tennis meets Disneyland meets Hollywood meets Wall Street," said Chris Widmaier, senior director of the Open, whose job includes handling dozens of celebrity requests. "It's evolved into a sports and entertainment spectacle."

Among the first-time ticket seekers in the celebrity class of '06 are rapper/actor Ice-T, supermodel Giselle Bundchen and Playboy centerfold/actress Jenny McCarthy. The tournament draws more than just celebrities; last year's Open attracted a record 659,563 spectators.

The faces in the crowd can also provide clues on who's hot and who's not.

In happier times (like last August), Christie Brinkley and estranged husband Peter Cook -- in their tennis whites -- were fixtures. Don't expect this doubles team to turn up this year after Cook was caught canoodling with an 18-year-old.

Cyclist Armstrong arrived last year to root for Agassi and discuss his upcoming marriage to Sheryl Crow. But it was game, set, match for this pairing, too, as the couple split in March.

"It's always a snapshot of who is hot at the moment," said Minn. "Which is why you'll see certain couples together one year, and not the next."

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Find it online:

http://www.usopen.org

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asap contributor Larry McShane is an AP reporter in New York.

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