The 2013 US Open officially kicked off last night with Moët & Chandon – the official Champagne of the US Open – with guests including actors Kevin Spacey and Cuba Gooding Jr., models Kelly Killoren Bensimon and Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann, fashion designer Chris Benz and figure skating champion Johnny Weir celebrating the start of the Open with Moët & Chandon!
In the Moët Suite, Kelly Killoren Bensimon – who rushed from Connecticut to make it back to New York in time to watch Serena Williams – sipped Moët Impérial and cheered as Serena dominated on the court, calling Serena an “incredible player” and gushing about having recently met Roger Federer, Global Brand Ambassador for Moët, at Moët & Chandon’s 270th Anniversary celebration last Tuesday.
“Roger is so gracious and so nice,” she said, before laughing, “Look at me calling him ‘Roger’ – on a first name basis!”
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. entered the Moët Suite with fashion designer Chris Benz – who ran up to greet friend, model Elettra Wiedemann – while Cuba immediately grabbed a glass of Moët and rushed to the front row to watch the matches before quickly reappearing in the suite and announcing he was going to get a hot dog and a pretzel. Chris Benz and Johnny Weir – who was wearing a cape and white angel wings – joined in on the hot dog and pretzel idea, opting to pair their champagne with something other than the Morimoto sushi in the suite!
As the rain began to fall after Serena’s win, guests made their way back into the suite while newly married lovebirds model Elettra Wiedemann and James Marshall opted to stay outside and cuddle under a Moët umbrella, reappearing visibly disappointed – and a little bit wet – that the rest of the evening matches were canceled. Despite the weather and the matches being canceled, the Moët Suite continued to celebrate with free-flowing Champagne throughout the evening.
Before all the action in the Moët Suite, Opening Night of the US Open began with the star-studded USTA Serves Opening Night Gala in the President’s Suite, where actor Kevin Spacey– who led an exciting charitable auction during the Gala – as well as tennis legend Billie Jean King
and US tennis players Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan signed a bottle of Moët & Chandon – crystalized with the US Open logo – for the USTA Serves.
While the focus was on the matches beginning to kick off on the court, all attention turned to champagne during the auction as Ludovic du Plessis, Vice President Moët & Chandon USA, jumped up during Kevin Spacey’s presentation saying, “I have an idea!” before proceeding to present one of the most celebratory auction items of the evening: one year of Moët & Chandon Imperial – 365 bottles, one for each day – which auctioned for $15,000, with all funds going to USTA Serves! After hearing Ludovic’s French accent, Kevin Spacey jokingly proclaimed, “Oh no, the Frenchman!” before joining Ludovic in auctioning off the champagne – and, just as Kevin had a bit of fun this year with Ludovic’s accent, last year’s presenting speaker – actor Alec Baldwin – similarly joked with Ludovic, deciding to continue last year’s auction in a French accent after hearing Ludovic’s welcome speech.
#GoodTimes!
More pics below…
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