Who are those two people sitting on the court next to the ball kids at the US Open?

Question

They're not linespeople because they're dressed in white and sitting side by side on the center court and they don't look like security. Anyone happen to know who they are and why they need to be there? They just look like a couple of USTA officials who aren't doing much of anything with the best seats in the house.

Second question: Do you think the court looks slower than it did last year? The ball seems to be bouncing alot higher this year and not moving so fast through the court (great for Rafa). I know the surface is called Decoturf II (used in Beijing). Is this the same surface from last year or did they use it to replace Decoturf I?

Answer 1

They're probably just officials that work there. They might help out or may be a doctor on the court. They get good seats because it may be a benefit of their job. Linesmen dress the same too so it could possibly be them watching from that side.

The court seems the same. Well the players may be putting on lots of topspin but its possible they changed the surface.