Fans of tennis have been waiting for this moment for all their lives.
Phil Collins will headline the Opening Ceremony at this year’s US Open. The performance will take place August 29th at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with ESPN2 broadcasting live from Queens.
More than just a celebration of the meeting between tennis’ top international competitors, Collins’ performance will honor the very building within which the matches are held. This will be the first year the stadium’s long-promised retractable roof will be operational, and so Collins will perform — wait for it — “In the Air Tonight”. Get it? Because when you open the roof, you’ll be in the air, and at least 50% of the time it’ll be at night. So it totally makes sense.
(Read: Take a Look at Phil Now: An Interview with Phil Collins)
The performance will mark only Collins’ second live appearance since coming out of retirement last October. In March, he played at brief seven-song set at a benefit concert in Miami.
In addition to the live comeback, Collins in in the midst of a massive reissue campaign of his entire discography. He’s also penning his memoir, titled Not Dead Yet, which is due for release on October 25th.