21.   Played in a festive atmosphere, the match began with traditional Bhutanese songs and masked dancers to entertain the crowd.

22.   A rainstorm had slowed the red clay by the time the match began on the center court at the Foro Italico.

23.   A tepid match began to warm up in the second half when Israeli forward Ronen Hazan hit the crossbar twice in nine minutes, narrowly missing chances to score.

24.   A tournament spokesman said further rain after the match begins could force a further delay, perhaps until Sunday.

25.   All four players looked nervous when the match began, but the occasion made Melicharova especially shaky.

26.   Agassi was asked whether officials should have closed the roof on Center Court before the match began Tuesday night.

27.   Agassi was asked whether officials should have closed the roof on Center Court before their match began Tuesday night.

28.   At the U.S. Open, the matches begin in the morning and the energy arrives at night.

29.   Before the match began, Prince Charles took the field to greet the players and dozens of schoolchildren.

30.   Both teams had been mathematically eliminated from advancing to the World Cup finals before the match began.