Charter flights to transport tennis players participating in the United States Open, along with limited entourages, from Europe, South America and the Middle East to New York. Evidence that rules out that anyone carries coronavirus before embarking on the journey.
Centralized hosting. Daily reviews of body temperature. Zero viewers. Fewer judges on the court. Locker rooms closed on practice days.
All of these are among the scenarios contemplated for the 2020 edition of the US Open —in case it can be carried out— in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The options were outlined to The Associated Press by a prominent executive of this Grand Slam tournament.
“All of this is still evolving,” said Stacey Allaster, general manager of the United States Tennis Federation, in charge of the professional division. “We have not made any decision.”
Interviewed on Saturday by the AP, Allaster added that if the Federation board effectively decides to go ahead with the tournament, she expects it to take place at its usual venue and dates. Main draw matches would start on August 31.
“I would say that we continue to be 150% focused on ensuring a safe environment for a US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, and on our dates. Our team and I wake up every day thinking about it, “said Allaster. “The idea of an alternate venue or date … doesn’t have much momentum, although we have a responsibility to analyze it.”
An announcement could come “mid to late June,” Allaster calculated.
All official ATP, WTA and International Tennis Federation (ITF) competitions have been suspended since March. The activity will not resume until the end of July.
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The French Open was postponed from May to September. Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since 1945.
There is no established protocol against COVID-19 in tennis, a global sport with several governing bodies.
“I am sure everyone would agree with the fundamental principles: Protect the health of the participants, follow local laws and minimize the risk of transmission of the virus,” said Stuart Miller, who oversees the ITF’s policy to return to the exercise. “But then you have to get into the details.”
One of those details is as follows: The US Federation wants to add dressing rooms, even on the indoor courts that housed hundreds of temporary hospital beds at the worst time of the pandemic.
Another proposal aims to improve the air filtration system in existing spaces. It is also contemplated to prohibit access to the locker room at least until the moments before a game.
What then if someone comes to Flushing Meadows just to train?
“You arrive, you practice, and you go back to the hotel,” Allaster replied.
The US Federation presented its operational plan to a group of medical advisers on Friday. Now, the ideas will be put up for discussion by local, state and federal authorities.
“The fundamental goal here is to mitigate risk,” said Allaster.
Some governors, such as New York governor Andrew Cuomo, have been open to allowing professional sports to resume, but all caution that this should be without spectators on the stands.
“We spend a lot of time and energy on all stages, including the one that doesn’t have fans on-site,” said Allaster. “The government will help guide us.”
In 2019, some 850,000 people attended the US Open headquarters from the week before the main draw matches until the day of the final.
Lew Sherr, chief revenue officer for the US Federation, told the AP that viewers are increasingly “less likely” to be allowed into this year’s tournament.
This means “giving up revenue from tickets, lodging packages and tickets, as well as a part of the perceptions for sponsorship,” said Sherr.
But TV and other digital rights fees, plus a lot of sponsorship dollars, are “significant enough that it’s still worth going on without fans at the US Open,” he added.
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