The US Open of tennis professionals in New York should take place – but without a spectator. It is also questionable how the top players will react to this decision
For weeks the spirits parted, now the spook is over: The US Open of the tennis professionals in New York should take place – but without spectators. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed on Tuesday that the normally last Grand Slam tournament of the year will take place from August 31 to September 13 in the Flushing Meadows neighborhood. Whether top players like world number one Novak Djokovic will take part is more than questionable.
The US American tennis association USTA will “take extraordinary precautions to protect players and staff,” wrote Cuomo on Twitter. Robust tests, additional cleaning, additional changing rooms as well as special accommodation and special transport are provided.
French Open start just a week after US Open
The Australian Open in Melbourne is so far the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments that has taken place this year. After the women’s (WTA) and men’s (ATP) tours were initially interrupted due to the corona pandemic, the organizers of Wimbledon canceled their event. The French Open, on the other hand, have been postponed: They are now supposed to start a week after the end of the US Open (September 20). Officially, the WTA and ATP tours are only interrupted until the beginning of August.
Because the Grand Slam tournaments also guarantee high income for the respective national associations, the USTA wanted to save its annual high point in New York, which was hard hit by the pandemic. In particular, top players from Europe such as Djokovic, world number two Rafael Nadal (Spain) or world number third Dominic Thiem (Austria) had so far been skeptical about a trip to the USA.
Djokovic receives criticism
“The restrictions are too extreme,” criticized Djokovic. The quarantine regulations primarily affect those players who have to travel to the USA. Charter flights are planned from various locations to New York. Those involved should be isolated in a hotel at JFK Airport and only be allowed to bring one supervisor. Djokovic had indicated that he would only look back on sand.
However, the number one attitude also caused a lack of understanding in the case of poorly placed players. A coach is enough, said the Englishman Dan Evans (28th in the world rankings), and there is “no better way” to financially support players who are not so well placed than by holding a Grand Slam tournament. “Now is the time for Novak and Rafa to stand together and help us make a living.”
Kyrgios criticizes plans
Djokovic was also attacked by the Australian Danielle Collins. “If you’ve made nearly $ 150 million in your career, it’s easy to resist hosting the US Open,” said the 2019 Australian Open semi-finalist and number 51 in the world rankings. “For most of us it would be important to be able to work again. It would be nice if the number 1 would support us instead of spoiling us.”
Australian star player Nick Kyrgios does not believe in the plans. “People who live in the USA, of course, are pushing for the Open to take place,” tweeted the 25-year-old, describing this as “selfish”. He will prepare his “protective suit for the trip from Australia and for the two-week quarantine after my return”.
Sport-Informations-Service (SID)
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