The third day of the US Open was marked by endless contrasts both on and off the slopes after it began with rain, which was torrential at the end of the day, including a tornado warning.
The adverse weather elements meant that most of the matches scheduled for the evening session could not be played and only the two for men on the indoor center court of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The USTA had to release an alert statement about the warning of tornado and strong winds for the entire area where the Billie King National Tennis Center is located, in which it asked all kinds of precaution to the fans who were in the facilities following the matches.
Earlier, the Belarusian veteran Victoria Azarenka, eighteenth seed, who had won 6-3 and 7-6 (1) in the morning against the Italian Jasmine Paolini, and will be in the third round the rival of the Spanish Garbiñe Muguruza, claimed the need to seriously discuss the issue of mandatory vaccination among all players.
After reaching the final of the US Open last year with no fans, Azarenka appreciates playing in front of the people again.
Especially because of what they had to do to be in the stands.
Spectators must show proof of at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to attend matches. Players are not required to wear it and only half of the professionals – women and men – have done so.
“I want to start this debate among the professionals, because for me it is a bit strange that the fans have to be vaccinated and the players do not,” said Azarenka. “So I think that, in my opinion, it is inevitable that it will be mandatory at some point, as other sports leagues are doing.”
Azarenka pointed out that “I don’t see the point of not opening this debate, because I think we all want to be safe, continue doing our job and I know there are many discussions about it.”
The three-time US Open runner-up said during her on-court interview that it was “great” that there were so many vaccinated people there to watch her.
World number one Serbian Novak Djokovic said before the tournament that he hopes the decision to get vaccinated remains a personal one. Azarenka believes that it is time for the players and the ATP and WTA to talk about taking it further.
“I hope that as an association we make the best decision for our business, for our health, for tournaments, for the public,” he stressed. “And I think we have to start this conversation, because like I said, in my opinion it’s just unavoidable.”
The day also left the Gay Pride Day promoted by the USTA in the Open, and the Russian Daniil Medvedev, second seeded, after his victory by 6-4, 6-1 and 6-2 against the German Dominik Koepfer, said be sure that if a male professional tennis player declares himself homosexual, he would receive all the support.
“Honestly, I think for my part, of course, you never know what can happen, but for my part, I think everyone would be super open if someone participated in that reality on the ATP Tour,” said the runner-up at the US Open. States of 2019.
Medvedec, who will face the Spanish Pablo Andújar on Friday in the third round, stressed that the initiative of the tournament to celebrate Gay Pride Day was something very positive.
“I think it’s great since the US Open, this initiative,” said Medvedev. “I think the ATP is honestly also doing a good job, especially internally, trying to provide information and to make sure that if someone wants to go out, they will feel safe and protected.”
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