Sport

USTA hoping to ease top players’ US Open concerns

Men’s ATP circuit will restart in Washington DC while the women begin in Palermo

Nick Kyrgios won the Citi Open in 2019. Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images

Kevin Mitchell
Wed Jun 17 2020 - 16:40

It was confirmed on Wednesday the 2020 US Open will start behind closed doors on August 31st but there is still no guarantee the best players in the world will be there.

While the six-time champion Serena Williams confirmed her particiation at Flushing Meadows, some of the most senior players on both Tours – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep – have expressed serious reservations about travelling to New York while Covid-19 lingers, and Roger Federer, who is 39 in August, has already retired for the season to recover from knee surgery.

The United States Tennis Association chief executive, Stacey Allaster, said there had been “significant discussions” with reluctant players before allowing them to bring up to three assistants with them, having earlier insisted on only one. “If the tournament was next week, I’m not going to speculate [how many would attend]. I am confident a lot of athletes want to play.”

She added: “Each athlete will have two hotel rooms, one paid for, and they will be able to have three additional guests of their choice. We understand the needs of the athletes; we just need to recognise social distancing.”

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The tournament received a boost when Williams declared via video link: “I can’t wait to return to New York. It’s over six months since a lot of us have played professional tennis. I will miss the crowd, but I’m excited.”

Williams, 39 in September, is running out of chances to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record 24 slam titles, and would relish the chance to do so at her home championships.

Andy Murray is also keen to play at Flushing Meadows, where he won the first of his three majors eight years ago. Players will be tested for coronavirus on arrival and once a week after that: a maximum of three tests for the main tournament, four including the rescheduled Cincinnati Open, which will be held on site.

The ATP also announced the rearranged French Open will start on September 27th, preceded by a revised 2020 schedule that begins with a 500 tournament in Washington on August 14th, the Cincinnati Open at Flushing (August 21st), a 250 event in Kitzbuhel (September 8th), Madrid Masters (September 13th) and Rome Open (September 20th).