U.S.T.A. Plans to Move Forward With U.S. Open Amid Pandemic - Do you agree?

[Jay]

U.S. Open 2020 to go ahead as scheduled (24 Aug - 13 Sep), but without fans.

Big 3 - Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are likely to pull out of this years’ US Open.

Federer - "didn’t fancy playing without fans "

Nadal has also expressed his reservations about playing.

While Djokovic admitted he’s inclined to skip the tournament due to the ‘extreme’ restrictions that are set to be placed on players.

On the other end of the spectrum many other players are welcoming the decision and as per Serena Williams Coach - “Serena would love to play US Open”.

With US worst hit by the pandemic, coronavirus cases have now crossed 2M and the death toll is at more than 118K.

Do you agree with the US Open decision to go ahead amidst pandemic?

[Parthiv]

A little risky to host the US Open this year especially when it is in New York, the hardest hit state.

Lot of money at stake.
Primary sponsors and ESPN is paying more than $70 million annually in rights fees to the organization mainly to televise the tournament.

[Yogesh]

Organizing the tournament without audience is good news for Fans definitely. They can at least watch it on Telly, and most fans watch it at home anyways.

What remains to be seen is reaction of Players. How many foreign stars are willing to risk contamination, how many players are willing to play with so many restrictions, how many players are willing to play in absence of audience are the questions on everybody’s mind. Many top tier players may skip tournament. IMHO Second tire player will grab this chance for the glory for sure.

Let’s wait and see for a few days!

[Praveen]

Andrew Cuomo Governor of New York
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday that the United States Open would be held as originally scheduled but without spectators at the U.S.T.A. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, approving a plan by the United States Tennis Association to salvage the Grand Slam tournament, one of the biggest sporting events in New York.

“It will be held without fans, but we can watch it on TV, and I’ll take that,” the governor said.

[Min]

Although there is no audience, this may be the best solution at present .I hope the epidemic will end soon.

[Jay]

Djokovic and his wife test positive for Coronavirus after he organized Adria Tour, a series of exhibition matches in South Eastern Europe.

Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki also tested positive for COVID-19 after playing in this event.
The event is being widely criticized for not maintaining significant social distancing protocols as well as featuring stands with packed fans.

We could see more players and fans likely to test positive due to this event.

Although, US Open is planned without fans, I am now wondering if at all it is safe for players to mingle with other players and with ground staff to conduct the event.

[Jay]

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, the top-ranked singles player in women’s tennis, has announced she will not play in either the Western & Southern Open or the US Open, citing Covid-19 concerns.

Two-time major champion and World no. 2 Simona Halep does not plan to play either at the 2020 US Open.

Former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka plans to play the Grand Slam scheduled to begin on August 31.

[Mclaren]

Some of the biggest stars in tennis, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to name a few, are opting out of the 2020 U.S. Open. This is the first Grand Slam since 1999 without Roger and Rafa competing.

However, other household names like Serena Williams and Daniil Medvedev are likely to play the U.S. Open.

The question plaguing us all is, will the tournament garner enough interest?

[Jeff]

World number one Djokovic says will play at U.S. Open

[Abhishek1]

Japan’s tennis star Kei Nishikori tests positive for Coronavirus two weeks ahead Of US Open."This morning, while still in Florida, I got tested for COVID-19 and tested positive.I will have to pull out of the Cincinnati tournament at this time."Kei Nishikori said in a statement.