|
Post by Admin on Jun 7, 2020 20:03:24 GMT
Novak Djokovic has described the restrictions that players would be subject to in order for the US Open to take place as "extreme" and "impossible".
The Flushing Meadows grand slam is still scheduled to go ahead, with the main draw to run from August 31 to September 13.
However, the coronavirus pandemic has decimated the calendar on the ATP and WTA Tours and there are doubts over whether the tournament can take place given how hard COVID-19 has hit New York.
Rafael Nadal, who won the 2019 men's singles title, recently expressed his misgivings over the 2020 competition being held, and world number one Djokovic has now voiced his doubts – pointing to proposals to cap the number of members of a support team allowed to attend Flushing Meadows as an area of concern.
Djokovic told Prva TV: "I had a telephone conversation with the leaders of world tennis, there were talks about the continuation of the season, mostly about the US Open due in late August, but it is not known whether it will be held.
"The rules that they told us that we would have to respect to be there, to play at all, they are extreme.
"We would not have access to Manhattan, we would have to sleep in hotels at the airport, to be tested twice or three times per week.
"Also, we could bring one person to the club which is really impossible.
"I mean, you need your coach, then a fitness trainer, then a physiotherapist.
"All their suggestions are really rigorous but I can understand that due to financial reasons, due to already existing contracts, organisers [want the event to be] held. We will see what will happen."
Djokovic has won three of his 17 grand slams at the US Open, most recently in 2018.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jun 10, 2020 21:22:22 GMT
Roger Federer has left the tennis world stunned after announcing he won’t be returning to tennis in 2020 after an injury setback.
The 38-year-old tennis champ recently announced he was back to training after he underwent knee surgery following the 2020 Australian Open.
But in a major shock, Federer took to Twitter to announce he had suffered a setback while working back to fitness in rehabilitation during the coronavirus pandemic.
The setback will see Federer sit out the remainder of the Tour, if it resumes following the coronavirus pandemic.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jun 13, 2020 5:53:15 GMT
Amanda Anisimova has questioned Nick Kyrgios’ claims the ATP is being ‘selfish’ in trying to play the US Open amid the coronavirus pandemic. All tennis remains suspended until at least the end of July, but the American major is still slated from late August in New York (one of the coronavirus epicentres), with a decision on the tournament - and other events - expected next week. In a since-deleted tweet, the 18-year-old reportedly replied to Millman and Kyrgios’ conversation and said she thought it was worth a try for tennis to return. “I don’t see why not give it a try,” Anisimova wrote, according to News Corp. http://instagram.com/p/CBOjuVPgcTy “Of course there will be a ton of safety protocols in place, and many precautions made. “Other sports are coming back, so why can’t tennis? Playing without fans is a huge bummer, but at least we get to play at all.” http://instagram.com/p/CBQW7AVpyFA US Open organisers are looking into holding the event behind closed doors and with players in strict quarantine near the venue and not permitted to enter Manhattan.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jun 16, 2020 20:45:13 GMT
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday the U.S. Open will be held this summer in New York City without fans. The tennis tournament will take place from August 31 to September 13 in the borough of Queens, as scheduled.
The U.S. Open is held each year in New York City, which earlier this year became the U.S. epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.
The United States Tennis Association "will take extraordinary precautions to protect players and staff, including robust testing, additional cleaning, extra locker room space, and dedicated housing & transportation," Cuomo tweeted.
"And we have the lowest number of deaths since we started," he said.
"On the three-day average we are at a new low," he said, calling it "something to celebrate."
Total COVID hospitalizations fell to 1,538 yesterday — the lowest since March 20.
The 3-day rolling average in daily COVID fatalities is at 24, a new record low.
— Andrew Cuomo (@nygovcuomo) June 16, 2020
"We are basically at a number that is so low it may even be statistically questionable, because when you get down to 24 you are talking about literally how doctors decide a cause of death in some situations that may have multiple reasons behind it," he said.
The state is now allowing hospitals to accepts visitors at their discretion, according to Cuomo. The same goes for group homes starting on Friday.
He said more than 3 millions tests have been conducted statewide – diagnostic tests to determine if someone has COVID-19 and antibody tests to determine if someone has had the virus.
New York State surveyed 12,000 people over 6 weeks to test for COVID-19 antibodies.
Weighted results show that 13.4% of the state was positive for the antibody.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jun 17, 2020 18:56:53 GMT
Serena Williams says she will play in this year's US Open tennis tournament.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion announced her intentions in a taped video message revealed Wednesday by the USTA.
"I really cannot wait to return in New York and play the US Open 2020," said Williams, 38. "I feel like the USTA is going to do a really good job of ensuring everything is amazing and everything is perfect and everyone is safe. It's going to be exciting. It's been over six months since a lot of us have played professional tennis.
"I'll certainly miss the fans, don't get me wrong, just being out there and that New York crowd and hearing everyone cheer," the six-time US Open champion said. "I'll really miss that getting me through some of those tough matches. This is crazy. I'm excited."
The US Open will be held in New York from Aug. 31 through Sept. 13 and would be the first tennis major played since the sport was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Electronic line-calling will be used instead of line judges for US Open matches at all courts except the two largest arenas. There also will be three ball people instead of six at courts other than Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Those are among the changes announced by the U.S. Tennis Association as it outlined plans for running its 2020 Grand Slam tournament amid the coronavirus pandemic.
There will be no mixed doubles, juniors or wheelchair competition during the tournament. There also will not be any qualifying rounds. Men's and women's doubles will be reduced from 64 teams each to 32, and only players not in singles may enter.
In each of the 128-player fields for men's and women's singles, there will be 120 players who get in via their ranking and eight who receive wild-card invitations.
Players will be allowed up to three guests and up to two rooms at a pair of designated hotels. One room will be paid for by the USTA and one by the player. There also will be the option for players to rent a house outside of Manhattan.
The USTA has not decided exactly how many entourage members will be allowed on-site at Flushing Meadows during the US Open or for the tournament that is being moved from Cincinnati and also will be staged (Aug. 21-28) at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Also Wednesday, organizers of the French Open announced that the Paris tournament's main draw will be played at Roland Garros from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11, a week later than originally announced.
|
|