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Sports Desk: Serena Williams committed to play at this year\u2019s US Open on Wednesday as US Tennis Association officials vowed they can safely stage the first Grand Slam since the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.<\/p>\nSports Desk: Serena Williams committed to play at this year\u2019s US Open on Wednesday as US Tennis Association officials vowed they can safely stage the first Grand Slam since the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.<\/p>\n
With top men\u2019s stars questioning the wisdom of the staging the event, the USTA said the tournament will be held August 31 to September 13 without spectators at New York\u2019s National Tennis Center, which in April became a temporary hospital facility to combat the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really can\u2019t wait to return to the US Open 2020,\u201d Serena Williams said in a video message. \u201cI think the USTA is going to do a really good job of ensuring everyone is going to be safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is crazy. I\u2019m excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Flushing Meadows fortnight will be the first Grand Slam event staged since the deadly virus outbreak shut down global sport. Wimbledon was cancelled and the French Open was postponed until September.<\/p>\n
The site will also host the ATP\/WTA Western and Southern Open, typically staged in Cincinnati, the week before the US Open with a similar safety \u201cbubble\u201d that includes testing for players and their entourage.<\/p>\n
The USTA expects an 80% drop in net operating income as a result of having no spectators for the US Open but will provide $60 million in prize money for the two events in New York combined plus another $3.3 million each to the ATP and WTA.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the resources we can do this for a one-off year,\u201d USTA chief executive officer Mike Dowse said.<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic has been among several top players critical of the idea of staging the US Open as scheduled given the severe US impact of COVID-19, although cases in the New York area have been declining for several weeks.<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u2018The right decision\u2019 \u2013<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the right decision for tennis,\u201d Dowse said. \u201cOur fans told us unequivocally they\u2019re excited to see the best players in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams will be chasing her 24th Grand Slam singles title to match Margaret Court\u2019s all-time record.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m confident a lot of athletes want to return to play,\u201d said US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be great, exciting tennis for our fans around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Players will be tested for COVID-19 when they arrive at the tournament hotel, which opens August 15, and at least once a week thereafter, with those electing to stay at private homes being tested more often as they enter the Open grounds, which are available August 16.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re confident we can pull this off,\u201d said Dr. Brian Hainline, USTA Medical Advisory Group chairman.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know how we can start doing things in a manner that doesn\u2019t necessarily prevent one person from getting the disease but we can prevent a major outbreak of COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n
The USTA board of directors never discussed having players sign a waiver to participate, Hainline saying the possibility of contracting the virus inside the bubble was \u201chighly unlikely\u201d but anyone in contact with a person who tests positive was looking at \u201cvery likely an every other day event\u201d for testing.<\/p>\n
The US Open will have its regular draw of 128 players in men\u2019s and women\u2019s singles but doubles will have only 32 duos instead of the usual 64 and all players will play only doubles. There will be eight wildcard selections for singles but qualifying will not be contested.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat extra load was outside the level of what we could handle,\u201d Allaster said.<\/p>\n
Mixed doubles, junior events and wheelchair competitions were called off \u2014 a decision that angered two-time US Open wheelchair champion Dylan Alcott.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust got announced that the US Open will go ahead WITHOUT wheelchair tennis,\u201d Australia\u2019s Alcott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlayers weren\u2019t consulted\u2026unfortunately I missed the only thing that mattered, being able to walk. Disgusting discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n
Technology will replace line judges on every court except the feature layouts of Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. No children will be used to retrieve balls, only adults, with a reduced number used on outer courts. No media except telecasters will be permitted on site.<\/p>\n
With nasal swab tests being used, having near 100% reliability, Hainline declared, \u201cThere won\u2019t be false positives.\u201d<\/p>\n
A repeat test will be given within 24 hours to confirm positives. Those who are positive will be required to quarantine outside the event bubble.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sports Desk: Serena Williams committed to play at this year\u2019s US Open on Wednesday as US Tennis Association officials vowed they can safely stage the first Grand Slam since the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. With top men\u2019s stars questioning the wisdom of the staging the event, the USTA said the tournament will be held August 31 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":59981,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n