World No.1 Novak Djokovic has described proposals to limit players to having only one member of their team with them at the US Open as ‘really impossible’ on Friday.
The New York grand slam is aiming to get underway on August 31st amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All professional tennis tournaments have been either cancelled or suspended until at least July 31st and there is yet to be any official confirmation of what the remainder of the 2020 season could look like. However, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is pressing ahead with their plans to host their event in New York. The epicentre of the virus outbreak in America.
Speaking to Prva TV, Djokovic has said the rules set to be implemented on the upcoming tournament are ‘extreme.’ The 17-time grand slam champion, who is the president of the ATP Players council, spoke with tennis officials earlier in the week about the current situation. It is understood that all players have been invited to attend a zoom meeting with the ATP on Wednesday to discuss resuming the Tour.
“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,” he told Prva TV.
“The rules that they told us that we would have to respect to be there, to play at all, they are extreme.”
Djokovic, who last won the US Open in 2018, has revealed some of the approaches being taken by organizers which are yet to be publicly confirmed. He says that player’s will be subjected to multiple COVID-19 tests each week and they will be restricted as to where they can go in the city.
“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,” Djokovic said.
“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.”
It is understood that the USTA will make a final announcement concerning this year’s grand slam by the middle of this month. According to the New York Times, one of the ideas being considered include relocating another tournament to the same place as the US Open as well. According to the report, the Western and Southern Open, which is usually held in Cincinnati, could take place in Flushing Meadows prior to the grand slam. The idea being the relocation will minimise player’s travelling through America.
Djokovic is the latest top name in the sport to express concern over the prospect of the US Open taking place. Earlier this week reigning champion Rafael Nadal said the sport should only resume is all player’s are able to travel and it is safe to do so. When questioned on Thursday if he would play in New York if it took place at present, the Spaniard said he wouldn’t.
“If we are not able to organise a tournament that is not safe enough or fair enough where every player from every part of the world needs to have the chance to play the tournament we can’t play, that’s my feeling.” Nadal told reporters on Thursday.
“My feeling is that we need to wait a little bit more. We are in a worldwide sport. For me it is not the same as football or a tournament that can be played in one country. When you mix people from all over the world the complications are completely different. I am a little bit worried about that.”
Meanwhile, women’s world No.1 Ash Barty said she is yet to make a decision on whether or not to play in New York. Saying that she will need to take into account her team before making a final call. Barty, who is the reigning French Open champion, is yet to progress beyond the fourth round of the US Open.
“It’s exciting that tennis is being talked about again and things are moving in the right direction for us to start competing,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“But I’d need to understand all of the information and advice from the WTA and the USTA before making a decision on the US events.”
New York has recorded 367,000 cases of COVID-19 that has resulted in over 24,000 deaths, which is more than Germany.
