What to Watch For At The 2020 U.S. Open How Will No Fans Affect the Players? The 2020 U.S. Open will go ahead with no fans, which should create a unique atmosphere for the players inside the bubble at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Players are used to having fans watching their matches, and for the players competing on the big show courts, like Grandstand, Louis Armstrong Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium, having no people in those seats will be a strange site. Similarly to how a basketball player could be affected shooting at a hoop in an arena with no fans, this presents a challenge to the tennis players. Even on the side courts, where fans normally flock, limited noise and no people will be a new way to play tennis for many of these players. Will Circumstances Open Door for New Champions? It remains to be seen which players will fill out the draws for this year’s U.S. Open, with many high-ranked players expressing doubt or raising concerns about coming to New York. The list ranges from Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, to Simona Halep and Bianca Andreescu. Roger
Federer already announced he will miss the rest of the year with an injury, and thus this could be a tournament that plays host to a new major champion. The unique situation surrounding the tournament means that there will likely be a new Grand Slam winner, perhaps perennial Top 10 players on the verge of a breakthrough such as Alexander Zverev or Elina Svitolina, could have their moment in Queens. Will Players Adhere to Quarantine Protocols? During the event, the USTA will be instituting strict health and safety protocols that the players must adhere to. This includes regular temperature checks and tests, but it will also depend on players sticking to the quarantine and not leaving the proverbial bubble. Players are only allowed at their hotel or house and at the court, which could present a problem for some players looking to do some New York City exploring. Normally, the players take advantage of the multiple-week stay in the “city that never sleeps”, doing sight-seeing, going shopping, going out to eat and more, all things they will not be allowed to do this time around. With everything going on in
the world, this should not be an issue, and as Long Island native and ATP Tour professional Noah Rubin said: “If you have the opportunity to make four million dollars, you stay in the bubble and shut up. If you have the ability to make this money during a pandemic—we are putting this on during a pandemic—shut up.” Wheelchair Tournament to Be Held The 2020 U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Competition will be held in its traditional place on the U.S. Open calendar at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The tournament will run from September 10-13. This decision was made following multiple virtual meetings with a group of wheelchair athletes and the International Tennis Federation over the last week. The 2020 U.S. Open Wheelchair Competition will feature men’s and women’s singles and doubles events and quad singles and doubles events, all with draw sizes similar to past U.S. Opens. Wheelchair athletes will follow the same health and safety procedures as all players participating in the U.S. Open and will be able to access the USTA Billie Jean King
CHRIS LEWIT TENNIS ELITE YEAR-ROUND TRAINING IN THE NYC AREA HIGH PERFORMANCE SUMMER CAMP IN VERMONT
CHRISLEWIT.COM
914.462.2912 CHRIS@CHRISLEWIT.COM
22
Long Island Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • LITennisMag.com
