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Plan awaits go-ahead - Albany Times Union

USTA still hopes to contest 2020 event with safety protocols

Howard Fendrich, Associated Press

Moving closer to holding the first Grand Slam tournament of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Tennis Association is awaiting the go-ahead from the New York state government to play the U.S. Open in New York starting in August — without fans and with strict health protocols.

"We're ready to move forward," USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier said in a telephone interview Monday, "as long as we get all the approvals we need."

A formal announcement could come this week.

"We've received a proposal and we're reviewing it," Richard Azzopardi, a spokesman for New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, wrote in an email.

Like many sports, the professional tennis tours have been suspended since March because of the coronavirus pandemic. The French Open was postponed from May and currently is slated to start a week after the Sept. 13 end of the U.S. Open; Wimbledon was canceled altogether for the first time since World War II in 1945.

Even if the state OKs the U.S. Open, one significant question would remain: Which players actually would participate?

Such top names as both No. 1-ranked players, Novak Djokovic and Ash Barty, and defending men's champion Rafael Nadal, have expressed reservations about heading to Flushing Meadows, where an indoor tennis facility was used as a temporary home for hundreds of hospital beds at the height of the city's coronavirus crisis.

Already ruled out, regardless: Roger Federer, who has won five of his men's-record 20 Grand Slam singles titles at the U.S. Open but announced recently that he is out for the rest of the year after needing a second arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

With international TV contracts — including an annual average of $70 million from ESPN alone — helping offset the loss of money from ticket sales and other onsite revenue, and facing a recession that already led to the recent elimination of more than 100 jobs at the USTA, the association's board decided to go forward with its marquee event despite concerns about COVID-19 and international travel.

"At the end of the day, there are three factors involved in the decision-making. No. 1 is creating a plan that has health and safety at the forefront. No. 2 is whether conducting the U.S. Open is the right thing for the sport of tennis. And No. 3 is whether it can be done in a financially viable manner. We believe we can hit all three of the objectives," Widmaier said. "But we do need to approach this in a step-by-step manner, and when all of the steps are completed, that is when we can make an official announcement."

The plan shared with the state government includes: zero spectators; limited player entourages; assigned hotels; increased cleaning at the tournament grounds; extra locker room space; daily temperature checks and occasional testing for COVID-19.

Also part of the proposal shared with players: The Cincinnati hard-court tournament scheduled for Aug. 16-23 would be moved to New York and held in place of U.S. Open qualifying.

FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2019, file photo, Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, serves to Grigor Dimitrov, of Bulgaria, during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament in New York starting in August without spectators, if it gets governmental support -- and a formal announcement could come this week.(AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)
1of6FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2019, file photo, Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, serves to Grigor Dimitrov, of Bulgaria, during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament in New York starting in August without spectators, if it gets governmental support -- and a formal announcement could come this week.(AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)Eduardo Munoz Alvarez
FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2019, file photo, Rafael Nadal, of Spain, hugs the trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, to win the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament in New York starting in August without spectators, if it gets governmental support -- and a formal announcement could come this week. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
2of6FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2019, file photo, Rafael Nadal, of Spain, hugs the trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, to win the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament in New York starting in August without spectators, if it gets governmental support -- and a formal announcement could come this week. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)Adam Hunger
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, tennis fans crowd the edge of the court hoping for an autograph from Rafael Nadal, of Spain, during round three of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament in New York starting in August without spectators, if it gets governmental support -- and a formal announcement could come this week. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)
3of6FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, tennis fans crowd the edge of the court hoping for an autograph from Rafael Nadal, of Spain, during round three of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament in New York starting in August without spectators, if it gets governmental support -- and a formal announcement could come this week. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)Eduardo Munoz Alvarez
FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2019, file photo, Bianca Andreescu, of Canada, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Serena Williams, of the United States, in the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament in New York starting in August without spectators, if it gets governmental support -- and a formal announcement could come this week.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
4of6FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2019, file photo, Bianca Andreescu, of Canada, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Serena Williams, of the United States, in the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament in New York starting in August without spectators, if it gets governmental support -- and a formal announcement could come this week.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)Charles Krupa
FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2019, file photo, Ashleigh Barty, of Australia, reacts against Lauren Davis during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Barty has joined the ranks of high-profile players concerned over the staging of the U.S. Open while therea€™s still so much uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic. a€œI have concerns too,a€ Barty said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. a€œI understand the tournaments are eager to run but keeping everyone safe has to be the priority.a€ (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
5of6FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2019, file photo, Ashleigh Barty, of Australia, reacts against Lauren Davis during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Barty has joined the ranks of high-profile players concerned over the staging of the U.S. Open while therea€™s still so much uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic. a€œI have concerns too,a€ Barty said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. a€œI understand the tournaments are eager to run but keeping everyone safe has to be the priority.a€ (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)Adam Hunger
FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2019, file photo, Finland's Oskari Laaksonen jumps into the arms of Jesse Ylonen celebrating Ylonen's goal during the second period of the gold medal game at the world junior hockey tournament against the United States, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Buffalo Sabres signed defenseman Oskari Laaksonen to a three-year entry-level contract on Monday, June 15, 2020. Laaksonen was Buffalo's third-round pick in the 2017 draft and spent the past two-plus seasons playing in Finland's Elite League. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
6of6FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2019, file photo, Finland's Oskari Laaksonen jumps into the arms of Jesse Ylonen celebrating Ylonen's goal during the second period of the gold medal game at the world junior hockey tournament against the United States, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Buffalo Sabres signed defenseman Oskari Laaksonen to a three-year entry-level contract on Monday, June 15, 2020. Laaksonen was Buffalo's third-round pick in the 2017 draft and spent the past two-plus seasons playing in Finland's Elite League. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP, File)JONATHAN HAYWARD

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