There are a lot of speculations about when, where, and if the US Open will take place this year. At the moment, the American slam is scheduled to take place starting from the last week of August in New York (as usual). However, the Big Apple has been heavily hit by the Coronavirus Pandemic and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre has also been converted in a temporary hospital to help to fight the outbreak.
The US Open in Indian Wells?
Fortunately, USTA is strongly committed to making the US Open happen with the right precautions. USTA Executive Director Michael Dowse, during a phone interview today with Inside Tennis, confirmed his commitment to admit that “nothing is off the table.”
Indian Wells was the first big tennis event to suffer for the Coronavirus pandemic and the tournament was officially postponed (not canceled). However, the premises can very well host the last slam of the year. Dowse comments: “There’s too much speculation. We’ll know so much more in June. In reality, it’s certainly possible to play without fans. No formal decision has been made about Indian Wells. Whatever we do, we’ll have to do it in alignment with the owners of Indian Wells, and the ATP and the WTA. These days the most energy is on social distancing.”
Dowse added: “Things are starting to open up at public courts in Riverside County, CA, in Atlanta and in Dallas. In the next ten days, tennis might be opening up on outdoor courts as part of Phase 2 of the federal guidelines. It’s all happening in real-time.”
In the meantime, tennis legend Boris Becker expressed his disapproval for the US Open to be played in New York given the circumstances.
Why the US Open should not be held in New York this year. BORIS BECKER
