TENNIS world awaiting clarity about 2020 US Open

Amid the uncertainty of holding 2020  US Open tennis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament’s main draw is scheduled to begin in New York on August 31. The US Tennis Association’s chief executive for pro tennis, Stacey Allaster, has told the AP that contingency plans being contemplated include providing charter flights for players and requiring proof of negative virus tests before travel. All other big tickets tennis events like the ATP and WTA tours are suspended until late July anticipating that the spread of coronavirus will be brought under control before the deadline fixed by them. The French Open’s start was pushed back from May until September. Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time in 75 years as country after country including The United   Kingdom was being affected by the invisible virus. Rafael Nadal officially ranked as the world number 2 male tennis star and crowd puller, bats for  better safety environment for players, support staff, administrators and spectators. New York, the traditional venue for the US Open, is among the worst affected by the Covid-19 in the world. It is also unclear, especially given quarantine guidelines, whether enough players would be prepared to travel to New York. Many players remain without income as both the men’s and women’s tours have been shut down since mid-March and scores of tournaments have been postponed or cancelled, comments  Christopher Clarey in the famed New York Times. Arthur Ashe Stadium seats nearly 24,000 fans. If the United States Open is played this year, the seats will most likely be empty, says Kirsten Moran in the NYT. Pliskova, a finalist in the 2016 US Open, supports the much-talked-about idea of a WTA and ATP merger saying it as an opportunity to gain equal visibility in terms of broadcast deals. Founded in 1881, The United States Open Tennis Championships is a hard-court tennis tournament. Bianca Andreescu won her first Grand Slam title defeating Serena Williams in the final, 6–3, 7–5 to win the Women’s Singles tennis title at the 2019 US Open. Rafael Nadal, who won his 19th Grand Slam title and 4th US Open title by defeating Daniil Medvedev to capture the Men’s Singles tennis title at the 2019 US Open, however, remains optimistic of playing in the fabulous championship in the much safer ecosystem. (edited by PK Chakravarty).