Plans for the 2020 US Open on Schedule without Fans, Await Government Approval
(June 15, 2020) A plan to hold the US Open without fans is in the works, various media entities including ESPN, Associated Press and the New York Times reported on Monday.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) wants to hold the tournament under strict health protocols, without fans.
“We’re ready to move forward,” said Chris Widmaier, USTA spokesman and Director of Corporate Communication in a telephone interview with the Associated Press on Monday, “as long as we get all the approvals we need.”
“From the beginning, we’ve built this plan in a very collaborative manner,” he added. “We also recognize in order to move forward that we need government approval, approval from the state of New York and any other entity.”
The US Open is awaiting approval from the New York State government.
A formal announcement of the US Open plans is expected to come later this week. The plan proposes that no qualifying tournament will take place and the Western & Southern Open, normally played in Mason, Ohio, would instead be played at Flushing Meadow, the home of the US Open before the US Open tournament begins on August 31.
The tennis tour has been shut down since March due the COVID-19 pandemic. Flushing Meadow would be the first major played since the pandemic began. Currently the the tour is suspended until July 31.
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