Double bill at Flushing

I had promised myself and my wife Denise that we would be watching matches either at the Arthur Ashe Stadium or at the Louis Armstrong Stadium when tennis’ biggest event comes to New York this year as we just contented ourselves going around the site at Flushing Meadows last year.

The 2020 US Open will go on as originally scheduled from August 31 to September 13 yet, our desire to see in person the best players of the game play on court is still a dream.   There will be no spectators on site because of the current state of things.

Like any other major tournaments in these strange times, the US Tennis Association laid out a comprehensive safety and health plan created by the USTA 2020 US Open organizers and approved by the New York state government officials.   Inputs from the WTA and ATP were considered and in concurrence with the USTA Medical Group, security officials and other medical experts.

According to their website, “The show must go on this summer in New York - better yet, it will be a double bill at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.”  It will be a month of top level tennis as the Western and Southern Open was relocated and slated to begin on August 15 to 23 and then followed by the US Open.

The Cincinnati Masters is presently sponsored by the Western and Southern Financial Group thus it is called the Western and Southern Open.  It is the oldest tennis tournament played in its original city dating back to 1899 and is the second largest tennis summer event next to the US Open.  The ATP’s big 3 (Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer) had won titles in this event.

Mike Dowse, USTA CEO and Executive Director said, “These two events are the summer’s biggest tennis blockbustes in the US, and we are thrilled for the players, our fans and all of our partners that we will be able to mark the return of tennis.  These tournament also serve as inspiration to tennis players of all levels, encouraging them to get out play given the social distancing nature of our sport.”

The USTA had committed $60 million in prize money for the two events to ensure that they are “financially viable for all competitors”.  Efforts are being made to have the fans at home experience the on- and off-court actions thru “groundbreaking digital access and intimacy”, whatever it may be.

Nadal is the US Open men’s defending champion but has not decided yet if he’ll defend his title as the French Open, usually scheduled from late May to early June, was reset to September 26 to October 11,  just two weeks after the US Open.

In all likelihood, Nadal will skip the US Open and focus on Roland Garros, which he is also the defending titlist.  The French Open uses clay courts and he has mastered the art of clay.   It takes time for players to adjust to different playing courts and two weeks is not enough to prepare, specially for those who are not clay specialists.

The US Open title will be a toss-up between Federer and Djokovic if Nadal skips, unless of course one or two players outside of the top three decides to change the championship scenery.  Between them, they have a combined 56 Grand Slam titles (Federer 20, Nadal 19, Djokovic 17).  Of course, I’m rooting for R-Fed’s 21st.