Cincinnati Masters just before the US Open in Flushing Meadows?
A new plan by the leaders in American tennis provides for an intensive schedule for August. The Cincinnati Masters is to be relocated to New York and will be held immediately before the US Open in New York. The New York Times reported .
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jun 03, 2020, 10:54 am
The plan is to help secure two of the largest tournaments in North America and ensure a safe fight in the coronavirus pandemic. The plan would mean that players would have to travel less and would be in a safe environment for a longer period of time.
The proposal is to host the Cincinnati Masters at the originally scheduled time from August 17th to 23rd, while the US Open is scheduled to take place from August 31st to September 13th. The new plan is intended to convince the local health authorities to hold both events.
Masters in New York? "A step in the right direction"
It is still completely unclear whether sufficient - let alone all - top players are allowed to enter the USA. Due to the pandemic, tournament operations on the ATP and WTA tours were discontinued in mid-March. All events were canceled by the end of July.
"I am pleased that everyone thinks beyond the horizon," Bethanie Mattek-Sands told The New York Times. The American sits on the WTA Players' Council and has officially received the proposal from the USTA, the United States Tennis Association. "There is no official plan for such situations. Running two big tournaments in the same place would definitely be a step in the right direction because it controls some things better."
If both events can actually take place, most likely no spectators will be admitted.