"Disgusting Discrimination" - US Open because of cancellation of the wheelchair event under fire
As it was announced yesterday, the US Open 2020 should take place without a wheelchair event . Some of the top players in wheelchair tennis have now expressed their outrage at this fact - also because there should have been no exchange beforehand.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Jun 19, 2020, 02:33 pm
"I thought I had done enough to qualify - 2x champion, number 1 in the world. But unfortunately, the only thing that is missing is being able to walk. Disgusting discrimination," wrote Dylan Alcott in the early morning of Central Europe Time on twitter. The wheelchair tennis player refers to information about the US Open that had become public a few hours earlier. Accordingly, the second Grand Slam of the year should take place without a wheelchair event.
"It is blatant discrimination when people decide on my behalf what I do with my life and career just because I am disabled," continued the world number one. A major criticism of the Australian is that there were no agreements between players and the US Open or the ITF in the decision-making process.
Dylan Alcott is not alone with his resentment, even the reigning champion, Andy Lapthorne, was indignant: "I don't have the chance to defend my single and double titles at the US Open because I'm in a wheelchair. An absolute shame, if that doesn't change, I don't know what to say except discrimination! "said the Briton on Twitter. The Paralympic Committee also said in a statement about the planned cancellation of the wheelchair event: The decision "angered" a large part of the athletes, said IPC President Andrew Parsons in a statement quoted by the German SID : "We urge the organizers to reconsider, because it may ruin years of wheelchair tennis work. "
ITF responds with a statement
A response from the ITF was not long in coming, the international tennis association published a broadcast that was also shared on Twitter. Accordingly, there are currently agreements between the ITF and the organizers as to whether the wheelchair events could not take place on or off the facility. "The ITF understands and shares the disappointment felt by many that it may not be possible to host a wheelchair event at this year's US Open," reads this statement.
However, the initiator of the debate, Dylan Alcott, falls far short of what he said on Twitter a little later: "You or the US Open have not given us any reason why the cancellation. This statement is not a reason. In week 1 of There will be over 300 participants in slams. When the 20 wheelchair players start in week 2, only 50 players will participate, "said Alcott. If one believes the efforts of the ITF, the last word in this cause should not have been spoken yet. Especially because there are such vehement complaints from wheelchair players.