Restrictions on the US Open: Simona Halep sees it like Novak Djokovic
The US Open is currently planning to hold it without fans and with only one coach per player. Novak Djokovic found this scenario "extreme" - and he is obviously not the only one. Simona Halep is also rather critical.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jun 12, 2020, 03:24 pm
The top people on the tennis tour seem to share the view of Novak Djokovic. Wimbledon champion Simona Halep does not approve of hosting the US Open according to current plans, reports the New York Times .
Halep stated in a statement that they were used to other processes and that it could be difficult to move away from them, especially for the body. It is not an easy decision, you have to end up doing what is best for your personal health - and you have to look at your career from a long-term perspective.
The US Open is currently planning a staging under strict corona precautionary measures, among other things the players should stay on the course as short as possible, otherwise in a certain hotel. And with just one companion. In addition, you want to do without a qualification and only start with a double field reduced to 24 teams.
There was also talk of moving the tournament to Orlando, for example, but the US association had not wanted this. "A third option would be to pack up and simply cancel for 2020. But we don't really want that," said Patrick Galbraith, President of the USTA. A final decision should be made in the coming days.
Darren Cahill: "Wouldn't work for Simona"
"The restrictions are tough. Incredibly complicated, and each player will have their own opinions on what works and what doesn't. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work for Simona," said Haleps coach, Darren Cahill, who Reuters news agency .
"When you play in a baseball or football team, at least you have your teammates with whom you can spend time, and you eat and train. It's a little different in tennis as an individual sport," added Cahill. "From Simon's point of view, you would have to fly over from Romania and stay in this particular hotel for four weeks, and you should only bring one person with you. Usually you have your physiotherapist with you, a hitting partner, the fitness coach and one or two trainers." There are certainly a lot of players who have a problem with that. Married actors with children, too, added Cahill.
Novak Djokovic had recently expressed similar concerns, which had given him some criticism from players noted further down, including the American Danielle Collins .
The US Open is currently planned from August 31, 2020.