US Open despite health concerns? Alexei Popyrin feels compelled
The US Open should start in late August despite the tense situation in the United States due to the corona virus. The game is to be played from August 31 to September 13, but there are still many question marks behind the event.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jul 06, 2020, 05:15 pm
"I really don't want to travel to New York the way the situation is in America right now," said Alexei Popyrin recently on the sidelines of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in France.
The 20-year-old reached the third round last year, so he has to defend 90 points in the ATP ranking in Flushing Meadows. Popyrin is currently at number 103 in the world rankings, if he did not compete he would fly out of the window that is normally sufficient for a Grand Slam participation in the main field.
"We have to wait and see if we are forced to play for ranking points," Popyrin was worried. It is still unclear how the ATP will proceed with the ranking system if the tour continues.
“If the points are not frozen, most are forced to play. Then our ranking would drop and we have no say, ”said Popyrin. If the ATP maintains the current ranking, Popyrin wants to stay in Europe. "It's safe here, together with my family."
Recently there were rumors that the ATP plans a gradual return to the normal points system. All results are valid for one year, but currently nothing changes due to the break in the tour. One possible plan is for players to lose 1/52 of their total points per week from the time they restart.
Alexei Popyrin: With fans? "It is risky"
The French Open should take place immediately after the US Open. Popyrin also looks skeptically ahead of the classic clay court. “It's a big risk to play there, especially if you want to play with fans. I don't know if that's currently possible, ”said Popyrin. "It is risky to play any tournament with fans."
The Adria Tour caused controversy in June when the participants in Belgrade and Zadar waived distance rules and several players, including world number one Novak Djokovic, fell ill with COVID-19.
In the first week of July THIEM's7 takes place in Kitzbühel, followed by the bett1Aces in Berlin, an exhibition fight that takes place on grass and hard court.