US Open: New cornerstones in the hygiene concept
Despite all the adversity caused by the corona virus pandemic, preparations for the US Open are in full swing. According to consistent media reports, there are first details regarding the accommodation of tennis professionals in isolated hotels and a hygiene and protection concept.
by SID
last edit: Jul 24, 2020, 01:33 pm
The organizers should also make progress on the issue of entry and exit despite international travel restrictions. After the cancellation of the ATP tournament in Washington (planned from August 14) on Tuesday, doubts about a host of the US Open (August 31 to September 13) had grown.
According to the reports, the participants in New York should not be isolated in a "bubble" in a hotel at JFK airport, as was initially intended, but in the Marriott in Long Island with over 600 rooms. The Garden City Hotel is also available as a supplement in Long Island. The rental of private houses should also be possible in exceptional cases, as long as players adhere to isolation rules and are tested regularly.
All professionals should be tested for corona infection upon arrival at the hotel. Until the result of the test, they are not allowed to leave their room. A second test is to follow within 48 hours, more during the tournament. In addition, the body temperature of the professionals would be measured daily, apart from training and competition, a mask is mandatory on the tennis facility in Flushing Meadows. Each player should be allowed up to three guests.
Dominic Thiem manager confident
So far, international travel restrictions have been a major problem, especially the professional's onward journey to Europe, where the clay court tournaments in Madrid and Rome and the French Open (from September 27) are planned after the US Open. The US Tennis Association USTA is reportedly working with the relevant authorities to allow players to travel to Europe without subsequent quarantine.
In contrast, entry into the USA should no longer be a problem. "There is now also an assurance from Homeland Security that players can enter the country without quarantine," said Herwig Straka, member of the board of directors of the ATP player organization and manager of world rankings Dominic Thiem , on Thursday of the Tyrolean daily newspaper.