“Can’t Really Call it a Grand Slam” – Former Wimbledon Champion Undervalues US Open 2020

After a hiatus of seven months brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the ATP Tour is set to resume with one of its most prestigious tournaments – the US Open 2020. But the glaring question is, can the US Open 2020 be considered a legitimate Grand Slam given that several top players have pulled out of this competition?

The defending champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from the tournament last week. He was followed by Bianca Andreescu, who is the reigning US Open champion on the women’s side.

Slew of Withdrawals

For the last two weeks, a host of top players including Nick Kyrgios, 2016 winner Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils, Fabio Fognini, and many others have backed out of Flushing Meadows. On the women’s side, the World No.1 Ashleigh Barty, Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens, and World No. 2 Simona Halep have withdrawn from the championship.

Does the US Open 2020 hold the same value?

The US Open 2020 is turning out to be the most unusual Grand Slam as it will be held without any fans. It will also have strict social distancing protocols, and a lack of star players on both sides. In a recent podcast, the 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli gave her views on this year’s championship.

“You can’t really say that you won a Grand Slam when you have 20 out of the top 32 players not coming, for example, if that is happening,” she said. “You know it is just a regular tournament that you won, and you are happy that you won and you are happy that you have been able to manage through all the difficulties and you navigated through all of this, but you can’t really call it a Grand Slam when there is that many people not showing up at all,” said Bartoli when asked whether the value of US Open 2020 has diminished.

Many analysts feel that given the stringent conditions, it would be physically as well as emotionally harder for the players to cope up.