The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is pessimistic to hold the US Open 2020 on the scheduled date. The organizers plan to take strict measures and precautionary steps to ensure the safety of those involved in the event. However, Novak Djokovic believes that the proposed safety protocols at the event are extreme and not sustainable.
The Serbian is also thinking to skip the US Open 2020 if the tournament goes ahead as planned. He instead will return to competition at the French Open in the last week of September. World No.12 Roberto Bautista Agut also agrees with Djokovic.
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“I agree with Novak Djokovic” – Roberto Bautista Agut
The Spanish No.2 feels that it is difficult to compete with a limited entourage. He explained that if the tournament is being held without any fans then one or two members in the team can be allowed.
“I do not agree with certain measures. There are players for whom the physical trainer is very important, as the physiotherapist. Limiting the staff to only the coach seems to me to be a measure that will be difficult to pass. In any case, I will not accept it,” Roberto told Eurosport.
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“Even if the tournament puts a physiotherapist at your disposal, not having your physiotherapist with you at the hotel is not possible. I agree with Novak. Of course, his team is perhaps more important than the others, but we can find a happy medium,” he continued.
“There will be no audience, so we may well have one or two more members per team. I think we need to bring this up to the Players Council in order to lobby for better conditions,” Roberto concluded.
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The main draw of the US Open 2020 is scheduled to begin on August 31. Consequently, the USTA will take the final decision about whether to hold the tournament this year. If the tournament is played, it will be interesting to see what precautions must be taken to organize the big-ticket event.