It is not a surprise. Rafael Nadal formalized his withdrawal from the US Open on Tuesday evening. From the end of confinement, the world No. 2, defending champion in New York, had not hidden his reservations at the idea of going to the United States, where the pandemic continues to rage.
Organizer of the event, the American federation (USTA), however, continues to try to reassure about the health precautions considered. For now, the Cincinnati Masters 1000 (August 20 to 28) and the US Open (August 31 to September 13) are still scheduled behind closed doors at Flushing Meadows. But until when ?
A few notable absentees
In addition to Nadal and Federer, who has already ended his season after surgery on his right knee, other known heads do not appear in the entry list published by the tournament management. Gaël Monfils (n ° 9), Fabio Fognini (n ° 11), Stan Wawrinka (n ° 17), Nick Kyrgios (n ° 40) or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (n ° 49) will thus miss the call. The gaze already turned towards Roland-Garros (September 27-October 11)… or towards 2021 for Kyrgios.
For the first time in 21 years a major tournament will be played without Nadal and Federer. But the forecast table keeps looking good with solid outsiders (Medvedev, finalist last year, Thiem, Tsitsipas or Zverev) and a big favorite, Novak Djokovic, ready to get back on the heels of the Swiss and the Spaniard in the pantheon. of the Grand Slams (20, 19 and 17 for the moment).
In girls, the Australian world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty had already announced her withdrawal for a few days, arguing "significant risks". Companion of Monfils, Elina Svitolina (n ° 5) is registered but has already expressed her reluctance. Serena Williams will be there in the race for her 24th Major. For the rest, apart from Pierre-Hugues Herbert who will soon be a father, none of the other eligible Tricolors (girls or boys) abstained. But of course the situation can change.
Hardened measures
The organizers distributed to players on Monday an updated protocol of 14 pages (double the previous one) which details point by point the measures to be followed in their health "bubble". Basically, participants will have to stay in one of the two requisitioned establishments about thirty minutes from the site. They can occupy a maximum of two rooms (one at the expense of the tournament) with three accompanying persons. Only one will be tolerated around the grounds.
A limited number of private homes (minimum 35,000 euros at their expense with a ban on accommodating people outside of protocols and obligation to ensure 24-hour surveillance) will be offered. Once the quota is reached, official hotel compulsory. Each must disembark in the United States at least four days before their first match, be immediately subjected to a PCR test and placed in isolation pending the result. Regular checks will then be carried out. Anyone positive for Covid-19 will be excluded. If it is before the start of the competition, she will receive half of the first round prize money.
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If a player leaves the “bubble” without authorization from the tournament management, he will be immediately excluded from the table and will be liable to a fine to be defined. If it is an accompanying person, he will have 24 hours to pack up his baggage, a financial sanction and will be deprived of the 2021 edition. Regarding the return to Europe for the season on earth, which worries most of the athletes, the negotiations are still in progress. course to make sure that they will not have a quarantine to observe ...
