John Isner said even if countries want to have a tournament, there might be travel restrictionsGETTY IMAGES
Tennis player John Isner believes the cancellation of Wimbledon is a “definite realization” that the rest of the ’20 season could be in jeopardy, according to Christopher Clarey of the N.Y. TIMES. Isner, the top-ranked American male and world No. 21, said, “With Wimbledon being gone and with New York City essentially being the epicenter of all of this crisis currently, the U.S. Open is next. And there are countless U.S. Open warm-up events as well, so we would need this situation to get better very quickly.” Clarey notes the “pressure to stage at least some tour events before the end of the year will be significant because players have lost months of income.” However, the “challenge is that tennis is among the most global of sports, and countries that have shut down travel and restricted public gatherings are unlikely to lift those measures at the same time.” Isner: “We might have countries want to have a tournament, but they might have travel restrictions on other countries where players are residing. There’s a lot of stuff that could cause a lot of issues” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/2).
A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM: Tennis Channel personalities weighed in on Wimbledon’s cancellation, with Tracy Austin calling it "extremely disappointing.” Austin: "Our sport is so different than any other because of the international part of it. ... That would make it very difficult to have everybody on board at the same time.” Jimmy Arias: “It’s sad, it’s disconcerting. It’s depressing in a lot of ways. ... I wouldn’t be shocked if we’re talking in a couple of months and the U.S. Open is canceled as well.” Jan-Michael Gambill: “It does feel like somebody just came and punched me in the gut.” SI’s Jon Wertheim noted the All England Club was "very upfront" with the issue, as it sent players an email a "few days ago saying, ‘We’re going to make an announcement.'" Despite that, the formal announcement "still registered a level of surprise and shock.” Wertheim: “The last time Wimbledon was canceled, the Germans had essentially dropped a bomb on Centre Court” (“Tennis Channel Live,” 4/1).
SHOULD U.S. OPEN BE PLAYED? In N.Y., Sarah Valenzuela notes the USTA at this point “does not plan to cancel or reschedule the August grand slam.” However, it is “unrealistic to think the USTA can begin preparation without any signs of the pandemic slowing in NYC.” Valenzuela: “Even if they try to hold the tournament without fans, there are still plenty of staff and players from all around the world who would be present. Many countries have closed their borders, and flights into and out of New York have been unreliable” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/2). The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Jason Gay notes construction began earlier this week on a “temporary hospital on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center,” which is where the U.S. Open is held. The tennis center hospital “is being built to offset some of the patient traffic which is currently overwhelming nearby hospitals.” Gay: “That’s the reality on the ground. Sports will have to wait, like everything else” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/2).
