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Coronavirus and Sports

USTA Committed To Holding U.S. Open This Year In Some Form

The USTA last month indicated that it was not interested in an event played without fansGETTY IMAGES

The USTA is "really hell-bent on staging" the U.S. Open in some form or fashion, but the "big caveat here is obviously health," according to Tennis Channel’s Jon Wertheim. The USTA last month indicated that it "wasn't interested in this so-called 'closed-door' scenario" that would see the event played without fans, but that stance is "being reconsidered." The "first priority is to keep the time and place" it currently is slated for, but "absolutely every option is on the table, whether it's Indian Wells later on or whether it is an alternative site." Wertheim said, "If the government says, 'Go ahead and try something creative,' the USTA is very much in the mode of 'we will try anything to make this happen.'" While the Australian Open took place prior to the sports shutdown, the remaining two Grand Slam events have taken different paths -- Wimbledon canceled its tournament, while the French Open has rescheduled to start in late September (“Tennis Channel Live,” Tennis Channel, 5/4).

ALL EYES STILL ON QUEENS: On Long Island, Greg Logan reports the USTA issued a statement yesterday "reaffirming its commitment to stage the U.S. Open on its scheduled dates of Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 at the National Tennis Center if circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic permit." USTA Exec Dir Michael Dowse last week suggested the event could move to Indian Wells in November, but the USTA clarified that "keeping the final Grand Slam event in New York is the top priority if it can be done safely." The USTA's statement said, "While we are exploring every possibility around the U.S. Open, the potential to shift the event location or date is not at the forefront at this point in time." The statement indicated the USTA is "working with New York State and New York City government officials and their own medical advisory group to assess the situation." The target date for a decision is "six to eight weeks away" (NEWSDAY, 5/5).

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