Djokovic, Serena eye Grand Slam NOVAK BAGS 35th TROPHY IN NEW YORK
New York, Aug. 30: The US Open becomes the first Grand Slam of the Covid
19 era when it starts Monday in a spectator-free bubble at Flushing Meadows following a troubled build-up that saw several top stars withdraw over Coronavirus fears.
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams headline a tournament that will be unrecognisable from previous Slams due to strict safety protocols that were still not enough to convince some of tennis’s biggest names to travel to New York.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal and women’s number one Ashleigh Barty are among high-profile absentees at the US National Tennis Center, which just months ago was transformed into an emergency coronavirus field hospital. Raucous crowds are a hallmark of the US Open, but this the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium will be eerily empty to mitigate the risk of infection from the deadly pandemic that has wiped out much of the tennis season, including Wimbledon.
The players are being kept in a tightly controlled environment with regular
Covid-19 testing throughout the tournament. Any competitor who tests positive once the event has started will be automatically withdrawn. —
New York, Aug. 30: For all that’s been on Novak Djokovic’s plate of late including a painful neck and his efforts to start a new players’ association in men’s tennis he just keeps winning.
He’s perfect in 2020, an ideal way to head into the US Open.
Djokovic tied Rafael Nadal’s record by earning his 35th title at a Masters 1000 tournament, overcoming a sluggish start to beat Milos Raonic 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Western & Southern Open final Saturday and improve to 23-0 this season.
“Has been challenging mentally and emotionally for me to stay sane and be able to compete on the highest level and win this title,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic, 11-0 head-tohead against 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Raonic, goes into the U.S. Open as the No.1 seed and a big favorite.
“What is that, 23-0?” Raonic said playfully during the trophy ceremony.
“Honestly, if I start the year off 3-0, I’m pretty happy,” he added. —