Murray calls for strict penalties at US Open

Andy Murray says players who break the bio-secure bubble at the forthcoming US Open should be penalised heavily.

Murray is due to travel to New York for the Western & Southern Open and the US Open in the next couple of weeks, with both events at the same Flushing Meadows site in August and September.

Strict protocols will be put in place to ensure the safety of the players, who will be expected not to break rules, stay at nearby hotels and not visit Manhattan.

The PGA Tour and NBA have seen incidents of players leaving the bubble and Murray has called for strict penalties on any tennis player doing so.

“I think the majority of players will stick to the rules but it would be silly to expect nobody would break the rules and the protocols,” he said.

“You’ve seen that in the NBA and I think it has happened in the golf, I’m not 100% sure, I could be wrong on that.

“In the NBA for example, which I think will be a similarish set-up for us, players have broken it so we should be preparing for that and that is where it is really important, I think, the repercussions should be quite serious because you end up putting the whole tour and event at risk.

“The USTA is going through a huge effort to try to get this on and make it as safe as possible so if players aren’t abiding by the rules the repercussions should be severe.”

Murray is still intending to compete at both events – a Masters 1000 and a grand slam – despite concerns over flying to the United States.

Women’s world number one Ashleigh Barty has already pulled out of both due to fears over Covid19 and Murray has said he has been told some of the top men’s players will also withdraw.

“Everyone will have different feelings on it, we’re all individuals,” he said.

“I will have apprehensions about getting there and getting on flights for the first time in months.”

An inspired Kyle Edmund gained revenge on Dan Evans with a brilliant performance at the Battle of the Brits and this time it was free of drama.

The pair were facing each other at the mixed team exhibition event at Roehampton just 48 hours after they last met, when words were exchanged at the end of Evans’ win.

The pair made up over dinner that night and Edmund served a dish of revenge yesterday with a 6-3 6-4 win.”

Elsewhere, Heather Watson continued her fine form with a fourth successive win as she destroyed Glasgow-born Maia Lumsden 6-1 6-0.

Cameron Norrie beat Ryan Peniston 7-5 3-6 10-8 in the other men’s singles, while Naomi Broady and Jodie Burrage were winners in the women’s singles.

Jamie Murray and Lloyd Glasspool beat Dom Inglot and Alastair Gray 7-6 (5) 6-2 in the men’s doubles.