No fans, but I’ll watch with a glass instead
There’s nothing quite like a stroll around New York, where there’s something to catch your eye on every street corner.
It really is the city that never sleeps and is one of my favourite stops on the tennis tour. I’ve been going since 2003 when the boys started playing in the junior event so I’m gutted not to be making my annual pilgrimage for this year’s US Open.
However, I won’t be missing any of the action as I’ve splashed out on an Amazon Prime subscription so I can watch all the matches from the comfort of my sofa. It’s certainly comfier than a hard seat in the stands, but not quite the same thrill – though, with no crowds at Flushing Meadows, I don’t think I’ll be the only one contending with a lack of atmosphere.
Usually, the fan engagement and noise level at the tournament is incredible and can really help spur on the players. They feed off the crowd and without that energy, it’s going to be hard for them to maintain concentration and intensity, especially during long matches.
Seeing the empty stands at last week’s Cincinnati event made me feel like I was watching practice matches, but closed-door tennis is better than no tennis at all. I was chatting with a tennis friend last week, and when I mentioned how much I was looking forward to working at an event in November, he said he was willing to bet tournaments will still be behind closed doors, well into next year.
More months of Zoom calls? Let’s hope not, but if I can’t be there, I’ll be there in spirit – with a glass (or two) of wine in hand…