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Murray says any rulebreakers at US Open deserve real punishment
ANDY MURRAY insists players who break the bio-secure bubble at the upcoming US Open should be penalised heavily.
The Scot 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 played at the same Flushing Meadows site this month and September.
Strict protocols will be put in place to ensure the safety of the players, who are 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’s called for strict penalties on any tennis player doing so.
He said: “The majority of players will stick to the rules but it would be silly to expect nobody would break the rules and the protocols.
“In the NBA, which will be a similar set-up for us, players have broken it so we should be preparing for that and that is where it is really important. Repercussions should be serious because you end up putting the whole tour and event at risk.
“If players aren’t abiding by the rules the repercussions should be severe.”
Murray is still intending to compete at the Masters 1000 and a Grand Slam event though he has concerns.
Women’s world No.1 Ashleigh Barty has already pulled out of both due to fears over Covid-19 and Murray has said he has been told some of the top men’s players will also withdraw.
He added: “I have apprehensions about getting on flights but I’ll book them in the next couple of days.”