Decision on US Open to be made in June

NEW YORK — The United States Tennis Association (USTA) insist their main goal is to stage the 2020 US Open at the home of tennis in New York and even though they are “exploring every possibility” they are not keen on moving the event.

This year’s US Open is scheduled to take place from August 31 until September 13 at Flushing Meadows, but the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has left a lot of question marks over the tournament.

New York is currently the epicentre of the outbreak in the US, while the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre has also been used as a makeshift hospital to treat patients.

USTA spokesperson Chris Widmaier says they are still hopeful that the event will not only go ahead, but will be staged in New York although they are “exploring every possibility”.

“The USTA’s goal is to hold the 2020 US Open in New York on its currently scheduled dates,” he said in an email to AFP.

He added: “We understand that there is a great deal of speculation regarding the USTA’s planning for the 2020 US Open.

“We would like to clarify that while we are exploring every possibility around the US Open, the potential to shift the event location or date is not at the forefront at this point in time.”

A final decision on the tournament will be made in “mid-to-late June”.

“Paramount in all our decisions regarding the US Open will be the health and safety of all those involved, in any capacity, with the tournament,” Widmaier said.