Sydney (AFP)
Australian Dylan Alcott, world number one in quad, a category of wheelchair tennis, denounced Thursday on Twitter a "disgusting discrimination" on the part of the US Open, which this year will not organize a tournament for wheelchair players due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I have just learned that the US Open (which will host from August 31 members of the ATP and WTA circuits, note) will take place WITHOUT wheelchair tennis. The players have not been consulted", stormed on Twitter the double title holder in New York.
"I thought I had done enough to qualify - double winner of the tournament, number 1 in the world. But unfortunately I missed the only thing that mattered: the ability to walk. Disgusting discrimination," continued the Melbourne native.
"And please, don't tell me that I run + more risk + (of catching the new coronavirus) because I am disabled. Yes, I am disabled but that does not make me SICK (... ) ", further fumed Alcott, furious that the question of his participation had been settled by" healthy people ".
Winner of ten Grand Slam singles titles, Alcott is a staunch defender of disabled athletes. Before making a name for himself on a quad bike, he won the gold medal with Australia at the wheelchair basketball tournament of the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008.
The US Open, whose maintenance on the dates initially planned (August 31-September 13) but in camera was confirmed Tuesday, has been the target of criticism for several days.
Faced with the strict health protocol envisaged by the organizers, while the host city of the tournament was particularly affected by the pandemic, several figures on the men's circuit including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal left doubts about their participation.
Reacting to the maintenance of the tournament, the Australian Nick Kyrgios castigated a "selfish" decision. The Romanian Simona Halep (N.2 world) has given up going to New York, in order to focus on Roland-Garros, postponed to the end of September.
Professional tennis, completely stopped since mid-March, must resume from August 3 for the WTA and August 14 for the ATP.
© 2020 AFP