The holding of the US Open 2020 is threatened due to the coronavirus pandemic. - Johannes EISELE / AFP

How to articulate the recovery? World tennis will soon lift the veil on its intentions but the noose tightens around the US Open under the effect of the reservations expressed by many players. For the moment, world tennis has been stopped since the beginning of March and until the beginning of August, at the dawn of the American tour which leads to Flushing Meadows. Wimbledon has been canceled, Roland-Garros has made a place for itself in the fall and the US Open is still scheduled from August 31 to September 13. But nothing is set in stone.

A very (too much?) Binding specification

In two tweets about the videoconference that brought together ATP and players last Wednesday, the Slovakian Lukas Lacko, ranked above the 150th place in the world, summarized the scope of the project. “400 people. A meeting of 3:36. Many subjects covered, including projects for the US Open. Lots of participation from players. Five days to decide, he writes. I have the impression that it will heat up over the next few days. "

Whether or not to hold the US Open on its initial dates, and above all under what sanitary conditions, is the first burning question. Several players, world number 1 Novak Djokovic in mind, believe that the strict specifications put on the table by the American Tennis Federation (put in a bubble in a hotel at JFK airport, only one accompanying per player) will not not be easy to manage.

Resumed directly on earth in September?

"The rules to be followed are extreme," he said a week ago, calling it "really impossible" to be accompanied only by a member of his entourage. "I don't know if they are sustainable. Most of the players I have talked to so far have a pretty negative stance, ”he insisted a few days later. The most realistic scenario according to him? “Let the season resume on clay in early September. "

If Roger Federer, who drew a line under 2020 after being re-operated on the right knee, stays away from the debates, Rafael Nadal has not hidden his reservations either. "If you told me to go play the US Open today, I would say no," he said in early June. "In a few months, I don't know. I hope. "But" we cannot resume until the situation is not entirely safe "and fair, he stressed.

"Everyone must play or nobody must play"

Other players, such as Dominic Thiem, current N.3 world and finalist of the last Australian Open, and Alexander Zverev (N.7) followed suit. "Certain conditions will have to change for going there to make sense," considers the first. Richard Gasquet, he does not see how the tournament could be held when many players live in countries still very hard hit by the Covid-19.

Will they be able to travel as they wish in August? "Everyone must play or nobody should play," he said on the sidelines of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, a new circuit launched by Patrick Mouratoglou. It seems very complicated to organize. I think the players who say they are not going to go will be there when they are told that there is the tournament and the points. It's tennis business. I understand the position of the US Open but it does not seem very fair to me. "

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A notch below, we get annoyed to see the best classified be choosy. "It's easy when you've made almost $ 150 million in your career to balk at playing the US Open," said American Danielle Collins, semifinalist of the 2019 Australian Open, at the door. from the top 50. “For those of us (most) who do not travel with a team, we just need to start working again. It would be good if the world N.1 supported this opportunity rather than wasting it, "she continues.

"How long are we going to wait?" Until you have perfection? "Wonders Briton Dan Evans, 28th player in the world. "There would be no better financial support for players who are ranked lower than a Grand Slam," he points out.

So will the US Open take place? With or without preparatory tournament, with or without qualifications? What fall niche will Roland-Garros ultimately inherit? Beyond everyone's opinion, with a largely globalized, itinerant sport and governance broken down into seven pieces (ATP, WTA, four Grand Slams and ITF), it’s hard to imagine a worse puzzle in times of pandemic.

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