As the US Open competition debate continues after the withdrawal of the No.1 world Ashleigh Barty, Andy Murray said that violation of Covid-19 rules is inevitable and that punishments should be severe for players who punch the bubble Flushing Meadows.
“I think most players will do it [respect the bubble] but it would be foolish to expect anyone to break the rules and protocols, “he said.” In the NBA, which I think is a similar configuration for us, the players broke it, so we should prepare for this and that’s where it’s really important. I think the repercussions should be pretty serious because you end up putting the whole tour and event at risk. ”
This was a topic of interest because the governing bodies of the sport seem hesitant to impose severe punishment. The updated ATP event regulation for events underlines that “any repetitive or blatant breakdown of [Covid-19] the measures can be considered a violation of the code of conduct, ”which would result in a fine of up to $ 20,000 (£ 15,000).
US Open CEO Stacey Allaster previously avoided discussing punishment altogether by stressing the players’ personal responsibility: “I have a lot of faith in these professional athletes,” he said.
Murray plans to book his flights to New York, where he will compete in the Western & Southern Open which he moved to before the US Open. He rejected the idea that other players’ decisions might have some influence on his choices. “Everyone will have different feelings about it. We are all individuals, “he said.
“I will have concerns about how to get there and get on flights for the first time in months. It’s difficult because you don’t know when the right time to start traveling is, who do you listen to? Do you trust everything the government tells you all the time? Probably not. You have to make your decision and I trust USTA has created a safe bubble for the players. “
The source of the motivation to overcome his apprehensions seems clear. Murray has not competed since November after further hip problems forced him to lose the first two months of the season which was then suspended as he prepared to return. If he is healthy, it is difficult to believe that he would gladly spend more time at home.
In the Battle of the Brits team competition, Kyle Edmund avenged his previous defeat against Dan Evans with a 6-3 6-4 victory, while Heather Watson continued to rediscover his form with a dominant 6-1 6 victory. -0 on Maia Lumsden. British Bulldogs, led by Edmund and Johanna Konta, currently leads 38-32 against Union Jacks, which boasts Evans, Watson and Murray.
