tennis championship has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been forced to withdraw from the tournament, the USTA announced on Sunday." data-reactid="12">A player ready to compete in the US Open tennis championship tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw from the tournament, the USTA announced on Sunday.
The player, who has not been identified by tournament organizers, is asymptomatic, US Open officials said in a statement. The player has been informed that he must isolate himself for at least 10 days and that contact tracing has been initiated to determine if anyone should quarantine for 14 days, the USTA said.
The US Open 2020 will be the first major sports championship in the United States since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tournament organizers have taken precautions to mitigate any possible spread of the novel coronavirus.
PHOTO: A sign reminding spectators of proper health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is seen before the start of the US Open tennis Grand Slam tournament, in Queens, New York City, Aug.29. , 2020. (Amy Tennery / Reuters)
Tennis Center following the first negative test. Lower tiered people allowed onto the tennis facility will include broadcasters and support staff." data-reactid="26">Earlier this month, the USTA released its health and safety plan for the tournament. Higher level players and bubble members, including player teams, tournament officials and medical personnel, will be tested twice and after 2 negative results, they will be tested every 4 days. The most tense bubble members will receive access to the National Tennis Center after the first negative test. Lower tier individuals admitted to the tennis facility will include broadcasters and support staff.
“Our protocol for this task was slightly different from other leagues with all global players and participation, we have players from about 60 different countries around the world,” USTA CEO Mike Dowse told ABC News.
He added that the transfer of Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Championship to US Open facilities in Flushing, Queens helped create a 30-day bubble for players.
Over a dozen players withdrew from the tournament before the game, including Simona Halep, who is currently ranked second in the world.
Upon his retirement, Halep tweeted: “After weighing all the factors involved and with the exceptional circumstances we are living in, I have decided that I will not travel to New York to play the US Open. I always said I would put my health at the center of my decision “.
Reigning champion Bianca Andreescu also retired from the tournament. Andreescu, who hasn’t toured since October in part due to injury, said the COVID-19 outbreak prevented her from preparing properly for the competition.
Rafael Nadal also announced earlier this month that he will not be looking to defend his title at the US Open due to COVID-19 concerns.
tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play... This is a decision I never wanted to take but I have decided to follow my heart this time and for the time being I rather not travel."" data-reactid="33">“The situation is very complicated all over the world, cases of COVID-19 are on the rise, it seems we are not in control yet, Nadal wrote in an Instagram post on August 4.” We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months I stopped without playing … This is a decision I never wanted to make but I decided to follow my heart this time and for the moment I prefer not to travel ” .
Despite the game change, a number of top-tier players will take the field including Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Andy Murray, Coco Gauff and Sloane Stevens.
Williams will be looking to add a seventh US Open title to her portfolio and match Margaret Court’s 24 wins for the most Grand Slam titles ever achieved by a woman.
“It’s like I’ll never be satisfied until I retire,” she said on Saturday.
PHOTO: Arantxa Rus, right, returns a Serena Williams shot during a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in New York, August 24, 2020 (Frank Franklin Ii / AP, FILE)
Arthur Ashe Stadium, the game’s largest stage and center court for the US Open, will be much quieter than in years past. With the help of IBM Watson technology, production teams will be able to make the stadium feel empty as if the nearly 24,000 seats are full again.
IBM says it will use AI Highlights technology to recreate crowd sounds collected from hundreds of hours of video footage captured during the tournament over the past few years. That technology will be featured in the ESPN broadcast of the tournament.
“This year, we’ve made a huge breakthrough in using Watson AI – backed by the cloud – to bring fans closer to the action since they can’t be in Flushing in person,” said Noah Syken, IBM vice president of sport and partnership. entertainment.
tennis careers." data-reactid="55">For some players, the quiet facilities will represent a throwback to the beginning of their tennis career.
tennis star Coco Gauff said." data-reactid="56">“I have more games with no fans than with fans, so … I think, to be honest, it will take me back to when I started the tour,” said American tennis star Coco Gauff.
It will be very different from what 15-year-old Robin Montgomery could have dreamed of before becoming the youngest player to make her main draw debut.
“I’m really excited to play against these top players,” he told “Good Morning America,” adding, “I just want to take this moment and enjoy it all because it’s a great opportunity. And then, of course, I want to win.”
Tennis Center into an nearly 500 bed overflow hospital ward to help alleviate the strain on Queens' hard-hit Elmhurst Hospital." data-reactid="59">During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, the USTA transformed parts of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center into a nearly 500-bed hospital ward to help relieve tension on Queens’s tough Elmhurst Hospital.
Tennis champions like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Venus Williams, Chris Evert and Billie Jean King will talk to health care workers to recognize their work in the fight against COVID-19." data-reactid="60">At the start of the evening sessions, USTA will unveil a series of conversations called “Champions to Champions”, which will honor frontline workers during the pandemic. Tennis champions such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Venus Williams, Chris Evert, and Billie Jean King will speak with healthcare professionals to acknowledge their work in the fight against COVID-19.
