| Place: Flushing Meadows, New York At your place: August 31 – September 13 |
| Coverage: Selected radio and text commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website, plus daily reports and analysis |
Grand Slam tennis is back: but not as we know it.
For the first time since the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic, one of the four major tournaments will take place on Monday when the US Open kicks off in New York.
Several big names won’t play Flushing Meadows, though there’s still plenty of star power in the form of Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.
However, they will compete in front of empty stands in what is usually a lively Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The event takes place within a “security bubble” that includes rigorous testing and restrictions on the movement of players, their support staff and tournament officials.
It follows immediately after the Western and Southern Open, which is usually held in Cincinnati but has moved to Flushing Meadows to create a two-tournament bubble.
“This is a really tough test for all players. This is a US Open that we have never seen before,” tournament director Stacey Allaster told BBC Sport.
“I am inspired by the opportunity our sport has, we are the greatest international sport to return to the world stage.”
Who plays and who doesn’t?
Being allowed to organize a tournament in a city that was once the global hotspot for Covid-19 cases was the first hurdle for the United States Tennis Association. Organizing a safe event that would convince the best players in the world to participate was another.
Defend the champions Rafael Nadal is Bianca Andreescu are the most high-profile absentees for health and travel reasons, along with Australian women’s number one Ashleigh Barty and Wimbledon champion Simona Halep.
The women’s field, in particular, has been weakened by retirements, with only four of the top 10 in the world playing.
One of the most heated opponents to play the tournament was Australian Nick Kyrgios, who said he was “sitting outside for the people”.
Another notable absentee is the great Swiss Roger Federer, that is recovery from knee surgery.
| Men | Women’s |
| Novak Djokovic [1] | Karolina Pliskova [1] |
| Dominic Thiem [2] | Sofia Kenin [2] |
| Daniil Medvedev [3] | Serena Williams [3] |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas [4] | Naomi Osaka [4] |
| Alexander Zverev [5] | Aryna sabalenka [5] |
| Matteo Berrettini [6] | Petra Kvitova [6] |
| David Goffin [7] | Madison Keys [7] |
| Roberto Bautista Agut [8] | Petra Martic [8] |
Does he bring teaching to Djokovic?
The absence of Nadal and Federer gives men’s world number one Novak Djokovic an opportunity to get close to his rivals in the pursuit of the greatest number of Grand Slam titles.
The 33-year-old Serbian won the Australian Open in January for his 17th major, two under 34-year-old Nadal and three adrift of 39-year-old Federer.
Surprisingly, it is the first Grand Slam that neither Nadal nor Federer has played since the 1999 US Open.
In addition to leaving the door ajar for Djokovic, it also increases the chances that a first man out of the “Big Three” will win a Grand Slam since Stan Wawrinka’s victory at the 2016 US Open.
Austria’s Dominic Thiem will be second-seeded as he tries to move beyond his defeat to Djokovic in the Australian Open final, with 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and Germany’s Alexander Zverev also chasing the first victory.
An asterisk against the champions?
The numerous absences have led to the question of whether the record books will show an asterisk next to the names of the winners.
American Serena Williams, who is battling for the record-breaking 24th Grand Slam title, says there will always be a footnote next to the tournament, but that wins will not be undermined by circumstances.
“If you win, it was like, ‘wow, I managed to win in this crazy circumstance where there were no fans. It was so sterile and weird, but mentally I did,'” said the 38-year-old, who he lost in the third round of the Western and Southern Open this week.
Williams are short of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam singles title record, but have lost her last four major finals – at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018 and 2019 – as she seemed weighed down by the weight of history. .
The women’s singles draws have opened in recent years, with 11 different champions in the last 13 Grand Slams.
Murray between the British challenge
Former world number one Andy Murray is the star of the British attraction as he continues to resurrect his career following hip surgeries.
The 33-year-old Scotsman is now ranked 134th in the world and reached the round of 16 at the Western and Southern Open, which was his first high-level tournament since November due to nagging injuries and the suspension of the ATP Tour.
British women’s number one Johanna Konta, seeded ninth, reached the quarter-finals in Flushing Meadows last year and participates in the tournament on the back of reaching at least the semifinal at the Western and Southern Open.
She will face fellow British Heather Watson in the first round.
Dan Evans, Britain’s highest-scoring man, will be seeded in 23rd place, while Kyle Edmund and Cameron Norrie are the other Britons in singles.
Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski will be looking to improve on last year’s run to the men’s doubles semi-finals, while Joe Salisbury and his American player Rajeev Ram are bidding on consecutive Grand Slam titles after winning the Australian Open. No British player is in the main draw of the women’s doubles.
In wheelchair events, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid will defend their men’s singles and doubles titles, with Jordanne Whiley and reigning quad bike champion Andy Lapthorne also playing.
How are the players safe?
Every person inside the bubble has been tested twice for coronavirus upon arrival, with no player registering a positive test yet.
If a player tests positive during the US Open they will be withdrawn from the event in line with New York State guidelines.
Most players stay in one of the two Long Island hotels, although Djokovic and Williams are among the few to take over private residences.
Those houses have 24-hour security – paid for by the player – to ensure bubble rules aren’t violated.
Line judges have been replaced by an electronic system on all courts except Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong show courts, while matches will have three balls instead of the usual six.
There are no qualifying rounds or mixed doubles, with men’s and women’s doubles reduced to 32 teams and wheelchair events taking place after they were initially omitted by the USTA.
And of course, the important thing missing is the fans.
“It’s just a little sad that there aren’t any fans watching the games,” said 2012 champion Murray.
“It’s nice to enter your training grounds, without being stopped or anything, but then the atmosphere isn’t the same without the people.”
