Cincinnati Masters played at Flushing Meadows before the US Open?
According to the New York Times, Cincinnati’s Western and Southern Open could be relocated to New York two weeks before the US Open to limit players’ travels within the United States.
L’US Open est organisé par la Fédération Américaine de Tennis
USTA’s scenarios are getting more and more optimistic about the US Open. Surprisingly enough, in the eyes of the US tennis governing body, fear of having no tournament at all at Flushing Meadows this year is now replaced by hope to play two tournaments in a row.
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. The USTA proposes moving the Western & Southern Open to New York to create a player bubble and a summer tennis doubleheader with the US Open. Our exclusivehttps://t.co/frNNRLYuuF
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) June 2, 2020
Indeed, according to the New York Times, the Western and Southern Open that is to take place in Cincinnati, Ohio, from August 17 to August 23 could be relocated to Flushing Meadows. That would mean having two tournaments at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center within four weeks at the end of this summer, as the main draw of the U.S. Open is slated for August 31 to September 13.
“Leaders of the men’s and women’s tours received the U.S.T.A. proposal this week, according to officials at the U.S.T.A. and the men’s and women’s tours, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not yet authorized to speak publicly about the potential move”, says the New York Times.
Keeping the players in New York
However, such a project by the USTA does not mean both tournaments will be played, as the Covid-19 pandemic keeps hitting New York very had. Big Apple city is one of the disease’s epicentres. But this move is designed to help to convince the US Government and public health officials to allow the events to be played. Holding both tournaments on the same site would mean no travels within the United States for players.
Plenty of questions remains to be answered by the US Open’s organizers, such as the issue of players having to undergo quarantine. The USTA is due to communicate mid-June about the US Open.
