Tennis looks set to take a major step toward restarting after the long pause in play as the ATP and WTA Tours are both expected to sign off on a plan to hold the US Open in late August.
However, that Grand Slam could be missing some of the biggest names in the sport due to safety and protocol concerns. One such superstar is already sure to miss out due to injury.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is back in action, but his Balkans charity tournament has drawn criticism for its questionable health guidelines.
SBOBET is once again here to serve up all of the biggest headlines surrounding the Tour over the past few days.
US Open plans to push through for 2020
The U.S. Tennis Association intends to push through on its plans to play the 2020 US Open, with a formal announcement expected to come soon.
According to a report by Forbes, both the ATP and WTA are expected to approve a plan for the Open, which is scheduled to take place on Aug. 31-Sept. 13.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the USTA will have strict health protocols in place. Players will be tested regularly, but they will be under travel restrictions and will have just a limited number of people allowed to be with them while they are in New York. Also, fans will not be allowed at the event.
There are also plans to move the Western & Southern Open, which will begin just before the US Open, from Cincinnati to New York to form a two-event “bubble” at the National Tennis Center in New York.
However, top stars such as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have voiced concerns about taking part in the US Open under such unusual conditions.
Nadal said earlier this month that he wouldn’t play if the US Open were held today. He also stressed that the tour can’t come back until the situation is completely safe health-wise and that players from all countries can travel safely.
Meanwhile, Djokovic has pushed back on the US Open’s “extreme” protocols, which would see them not have access to Manhattan and sleep in airport hotels during the tournament. He is also against having just one member from his team accompanying him.
There’s still time to change their minds, but the ATP 2020 betting odds for the US Open will have a very different look to them if those two favourites do decide not to take part in the tournament.
Roger Federer suffers knee setback, done for 2020
One player who will surely not participate in the US Open is Roger Federer. The highest-paid athlete in the world made major ATP 2020 news by revealing that he has undergone another procedure on his right knee and will miss the remainder of the 2020 season.
Federer had surgery on his knee in February after taking part in the Australian Open, but he suffered a “setback” with his rehabilitation which required another procedure.
“A few weeks ago, having experienced a setback during my initial rehabilitation, I had to have an additional quick arthroscopic procedure on my right knee,” Federer said on Twitter on Wednesday.
“Now, much like I did leading up to the 2017 season, I plan to take the necessary time to be 100% ready to play at my highest level.”
Federer missed most of the 2016 season due to another knee injury, but he came back strong in 2017 to win both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
But at 38 years of age, it remains to be seen whether Federer will still be able to reach his top form and add to his record 20 Grand Slams after these latest procedures on his knee.
Djokovic’s Adria Tour draws criticism
Novak Djokovic, along with other top-ranked players, were back on the court as Djokovic’s Balkans charity tennis tournament, the Adria Tour, got underway over the weekend.
Djokovic went 2-1 in the round-robin portion but was unable to reach the final of the event, which also featured World No. 3 Dominic Thiem, World No. 7 Alexander Zverev, and World No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov. He was brought to tears after his last match.
“I was very emotional on the court today. Childhood memories started flooding back, including those of growing up on these courts and playing here as a young boy,” Djokovic said. “I was overwhelmed and those were tears of joy after the match.”
However, Djokovic’s charity event has drawn criticism for its lack of social-distancing measures, as packed crowds were seen in the stands. As a result of Serbia’s lax guidelines, the Montenegro leg of the event was called off.
Djokovic has pushed back on those criticisms, though, claiming he was merely following the recommendations of the Serbian government.
“Of course you can criticise, you can also say this is dangerous or not, but it’s not up to me to make the calls what is health-wise right or wrong,” Djokovic said.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE TENNIS STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
