2020 US Open To Hold Without Fans – New York Gov

September 8, 2019 - 2019 US Open Men's Singles Champion Rafael Nadal. (Photo by Darren Carroll/USTA)

The US Open will be held without fans New York Andrew Cuomo has announced.

The Grand Slam has been fixed for 31 August to 13 September at Flushing Meadows, despite some players voicing concerns about travelling to New York.

But Cuomo assured that “extraordinary precautions” would be in place to protect players, including coronavirus testing and extra locker room space.

All professional tennis events were put on hold since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We can showcase tennis as the ideal social distancing sport,” US Tennis Association chief Mike Dowse said.

“We recognise the tremendous responsibility of hosting one of the first global sporting events in these challenging times,” a USTA statement read.

“We will do so in the safest manner possible, mitigating all potential risks.”

Further details about the tournament will be announced on Wednesday.

The United States has the highest number of coronavirus cases and the highest death toll in the world and New York is the hardest-hit state, with more than 30,000 deaths.

Queens, the New York borough where the US Open is held at Flushing Meadows, has the second-highest death toll of any county in the US.

The Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, where the Slam is held, was turned into a temporary hospital to help with the crisis.

Players including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Nick Kyrgios and Simona Halep have expressed doubts over playing in this year’s competition while World No 1 Djokovic said proposed protocols in place were “extreme”.