More top tennis players question U.S. Open protocols

(L-R) Alexander Zverev of Germany, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Dominic Thiem of Austria during a press conference prior to the Adria Tour tennis event in Belgrade, Serbia, June 12, 2020. /VCG

Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov on Friday joined world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in expressing their reluctance about playing at the U.S. Open amid the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. Open would require an obligatory 14-day quarantine for players arriving in the U.S., housing in airport hotels near the tournament and not allow them to be accompanied by more than one member of the team.

"All of these circumstances are pretty tough," world No.3 Thiem told a press conference in Belgrade.

"So I think some circumstances will have to change [for it to] make sense to go there," the 26-year-old Austrian said.

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates with the championship trophy during the award ceremony at the 2019 U.S. Open in New York, September 8, 2019. /VCG

Thiem stressed that a "Grand Slam can be pretty demanding physically and you'll have to choose your coach or your physio (physiotherapy)".

Germany's Zverev, the world No.7, echoed that view.

"It's great if we get the opportunity to play, but under these circumstances I don't think a lot of players will feel comfortable in the environment there," he said.

But both Thiem and Bulgaria's Dimitrov said they would wait until a decision on the U.S. Open - widely expected to be announced on Monday - before taking a final position.

The three players arrived in Belgrade for a charity tournament hosted by Djokovic, which kicks off on Saturday.

Daniil Medvedev of Russia plays against Rafael Nadal of Spain in the men's singles final at the 2019 U.S. Open in New York, September 8, 2019. /VCG

The Adria Tour will be held until July 5 in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia.

The U.S. Open main draw is due to get underway in New York on August 31.

Djokovic, also the ATP players' council president, suggested on Wednesday that his season might resume on clay ahead of the French Open rather than at the U.S. Open as he repeated concerns about playing in North America.

The Serbian, a three-time champion in New York, stressed that U.S. Open organizers had to relax their "extreme conditions" or players would wait for the European tournaments.

Last week world No.2 and reigning U.S. Open champion, Rafael Nadal expressed similar reservations.

On women's side, world No.1 Ashleigh Barty has also voiced caution about resuming tennis too soon, saying she needed more information before committing to the tournament, while reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep's coach said that the U.S. Open protocols won't work for Halep.

Source(s): AFP