At any tennis match it’s not unusual to hear sounds like whacking, grunting, and sneaker scuffing on the court, but it would be a very different experience to hear no cheering after each point. This is the possible future we may face during the US Open 2020. If the US Open happens according to schedule, will there be a crowd for the athletes to play for?
Founded in 1881, the US Open has been a yearly tennis staple for people around the world. These athletes train their whole lives for a chance to compete with the best on the US Open stage. 2020 will be celebrating its 140th year of the Open, but for fans it may be viewed a bit different. A tennis match is generally a rather silent event. It is tennis etiquette to only cheer and clap after points are awarded, and the crowd is never very “rowdy,” but without fans at all, it will make for an eerie silence for the players and officials. The 2020 US Open is scheduled to take place in USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, NY from August 31 to September 13, 2020. If this event happens according to plan, it will be the second Grand Slam in 2020. The French Open has been postponed until September as of now, while Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since 1945.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on June 16th his plan to continue to honor the US Open but have it be fanless this year. It will be a shame that the fans will have to miss watching their favorites compete head to head for the US Open title, but for the safety and well-being of the athletes and the spectators, the right decision was made. There is one thing for sure to be on the minds of the spectator: they can not wait for 2021.