2020 US Open

The US Open began August 31 along with plenty of modifications to accommodate for COVID-19. The US Open was the first major event for tennis since the global coronavirus outbreak shut down the sport earlier this year. One player had tested positive for the coronavirus and was then advised to quarantine. Similar to the NBA and NHL, the US Open began with modifications set in place. Most players stayed in Long Island hotels and matches were played with no fans in the premises. There were no mixed doubles as well. Revenue this year was expected to take a hit, up to 80%.

For the first time, the US Open ball boys and girls had names on their backs to honor heroic frontline health-care workers. The official outfitter for the US Open, Ralph Lauern, partnered with New York’s Mount Sinai Health System to honor health workers from the New York area. Fifty employees were chosen out of the six hundred plus submissions to have their name printed on the backs of the uniforms.

Earlier this year organizers decided to cancel the Wimbledon Championships for the first time since World War II. With tournaments finally starting up again, many fans have been let down since many players did not participate in the tournament. Some of these players include: Rafael Nadal, Bianca Andreescu, Stan Wawrinka, Nick Kyrgios, Roger Federer, and Simona Halep.

On the men’s side of the tournament, Novak Djokovic seems to have shown great promise after just winning the Western and Southern Open. On the women’s side, teens Robin Montgomery and Katrina Scott ages 15 and 16 made their first Grand Slam main-draw debut. Tennis experts predicted that Naomi Osaka who previously won the US Open title would win again this year with Williams following close behind.