Andy Murray says that it is very likely that more top players will follow Ash Barty’s lead and pull out of the 2020 US Open.
“I think we will see it quite a bit,” the three-time major champion said on Thursday. “I have heard some of the top male players aren’t going to play. I would expect that would be the case.”
Murray himself has said he’d like to play the Open if it goes ahead. He is currently competing in the Battle of the Brits and working himself into top form.
“It’s everyone’s personal decision,” Murray said of playing Cincinnati and the US Open. “If they don’t feel safe, and don’t feel comfortable, travelling and going there and putting themselves and their team at an increased risk, then it’s completely understandable. All of the players will have some reservations and it’s whether or not you feel comfortable taking that risk.”
Murray believes that the US Open’s bubble will be effective—it’s the travel to and from the United States that he finds concerning.
“Like I said the other day, my feeling is once we are inside that bubble they created, we will be okay. It’s more the international travel and getting there which I will be a bit concerned about it.” Main draw play at Western and Southern Open begins on August 20 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, with the US Open’s main draw starting on August 31, all without spectators.