By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, June 16, 2020
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo approved the USTA's plan to play the US Open as scheduled starting on August 31st.
Photo credit: US Open Facebook
The 2020 US Open will play as scheduled—preceded by the Western & Southern Open—with Governor's approval.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo endorsed playing the US Open starting August 31st—without fans and with safety protocols in place—in a tweet today.
More: US Open Will Play on Schedule
"The US Open will be held in Queens, NY, without fans from August 31 to September 13," Cuomo tweeted. "The USTA will take extraordinary precautions to protect players and staff, including robust testing, additional cleaning, extra locker room space, and dedicated housing & transportation."
The US Open will be the first Grand Slam to play since the coronavirus pandemic erupted.
Wimbledon cancelled for the first time in 75 years due to the virus.
The Flushing Meadows major is bringing the Queen City to Queens.
The USTA announced the Western & Southern Open, played annually in Cincinnati, will move to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and be contested before the US Open.
"We are incredibly excited that Governor Cuomo and New York State have today approved our plan to host the 2020 US Open and 2020 Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center," USTA CEO Mike Dowse said. "We recognize the tremendous responsibility of hosting one of the first global sporting events in these challenging times, and we will do so in the safest manner possible, mitigating all potential risks.
"We now can give fans around the world the chance to watch tennis' top athletes compete for a US Open title, and we can showcase tennis as the ideal social distancing sport."
The ATP and WTA extended suspension of the pro circuit through the end of July.