Djokovic thinking of skipping US Open for French Open prep

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic is pondering of skipping the U.S. Open — whether it is performed — and as an alternative returning to competitors on clay forward of the rescheduled French Open.

Speaking to Serbia’s state broadcaster RTS on Tuesday, Djokovic mentioned the restrictions that might be in place for the Grand Slam event in New York due to the coronavirus pandemic could be “extreme” and never “sustainable.”

“Most of the players I have talked to were quite negative on whether they would go there,” Djokovic mentioned. “For me currently, as things stand, most probably the season will continue on clay at the beginning of September.”

Like many sports activities, tennis went on hiatus in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. All sanctioned tournaments have been scrapped till a minimum of late July.

That consists of the French Open, which was supposed to finish final weekend however was postponed till September, and Wimbledon, which was canceled for the primary time since 1945.

The U.S. Tennis Association is anticipated to decide as quickly as subsequent week about whether or not to carry the U.S. Open. Main-draw play is scheduled to start Aug. 31.

If that event is performed, attainable precautions that Djokovic mentioned he wouldn’t respect embrace:

— a 14-day quarantine required for folks arriving from exterior of the U.S.

— restricted entry entry to courts, which he mentioned means gamers “wouldn’t be able to train.”

— a restrict of 1 individual per competitor at matches, as an alternative of the bigger entourages some gamers journey with.

— restricted means to maneuver round New York, together with preserving gamers at resorts close to the event web site in Queens and never letting them go to Manhattan.

“Quite extreme conditions for playing,” Djokovic mentioned. “I don’t think that is sustainable.”