A new internal document has revealed the new COVID-19 protocols for the US Open.
According to Cracked Racquets, the USTA has outlined new COVID-19 protocols amid Benoit Paire’s positive test on Sunday.
The new protocols have seen the 10 players who had close contact with Benoit Paire, separated into two groups.
One group includes last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev, Damir Dzumhur (Who lost in the first round against Novak Djokovic) and Nicolas Mahut. These plays had less contact with Paire than the other group and can freely move around the US Open grounds but will be subjected to daily testing.
In the other group are the players who are more directly affected, these include Kristina Mladenovic, Gregoire Barrere, Richard Gasquet, Adrian Mannarino, Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Ysaline Bonaventure and Kirsten Flipkens.
These seven players will be subjected to several protocols as outlined in USTA’s new document, these include:
- Temperature checks and COVID-19 screenings in the morning of each day
- Private transportation to hotel or USTA National Tennis Center
- Each player will be assigned with a specific schedule by a member of staff
- They are not allowed to leave their hotel rooms unless travelling to the USTA National Tennis Center
- They will isolate at Grandstand stadium in the Tennis Center, with the keys to their isolation area being kept by tournament staff who must accompany the players at all times.
- They will have the tournament credentials confiscated upon return at the hotel
- Upon elimination at the US Open, the players must receive approval from USTA doctors to leave New York
These guidelines come after much controversy was caused after the Benoit Paire positive case and Guido Pella’s physio positive case was handled differently.
While the players around Benoit Paire are allowed to play Guido Pella and Hugo Dellien had to quarantine for 14 days after their physio tested positive for COVID-19.
This meant they had limited practice before both players crashed out of the US Open in the first round. It will be interesting to see whether these new protocols settle the anger amongst players or whether the inconsistency in these cases continue to cause controversy.
Six of the seven players, who are under strict guidance, won their opening round matches and remain in the tournament.
