Boris Becker: 'I don’t think it would be wise to host the US Open in New York'

The tennis schedule is in chaos because of the COVID-19 which has also damaged the sport. Both circuits are suspended at least until mid-July, although a further extension of ATP and WTA is very likely until early August. As a result, Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since World War II, while Roland Garros was reprogrammed from September 20th to October 4th. The US Open will be held from August 24th to September 13th in Flushing Meadows, but in recent weeks there has been rumors of a possible move from the last Slam season to Indian Wells.

Former World number 1 Boris Becker believes the US Open should be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s the only Grand Slam still standing, but New York was pretty much the worst city hit by the virus a couple of weeks ago,” he told Laureus.com, via IOL.co.za. “I don’t think it would be wise to have a tournament there.”

He also backed calls for an ATP and WTA merger: “I think we are having a moment in crisis in tennis,” the German said. “Apart from, let’s say, from the top ten, the top 50 and maybe the top 75 men and women, the rest of the professional players need their weekly pay check, they need their prize money. The fact is they can’t play, they can’t even go to a club and give lessons because of social distancing.

We have to ask ourselves whether tennis is good enough to give jobs for a thousand people. Until the crisis started, the quick answer was yes, but I’m sure a lot of smaller tournaments that couldn’t take place are struggling to come back financially, they’ve lost a lot of money by not hosting. So it’s also a question of time.

Roger Federer started the ball rolling with his splendid idea of joining forces and I think Nadal agrees. Not every top guy agrees, that’s fine, but I think Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have a strong following. For Federer to suggest that, speaks for his intelligence and also that he truly cares about the game.

Just think of the equal prize money we have in the majors. You know men and women earn the same which I don’t think is happening in every sport. We are always progressive about going with the times, with equal rights, certainly on the tennis court. So a joint organisation – he meant ATP and WTA – would be the next step. It’s a big step. He suggested maybe having joint tournaments. We already have a few. In the US in Miami, you have men and women participating around the same time.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3c1SPkH