US Open - No Qualifying !

Well, it has been announced - the USTA and the New York governor are still congratulating themselves for providing the world with the 2020 US Open beginning on 31 August as originally scheduled.

However, this edition is somewhat different from the normal Flushing Meadows Grand Slam fortnight, and not just because of the COVID-19 environment clouding it.

At each of the 4 majors, the main draws in singles and doubles are constructed largely from direct entry, based on rankings. There are other spots filled by wildcards allocated at the discretion of tournament organisers.

Then there are places won through success in the qualifying section of the tournament.

In its wisdom, or otherwise, the USTA has chosen to toss qualifying out the door on this occasion, leaving a host of lower ranked players unable to even attempt a path to the main draw.

Instead, the courts at Queens will be used in the week immediately preceding the US Open for the Western & Southern Open. This tournament originally was scheduled to be played a week earlier, and in Cincinnati, Ohio, but decision makers thought it nice to use it as a prelude to the US Open, so shifted the date and place.

Also missing from the US Open will be Mixed Doubles, Juniors, and all Wheelchair competition. Of course, you’d expect that these decisions must have been made after consultations with players. Appears not. Australian wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott was appalled when he found out that his presence was not required, and doubles player Gaby Dabrowski similarly was disappointed to learn about qualifying being dumped in a unilateral manner.

Many players were overlooked as plans were put in place for the reimagined US Open, and subsequently, protestations from some, unhappy with terms and conditions, have seen minor modifications incorporated.

Whether this will result in players changing their original intention not to attend is dubious. An oft expressed alternative is to remain in, or fly to Europe, in preparation for Roland Garros, which will have Madrid and Rome as lead in red clay tournaments.