Murray set for US Open despite COVID-19 fears: "I'm willing to take a risk to go and play"

Monday, 03 August 2020 at 12:15

Multiple players in both the ATP and WTA have decided against making the trip to the US Open but Andy Murray isn't one of those as he targets Flushing Meadows later this month.

Murray made a miraculous comeback last year winning in Antwerp after many including the Scot himself thought he was done with the sport.

But despite COVID-19 fears hanging over both the Grand Slam and it's predecessor, the Western & Southern Open; he sees his career as being a ticking time bomb in terms of Grand Slams and wants to take the risk.

“I’ve missed it, missed it a lot,” said Murray to The Guardian. “The situation I’ve been in the last few years, I’ve not had opportunity to play in many slams. I don’t know how many I’ll have left.

“So, while I’m feeling relatively decent … obviously there is a risk there, but I want to try and play in them and enjoy the biggest events again.”

“I love playing the biggest events,” he continued. “even though this will be different, with no fans. But that is something I care about and I’m willing to take a risk to go and play.”

Set to go early to acclimatise to conditions

Murray went on to say that he will potentially go earlier to New York to get himself in better condition before having to enter the bubble but that his aims to play remain.

“I’m going to go in the main draw [of the Cincinnati Open]. You can enter the bubble on 15 August. You get tested on arrival so can’t practise that day, and you can’t train until you’ve got your results back.

So, providing everything goes well, that might be the afternoon on the 16th. The qualifying starts on the 19th – which might be a bit quick of a turnaround to get used to the conditions and get over the flight. Then there’s that period in the middle where you’re not able to do anything.

“So, I’m considering going earlier to New York and training on a private court somewhere, then getting there a few days earlier before having to enter the bubble and the testing. That’s what I’m thinking just now.”

Thoughts on French Open quarantine

There is also the French Open with fears that players including Murray would have to quarantine for 14 days when they return from Flushing Meadows and he wants assurances on that otherwise players who go far in New York will be enduring a short stay in Roland Garros before playing.

“My understanding is that it would be sorted before we go to America. But things can change in the next 10 to 12 days. A lot can change, as we’ve seen with Brits going to Spain, for example.

“Hopefully before we leave, the players will have the assurances that, when they come back from America, they won’t have to quarantine for two weeks. If that is the case, and if you do well in the US Open, you can’t just arrive on the Sunday before the French Open starts on the Monday. That’s not going to work.”

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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