The U.S. Open is still on the calendar for the beginning of September in New York City. But each week we see a continually shifting outlook on which players are playing and which are not.
Here is a list of the Top 10 Ranked players on the men’s side and whether they are in, or out of the 2020 U.S. Open:
Novak Djokovic is IN. Djokovic tested positive for the virus earlier in the year and has been outspoken against the mandatory vaccines policy that had floated around. But with two weeks to go, Djokovic is in for the U.S. Open.
Rafael Nadal is OUT. Nadal is still unwilling to travel and has decided to stay home in Spain instead of travel to New York City. Nadal is the defending champion of the event.
Dominic Thiem is IN. The Austrian committed to playing back in July if the tournament would played. He has arrived in the United States and is documenting the precautions being laid down by the ATP.
Roger Federer is OUT, but not necessarily for COVID concerns. He posted on social media about an injury in June and is still citing the injury for staying out of New York. He has been encouraging toward international tennis and expressing the desire for the U.S. Open to be played.
Daniil Medvedev is IN. He confirmed on social media he would be returning to Flushing Meadows. Medvedev was the runner-up in 2019 in a compelling loss to Nadal.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is IN. The Greek was one of the first international players to arrive in the U.S. to prepare for the U.S. Open.
Alexander Zverev is IN. Zverev’s management team announced he would arrive 3 weeks prior to the tournament to prepare. He is stateside and preparing to win that elusive first major.
Matteo Berrettini is UNCOMMITTED. He last spoke about the issue in July and said he wouldn’t commit to going. Of course the Italian comes from an area that was hit as hard as New York City was.
David Goffin is UNCOMMITTED. Like Berrettini, Goffin hasn’t made a final decision either way. The U.S. Open is allowing individuals to cancel up to the day of the tournament. Goffin has cast some doubts on whether he will leave Belgium and come to the United States to play.
On the Men’s side of the draw only one Top 10 player has said they will not attend the U.S. Open because of COVID concerns. Of course that one person is Rafael Nadal, one of the most iconic and important participants. Two others have yet to decide, though they have cited health concerns as reasons they would not attend.
2020 might be the opportunity some need to establish themselves as the next best player. Outside of Djokovic, not a single one of the other Top 10 players in attendance has won a Major. For some young guns like Tsitsipas and Zverev this could be their tournament. Of course Thiem has been right there a number of times as well.
The U.S. Open will feel different but will certainly be full of intrigue and interest for tennis fans.
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