USTA trusts 100% in protocols despite the first positive

The United States Tennis Federation (USTA, its acronym in English) said Tuesday that it is confident “100%” in the security protocols that has imposed during the United States Open (US Open) of Tennis and the Cincinnati Masters despite a first positive case of coronavirus that they announced this Tuesday.

“We are 100% confident that we are doing this right. of a celebration at any cost. We are very disciplined in our approaches “, stated in a telephone press conference the counselor USTA delegate, Mike Dowse. “Health and wellness were the number one priorityTwo if it benefited tennis, and three if it made economic sense for the players, the USTA and the tennis ecosystem in general, “he added.

Dowse's remarks come hours after the USTA confirmed in a statement the first positive for coronavirus of a person found in the “controlled environment” created for the Open and the Cincinnati Masters, and although his identity has not been revealed, he did confirm that it is not about a player.

Dowse also noted in his conversation with the media that the USTA “already expected” that there was some positive for coronavirus, since so far they have carried out 1,400 tests between tennis players and staff who will be working on the tournament since last August 13. “Mathematically, we expected to have a positive, if not more. We already anticipate this, and have implemented very specific protocols to prevent (COVID-19) from spreading “, he stressed.

There are already 350 tennis players in New York

Meanwhile, the director of the US Open, Stacey Allaster, explained that close to 350 tennis players are already in what they call the “centralized environment” which has been created to be able to celebrate both the US Open and the Cincinnati Masters, which this year is held on the same stage as the American Grand Slam to reduce the risk of contagion.

For this, the organization has forced tennis players to stay at two specific hotels: the Long Island Marriott and the Garden City. Both are about 30 minutes from Flushing Meadows, but outside of the New York City limits and about an hour's drive from downtown Manhattan. It has also given them the possibility of staying in private houses together with some guests, although athletes can only be transferred for matches.

The facilities of the 'bubble'

Allaster herself finds herself together with the tennis players and their teams in the “centralized environment”, which she repeatedly referred to as “bubble”.

“We will stay in the 'environment' for the duration of the competition. I can assure you, I have been living in the bubble and athletes have everything they need “, said the director of the tournament, which will be the most important sports competition worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic. “They have comfortable accommodation, medical tests, transportation, practice facilities, trainers, physical therapists, various food services, a number of experiences during their time here.”added.

Measures to control an outbreak

The main system by which the USTA intends to protect everyone who is involved in the US Open is divided into three categories: the first includes players, their team, their guests and tournament staff, so this group is made up of about 1,000 people.

The second, formed by television crews workers who will attend the games, along with the handful of accredited journalists and photographers to cover matches in stadiums, although this group, according to the USTA, will have very little interaction with others.

The third, formed by other types of stadium staff, such as security officers in the parking lot or merchants, who would have even less interaction. According to the doctor who supervised the entire protocol, Bernard Camins, who is also the medical director in the Infection Prevention department of the prestigious Mt. Sinai hospital group, the tennis players who arrive to play the tournament are submitted to 2 coronavirus tests in the first four days of their stay, and until they receive a negative from the first test, they will not be able to leave their room.

Apart from those first two tests, athletes will be subjected to frequent coronavirus tests during the tournament, and once the competition starts, Any player who tests positive will be automatically disqualified.

Player withdrawal

The CEO of the USTA also spoke about the unusual withdrawal of players from the US Open that has been taking place in recent days, a few days before the start of the Cincinnati Masters.

“We respect the decisions of the individual players at all times, each one has to make his decision, but in terms of the context in which we find ourselves, We couldn't be happier (with the tournament participation) and it has exceeded all our expectations “Dowse pointed out.

He also pointed out that in the US Open 2020 they will participate ten former Grand Slam winners and seven that at some point have been at the top of the ranking.