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‘I don’t think it can happen’ – Serena Williams coach thinks US Open could be cancelled


Patrick Mouratoglou believes there is still chance the US Open will be cancelled, saying ‘I don’t think it can happen’.

The Frenchman, who coaches Serena Williams among others, has watched the coronavirus situation unfold in America and is growing increasingly concerned over the viability of the tournament, which is scheduled for early September.

Confirmed cases of coronavirus have soared lately in the States, and despite strict social distancing safeguards put in place by organisers, Mouratoglou questions whether the tournament can cope – or whether they will even be allowed to try.

“With what’s happening at the moment in the US, with the number of cases of COVID-19 going higher and higher every day, I don’t think that [The US Open] can happen,” Mouratoglou said at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in France.

“From outside, it looks a bit crazy to try to make it happen. So, I don’t know if it’s a good move.

“I wouldn’t say that if the situation was more stable like it is in Europe, then it’s a different story.

“But in the US and especially in New York and around New York is… I mean, the number of cases is increasing incredibly.

“So, I don’t know how reasonable that is to try to make it happen. And I don’t know if last minute the governor of New York will decide to cancel it because of course health first.”

The US Open are currently set to go ahead behind closed doors, and the Cincinnati Masters has also been moved to Flushing Meadows in August.


Michael Graham, Tennishead.net Editor, has been a professional sports journalist for his whole career and is especially passionate about tennis. He's been the Editor of Tennishead.net for over 5 years and loves watching live tennis by visiting as many tournaments as possible. Michael specialises in writing in-depth features about the ATP & WTA tours.