Photo Credit: USA Sports Today
New York was once the hot spot for COVID-19 and any possibility for the 140th edition of tennis’s US Open was unknown. By late August, the numbers of cases dropped allowing the tournament to move forward as scheduled without fans.
With many players from all different countries across the world, some names decided to opt-out due to concern over COVID-19, such as last year’s champions Rafael Nadal and Bianca Andreescu. Although, big names like Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Andy Murray, and Novak Djokovic decided to participate in the second grand slam of the year. The United States Tennis Association gave regulation restricting each player with 2 hotel rooms and a maximum of two people. Before arriving in New York, players were tested before traveling and 1 to 2 times per week throughout the tournament.
Coming into the tournament, there were many historic records on the line including Serena Williams’s quest for her 24th major grand slam title or will another title go to the “Big Three”, either Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer. As the tournament began, many players had an opportunity to make a name for themselves.
On the women’s side, Naomi Osaka would secure her second US Open title in three years after beating Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Osaka is the first woman since 1994 to win the US Open final after dropping the first set. Also, Osaka is 11-0 since she returned to the sports following the five months hiatus due to COVID-19.
“Firstly I want to congratulate Vika, I don’t want to play you in more finals because I didn’t enjoy that, that was a rough tough match for me,” Osaka said.
Osaka also shined the spotlight on Blacks Lives Matter by wearing a mask with a different victim’s name every match. The 22-year-old added, “Well, what was the message that you got? I feel like the point is to make people start talking.” Naomi Osaka is the present and the future of women’s tennis.
On the Men’s side, Dominic Thiem finally gets over the hump and wins the first major title of his career after defeating Alexander Zverev in a 5-set thriller. Thiem became the first Austrian to win the US Open Grand Slam. Unfortunately, the search for a new winner became wider open as top-seeded and favorite Novak Djokovic was defaulted after unintentionally hitting a ball at a line judge.
“In accordance with the Grand Slam rulebook, following his actions of intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences,” the USTA stated after the incident.
As a result, Dominic Thiem was able to reach his lifetime dream after losing his previous final against Djokovic. “I achieved a life goal, a dream of myself, which I had for many, many years,” Thiem said. “I dedicated my whole life until this point to win one of the four majors. Now I did it.”
Overall, the 140th US Open was a huge risk, but also a huge success. Fans would not be able to see live tennis in person this year but there is hope for next year. The next grand slam is the French Open late September and hopefully we can see another outstanding major tennis tournament.
