Two LI hotels will serve as bubble residences for players in U.S. Open

Two Extensive Island inns are the official COVID-19 bubble residences for players, their tiny entourages and assorted officials throughout this year’s U.S. Open up tennis event and the Western & Southern Open that precedes it.

The Long Island Marriott in Uniondale and the Backyard Metropolis Lodge have been employed by the United States Tennis Affiliation to produce a controlled surroundings for the tournaments. The Western & Southern commences with qualifying on Thursday and operates via Aug. 28 at the Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle, followed by the two-week run of the U.S. Open starting Aug. 31. Both of those tournaments will be devoid of admirers.

USTA officers outlined on Tuesday the basic safety protocols place in position for the major party in American tennis and revealed that a non-player tested good for COVID-19 inside the Western & Southern Open and U.S. Open managed setting. The particular person is asymptomatic and was the only favourable out of 1,400 exams offered.

“Specific to the two motels in Long Island, in the long run all our selection-building nevertheless went again to the first rules of health and nicely-staying becoming first and foremost,” mentioned Mike Dowse, CEO of the USTA.  “These two inns we chosen were the ideal possibility to do that.”

“The nice point about the Long Island inns, they’re in near proximity to every other, for the reason that we do have an overflow,” explained Stacey Allaster, U.S. Open match director. “The Extended Island Marriott is 100% ours.  We have remodeled that house, jointly with our associates, to generate an excellent working experience of functions. We get in touch with it the Manhattan Task. You are not able to go to Manhattan but we’ll bring Manhattan to you. There is anything from their health, you can find a gym, a recovery area, an arcade place, a gaming place, a golf simulator, sports activities simulator, this enormous outdoor lounge, food vans every evening. It’s a superior vibe.”

Some marquee players these kinds of as Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic will be allowed to continue to be in non-public houses but also are necessary to stick to the testing protocols.

Dowse explained that the programs to go forward with the Open and the W&S, a men’s and women’s event owned by the USTA, have constantly centered about 3 crucial concerns:

“One:  Can we carry out a event in a wholesome and safe fashion for all all those associated, from players, to staff, ultimately the local neighborhood right here in New York Town? Secondly: Is internet hosting these tournaments in the ideal fascination of tennis, and does it support our mission of expanding and endorsing the sport of tennis? 3rd: Does it make money feeling for the gamers, the USTA and the broader tennis ecosystem?”

Right after comprehensive collaboration with federal, state and city officials and the USTA medical advisory group, the answer to all, he said, was “Sure.”

“I want to reiterate this was never ever a host-at-all-value tactic,” Dowse stated.  “Our determination-building has been driven by the 3 ideas just shared.”

“As of this early morning, almost 350 players have entered this centralized Western & Southern and U.S. Open surroundings,” Allaster said. “We will all remain in our atmosphere for as lengthy as we are competing and they are competing for that prestigious ATP Masters Sequence title, WTA Premier title and Grand Slam title.

“I can assure you, I have been residing in the bubble, the athletes have almost everything they require. They have cozy housing, clinical testing, transportation, apply services, trainers, physios, a wide variety of foods providers, and a quantity of ordeals for their off time both equally on-web-site and in the official lodges.”

Any participant who exams positive throughout the competitions will be taken out from the match and isolated.

“I imagine the biggest thing that we genuinely fearful about was to make certain that we can continue to keep players from socializing as well substantially, too shut to each individual other, not putting on the mask, not pursuing our common masking protocols,” said Dr. Bernard Camins of the USTA’s medical group. “In the 4 days that I have been associated and observing all people, everybody in fact has been pursuing those people suggestions thoroughly.”