US Open Tennis Will be Fanless This Year

The U.S. Open Tennis Tournament — the most-attended sporting event based on total number of fans — will still be held this summer but without fans in attendance due to coronavirus.

The 2020 US Open is set to be played in Flushing Meadows on its originally scheduled dates starting on Monday, August 31 and ending Sunday, Sept. 13. The Western & Southern Open, a tennis tournament which is usually played in Cincinnati two weeks before the U.S. Open, will also be played in Flushing Meadows this summer from Saturday, August 15 to Sunday, August 23.

Both tournaments will be broadcast on TV by ESPN. There will be no qualifying tournament held for the US Open this year.

Going fanless will be a big financial hit for the US Open, which set an attendance record of 737,872 spectators for the two-week event in 2019.

“First and foremost, our decision-making has been guided by the health and well-being of all who will take part in the 2020 US Open,” said US Tennis Association (USTA) Chairman of the Board and President Patrick Galbraith. “After educating ourselves through consultations with experts, and following near round-the-clock planning for three months, we are confident that we have a plan that is safe, viable and the right thing to do for our sport. This historic undertaking will provide a tremendous boost to the entire tennis industry and community, a boost so needed in these trying times.”

“The decision to hold the 2020 US Open without fans was not an easy one, but ultimately it was the correct one,” said Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA and newly named US Open Tournament Director. “To mitigate risk, we must minimize numbers on-site. Though we will not have fans on our site, we will engage with tennis fans around the world in new and exciting ways with the help of our global broadcast partners, and all our US Open sponsors.”

The US Open will feature the men’s and women’s singles main-draw events, each with the traditional 128 players, and men’s and women’s doubles events, with 32 teams in each competition (down from 64 teams). The Western & Southern Open will feature its traditional format in men’s and women’s singles, an increased draw of 48 for the men’s and women’s qualifying tournaments (up from 28 and 32, respectively), and an increased draw size of 32 teams for men’s and women’s doubles (up from 28 teams).

The USTA has committed $60 million in total compensation to players to ensure the events are financially viable for all competitors.

In addition to prize money and other compensation to athletes competing in the two events, the USTA has also made the decision to provide $6.6 million in additional relief grants and subsidies due to the decision to not hold the Qualifying Tournament, and the reduction of the doubles draws.

Six-time US Open women’s champion Serena Williams says she is excited to play in the tournament this year in a video posted to Twitter.