Jamie Murray warns players face US Open-French Open conundrum due to 14-day quarantine rules

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Jamie Murray in action

Tennis players could be forced to pick between the US Open and French Open if 14-day quarantine regulations are enforced in Europe, warns Jamie Murray.

The sport is set to resume in August after a five-month hiatus due to the coronavirus and two Grand Slams remain on the calendar with the US Open set to start on August 31 while the rescheduled French Open will get underway on September 20.

However, there are fresh doubts over the US Open after the Washington Open was cancelled last week due to “too many unresolved external issues, including various international travel restrictions, as well as troubling health and safety trends”.

OFFICIAL: 2020 Washington Open cancelled due to ‘too many unresolved external issues’

Seven-time doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam winner Murray insists the cancellation of the ATP 500 event won’t impact the US Open.

“I don’t think the situation is particularly great,” he told Sky News. “I don’t think the Washington decision affects the US Open in any way really because it’s a different set-up.

“I know the US Open is desperate to go ahead and they’re trying to find the best solution for that to happen.”

However, should the hard-court Grand Slam go ahead it doesn’t mean it will be without any hurdles as many players could be forced to choose between travelling to the United States or remaining in Europe.

The European Union could impose a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for those coming back into the EU, which would prevent players from playing in warm-up events (Madrid Open and Italian Open) before Roland Garros.

“I’m kind of like everybody else and observing from afar and waiting to find out what the end result will be. If it goes ahead what’s that going to look like in terms of the event set-up itself but also there’s the quarantine issues as well when coming back into the EU (European Union) afterwards,” said Murray.

“If that’s enforced for everyone then that’s a 14-day quarantine so you obviously can’t play in the tournaments after. That’s probably the biggest stumbling block because if that happens then you’re asking the players to choose between going to the States – to play a Masters Series and Grand Slam – or staying in Europe and playing two Masters Series and a Grand Slam.”

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Jamie Murray

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