US Open without fans with ‘Arthur Ashe Stadium being empty’ would be strange but iconic, says Dan Evans

US Open

Shahida Jacobs
May 24, 2020

It is not ideal, but Dan Evans believes the US Open with no fans “could be an amazing spectacle”, adding that if the tournament goes ahead “it would send out a real statement”.

The 2020 US Open is due to be staged at Flushing Meadows from August 31-September 13, but with New York the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, there are major doubts over the tournament.

Organisers are not keen on staging the event without fans while there have also been suggestions they could move it to another state.

However, British No 1 Evans says he would be in favour of a US Open behind closed doors.

“Me, personally, I would love it to go ahead,” he told The Guest List on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I think it would send out a real statement that we can get back going.

“It could be an amazing spectacle that tennis goes ahead with no-one in the stadium, and everybody watching on telly.

“Arthur Ashe Stadium being empty, and Federer and Nadal or whoever playing the final would be so strange, but it would also be iconic. How good that would look in years to come.”

There has been no competitive tennis since the start of March with the earliest possible return set for August 1, but players are likely to take part in smaller invitational events over the next few weeks.

Doubles Grand Slam champion Jamie Murray is organising a behind-closed doors exhibition event for London and Evans is impressed by his Davis Cup team-mate’s work ethic.

“It’s great what Jamie’s doing,” he said.

“He’s represented Britain for so long in the Davis Cup, and this is just another thing that says: ‘I really am a team player.’ He’s trying to help the British players, and get a tournament on at a time where we could really do with some tennis.”

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