US Open 2020: A Tennis Championship Unlike Any Other
2020-08-29
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1In 2020, a year unlike any other, get ready for a US Open unlike any other.
2Ask American tennis great Serena Williams.
3She spoke with reporters about playing during a pandemic.
4"In the beginning, I was like: There is no way these tournaments can even happen," she said.
5Professional tennis returned recently after a break of nearly six months because of the coronavirus health crisis.
6The sport will return to one of its biggest stages Monday, when Flushing Meadows in New York begins holding the first Grand Slam events since the Australian Open ended in February.
7"There are going to be a lot of people around the world who think we should not play tennis, that no public gathering should happen. I understand that fully. I really do," said Novak Djokovic, the sport's top-rated men's player.
8"But, you know," he added, "I think there also is going to be quite a lot of people that are going to be happy to see tennis keep going."
9Djokovic caught COVID-19 in June during a series of tennis matches he organized in Serbia and Croatia.
10The United States Tennis Association set up what it calls a "controlled environment" for the 2020 US Open.
11Nearly all players and people traveling with them are staying in two hotels on New York's Long Island.
12They are not permitted to enter Manhattan.
13The players are tested often for the coronavirus.
14One player said she was tested just after sunrise, four hours before she was to play at the Western & Southern Open.
15Usually played in Ohio, the Western and Southern Open is now being played on the same grounds as the US Open.
16There are more than 20 "social distancing ambassadors" who keep their eyes on the players at all times to make sure they are covering their mouths and noses and staying far apart.
17Serena Williams noted that the rules are very strong, but added, "it definitely helps me to feel safe."
18The US Open traditionally ends the Grand Slam season.
19This year the event is going second because the French Open was postponed from May until late September, and Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since World War II.
20"It's been so long," said American player Taylor Fritz, speaking of the nearly six-month delay.
21He added that everyone is pleased "to be back out there."
22Well, not quite everyone will be back out there.
23No one will be watching from the seats.
24Last year, more than 700,000 people attended the US Open.
25And several top players, including both 2019 winners -- Rafael Nadal and Bianca Andreescu -- will not be there.
26Roger Federer is not playing. He has had two knee operations.
27The number-one ranked woman, Ash Barty, chose not to play because of the coronavirus.
28Six of the top eight women will not play.
29The competition is "a little weaker than normal," Fritz said, "so there's always an opportunity for a couple of people to step up."
30Williams is hoping to win a 24th Grand Slam singles championship, which would tie the record.
31The woman who beat her in the final two years ago, Naomi Osaka, is also playing this year.
32Djokovic decided to play about a week before flying to New York.
33He has won five of the past seven Grand Slam finals to get to a total of 17 wins.
34"It is definitely strange not to have Federer and Nadal -- at least one of them," Djokovic said.
35"They will be missed, without a doubt."
36I'm Caty Weaver.
1In 2020, a year unlike any other, get ready for a US Open unlike any other. 2Ask American tennis great Serena Williams. She spoke with reporters about playing during a pandemic. "In the beginning, I was like: There is no way these tournaments can even happen," she said. 3Professional tennis returned recently after a break of nearly six months because of the coronavirus health crisis. The sport will return to one of its biggest stages Monday, when Flushing Meadows in New York begins holding the first Grand Slam events since the Australian Open ended in February. 4"There are going to be a lot of people around the world who think we should not play tennis, that no public gathering should happen. I understand that fully. I really do," said Novak Djokovic, the sport's top-rated men's player. "But, you know," he added, "I think there also is going to be quite a lot of people that are going to be happy to see tennis keep going." 5Djokovic caught COVID-19 in June during a series of tennis matches he organized in Serbia and Croatia. 6The United States Tennis Association set up what it calls a "controlled environment" for the 2020 US Open. Nearly all players and people traveling with them are staying in two hotels on New York's Long Island. They are not permitted to enter Manhattan. 7The players are tested often for the coronavirus. One player said she was tested just after sunrise, four hours before she was to play at the Western & Southern Open. Usually played in Ohio, the Western and Southern Open is now being played on the same grounds as the US Open. 8There are more than 20 "social distancing ambassadors" who keep their eyes on the players at all times to make sure they are covering their mouths and noses and staying far apart. 9Serena Williams noted that the rules are very strong, but added, "it definitely helps me to feel safe." 10The US Open traditionally ends the Grand Slam season. This year the event is going second because the French Open was postponed from May until late September, and Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since World War II. 11"It's been so long," said American player Taylor Fritz, speaking of the nearly six-month delay. He added that everyone is pleased "to be back out there." 12Well, not quite everyone will be back out there. 13No one will be watching from the seats. Last year, more than 700,000 people attended the US Open. And several top players, including both 2019 winners -- Rafael Nadal and Bianca Andreescu -- will not be there. 14Roger Federer is not playing. He has had two knee operations. The number-one ranked woman, Ash Barty, chose not to play because of the coronavirus. Six of the top eight women will not play. 15The competition is "a little weaker than normal," Fritz said, "so there's always an opportunity for a couple of people to step up." 16Williams is hoping to win a 24th Grand Slam singles championship, which would tie the record. The woman who beat her in the final two years ago, Naomi Osaka, is also playing this year. 17Djokovic decided to play about a week before flying to New York. He has won five of the past seven Grand Slam finals to get to a total of 17 wins. 18"It is definitely strange not to have Federer and Nadal -- at least one of them," Djokovic said. "They will be missed, without a doubt." 19I'm Caty Weaver. 20The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 21_______________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23tournament - n. a competition with several players 24pandemic - n. a contagious disease that crosses into several countries 25professional - adj. those that are paid for their efforts, not amateur 26stage - n. a platform for all to view 27Grand Slam - n. the Grand Slam tournaments, also called majors, are the four most important annual tennis events. 28match - n. a tennis game 29ranked - v. one's level of skill 30opportunity - n. a chance to accomplish something 31doubt - n. being uncertain something will succeed