How different is US Open 2020 due to pandemic protocols?

US Open 2020 will be different this year due to the raging coronavirus pandemic. The French Open got postponed and Wimbledon was cancelled in 2020. This will be the first Grand Slam, A-list players will be seen at after a hiatus of almost seven months. But there are several protocols in place and Flushing Meadows will not look the same as other years. Many former champions have pulled out amid the virus scare and those that are in the race, are treading with care. Here is what we can expect at the US Open which kicks off today in New York.

Story: Rashi Bisaria

Missing!

Defending champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the tournament citing the coronavirus scare. He announced in a tweet that it was a difficult decision to make, but he did not want to risk traveling to New York when the pandemic was still not under control.
Everyone's favourite Roger Federer would also be missing this year but not because of the virus. He underwent two knee surgeries and is still recovering from them.

Who will win the men's singles title in 2020?

Most players have not played a tournament in the last 5 months and are clearly out of form. With the two legends, Federer and Nadal out of the game, Novak Djokovic is the clear favourite. If he wins this one, it would be his 18th Grand Slam. The 33-year-old world No. 1 will be aiming to close in on career titles won by Federer and Nadal, but his own health has been less than perfect of late. However, experts claim, he seems to have the best shot at winning this time around.

No crowd this year!

One of the best aspects of sporting events is the large crowd of fans that back the players. But this year will be unique with no spectators to cheer the players. Players will have to adhere to the revised set of COVID protocols. Singles players can only arrive with 3 guests. Any player who tests positive will be dropped immediately. All players had to arrive 4 days before the start of the tournament for mandatory testing.

Will Serena get lucky?

Serena Williams is still in pursuit of her 24th Grand Slam title. Her last Grand Slam win was at the 2017 Australian Open. After the birth of her daughter Olympia she has reached 4 Grand Slam finals losing each one of them. But with her long years of experience she still has an edge over younger, more inexperienced players.

Who takes home the trophy?

This year will go down in US Open history as one of the most unique tournaments. It could also be the best chance for someone absolutely new taking home the trophy considering the odd circumstances and absence of well-known players. It could be the best chance for someone like Dominic Thiem, the number 2 seed at a slam for the first time. Among the women, 2018 champion Naomi Osaka is one to watch out for. Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and Garbine Muguruza are some other top players who will be in the race.