JUST 41 days out from the rescheduled US Open, the tennis world is in somewhat of a disarray with continued escalating fears of COVID-19 and the risks it could have to players, especially after reports of positive tests from players at an exhibition tournament in late June, hosted by world number one Novak Djokovic.

The first Grand Slam to go ahead following postponements and cancellations across the world of tennis, the US Open will have a new look in 2020, with COVID-19 concerns forcing the tournament to go without fans in attendance and a number of big names potentially not taking part. But with little changing to the state of emergency in the United States, is it viable for the competition to actually go ahead?

For many, it seems unrealistic that the US Open can go ahead and still maintain the elite level expected at Grand Slams. With players unsure of protocols in place and the overall safety of competing in the United States as the nation’s cases rise ever closer to the four million mark, it draws into question the quality of the tournament if it does eventually go ahead. Factoring in the possibility of players catching the virus and the unknown impact it could have on these players and their individual performance, however unlikely. There are a lot of unknowns for the 2020 season, posing the question of why the Grand Slam is going ahead in such an uncertain time and whether it will benefit or disadvantage players in the long run.

How many top tier players will actually take part in the tournament and what will it mean for rankings?

While a number of players have opted out of competing this time around, the likes of Serena Williams is chasing an elusive 24th Grand Slam victory to draw level with Margaret Court, so it is unsurprising that the champion has announced she will compete at the US Open. One more Grand Slam to her name may not mean a lot in the scheme of things, though the 38-year-old is likely on her last legs meaning it realistically could be her last opportunity to take out a Grand Slam on her own terms and in her home nation. That being said, if the calibre of players like Ash Barty, Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova are potentially opting out of the tournament due to COVID-19 concerns then where does that leave Williams with a 74th title in a season that does not have the top talent taking the court?

Looking to the ATP Tour, as per usual players will be expected to begin the next round of competition not long after the US Open finishes, with the clay court season inevitably up next. But with different quarantine protocols in place across different continents and indeed, countries, players who compete in the US Open will need to quarantine for a minimum of two weeks upon arrival in Europe for much of the clay court season, making for missed time on court – namely the Madrid and Rome Masters – ahead of the Roland Garros should it go ahead as planned. If this were to happen, players like defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal could make the choice to stay in Europe to gain extra clay court time ahead of his preferred surface. With Roger Federer now out of action for the rest of the year with another knee injury, the tournament could see Djokovic take out an easy title and again call into question the legitimacy of the competition. Taking into consideration the players who will potentially not be allowed to re-enter their home nations if they were to return following the US Open opens a whole new can of worms, with so many aspects of the protocols and guidelines of the Grand Slam – and indeed the following tournaments – and future of tennis in 2020 still unknown.

A final decision about whether the Grand Slam will go ahead will be made by the end of July, making the next couple of weeks critical for players as they decide whether to compete or pass on competing in hope that it will be canceled.