Djokovic thinking of skipping US Open for French Open prep

Speaking to Serbia’s state broadcaster RTS on Tuesday, Djokovic said restrictions that would be in place for Grand Slam tournament in New York because of coronavirus pandemic would be “extreme” and t “sustainable.”

“Most of players I have talked to were quite negative on wher y would go re,” Djokovic said. “For me currently, as things stand, most probably season will continue on clay at beginning of September.”

Like many sports, tennis went on hiatus in March because of COVID-19 outbreak. All sanctioned tournaments have been scrapped until at least late July.

That includes French Open, which was supposed to end last weekend but was postponed until September, and Wimbledon, which was canceled for first time since 1945.

U.S. Tennis Association is expected to make a decision as soon as next week about wher to hold U.S. Open. Main-draw play is scheduled to begin Aug. 31.

If that tournament is played, possible precautions that Djokovic said he wouldn’t appreciate include:

• a 14-day quarantine required for people arriving from outside of U.S.
• restricted access to courts, which he said means players “wouldn’t be able to train.”
• a limit of one person per competitor at matches, instead of larger entours some players travel with.
• limited ability to move around New York, including keeping players at hotels near tournament site in Queens and t letting m go to Manhattan.

“Quite extreme conditions for playing,” Djokovic said. “I don’t think that is sustainable.”