US Open COVID-19 player waiver is extreme and even has a death clause
Australian-born tennis star Johanna Konta has crashed out of the WTA Top Seed Open after a scary on-court heart scare left her struggling to breathe and lightheaded.
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Brit Jo Konta suffered a health scare as she crashed out of the opening round of the WTA Top Seed Open in Lexington on Monday with a straight-sets defeat to the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova.
Third seed Konta – who was born in Sydney but represents Great Britain – requested medical attention just a few minutes into her 6-4, 6-4 first round loss to the unseeded Bouzkova.
The 29-year-old Briton looked uncomfortable and kept holding two fingers to her neck to check her pulse before eventually resuming play.
Konta later explained that she is prone to sudden palpitations that can send her heart rate soaring.
Oh no Jo Konta having some heart palpitations/possible breathing issues. Waiting for trainer/medical to arrive. pic.twitter.com/5ASPcDkMN2
— LaWanda (@lawanda50) August 10, 2020
“My heart rate shoots up for no reason, we didn’t have a long point, I wasn’t gassing in any way in my lungs,” Konta said.
“It makes me a bit lightheaded, I just had to see the doctor and the physio.
“I was having all the checks. I am as fit as a fiddle but it can happen. It took a while to settle down until about 4-3 in the first set, but then it did settle down and I was able to concentrate on the tennis.”
Konta said it was the fourth time she had been affected by the problem during tournament play or practice.
“We don’t know why it happens, it’s in stressful situations, in non-stressful situations. It’s been sporadic and we haven’t been able to capture it. I get very lightheaded and I can’t function for the first few seconds,” she said.
Perfectly placed lob! 🤩 @JohannaKonta #TSOpen pic.twitter.com/chxf6z8bv0
— wta (@WTA) August 10, 2020
“I am worried. It’s not ideal. I am going to have another EKG (electrocardiography) test, and hopefully measure it. But probably now it won’t happen again for another year or something.” Konta, the world number 15, was the highest profile casualty on Monday in the opening round of the inaugural WTA event in Kentucky.
Other seeded players in action made it safely into the second round, with Polish sixth seed Magda Linette beating the United States’ Lauren Davis 6-2, 6-2, and Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, seeded eight, downing another American, Caty McNally, 6-2, 6-4.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus was taken to three sets by Madison Brengle before claiming a 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 win.
This week’s event is the first WTA tournament to be held in the United States following a five-month hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Former world number Serena Williams plays her opening match of the tournament on Tuesday against Bernarda Pera.
Death clause: Crazy US Open player contract
Participants at this year’s US Open in coronavirus hot spot New York are being asked to all but sign their life away as a requirement for taking part - or the tournament’s liability for their potential deaths, anyway.
An astonishing COVID-19 waiver for the forthcoming major has been leaked, with such detailed, comprehensive and long lasting clauses as to further place in doubts whether or not big names will be prepared to turn up.
The contract - to be signed by every participant before entering the event - seeks to effectively absolve the Grand Slam of much responsibility when it comes to player safety and health and instead heaps the burden of wellbeing entirely on the player and their support staff.
Doubles player Wesley Koolhof tweeted the document in full saying “maybe I should be reading more waivers from now on.
“To sign a waiver like this for this years edition I expected yes.. but why does it need to be ‘forever’.. This seems like using Covid as an excuse to get out of any kind of (potential) future trouble.”
Maybe I should start reading more waivers from now on..
— Wesley Koolhof (@wesleykoolhof) August 9, 2020
“I voluntarily assume full responsibility for any risk including serious illness or deathâ€
“This is a release of liability and agree that it is valid foreverâ€
Please sign here ________#usopen pic.twitter.com/ptrW8TaE3f
The waiver says: “I voluntarily assume full responsibility for any risks including death, that may be sustained by me or by others who come into contact with me, as a result of my presence in the Facilities, whether caused by the negligence of the NTC (National Tennis Centre) or otherwise.”
“I am fully aware of the risks involved with entering USTA National Tennis Center Incorporated premises and facilities located at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing, New York.”
The waiver also outlines regulations players have to follow to enter the facility.
“I further understand that compliance with the COVID-19 Protocols will not eliminate these risks, even with social distancing and other safety measures in place at the Facilities. “Notwithstanding the foregoing, I elect to voluntarily participate in entering the Facilities with full knowledge that doing so may be hazardous to my health and those with whom I may come into contact.”
“I voluntarily assume full responsibility for any risks of loss or personal injury, including serious illness, injury or death, that may be sustained by me or by others who come into contact with me, as a result of my presence in the facilities, whether caused by the negligence of the NTC or otherwise.”
While many have questioned the content of the waiver, Britain’s Johanna Konta said she had no issue with it.
“I think with any liability form, or anything that gets to that kind of realm, it’s always going to be very dark and very sombre,” Konta said.
“That’s just the content of the material I think. In terms of the practical side of it, whenever we go to a tournament, even before this situation we were already in charge of our own body.
“Every decision we make when we play, how much we play, is going to have a direct effect on when our body holds up. So in terms of this virus and the decisions that players make regarding this, I think it falls under the same umbrella.”
The extreme regulations come weeks after Novak Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov and a host of other big names contracted the virus while partying after playing in the Adria Tour in June.
The event lacked in any reasonable safety precautions to prevent the spread of the virus with players seen dancing and celebrating in close contact.
Djokovic and his fellow COVID sufferers were branded “selfish” and “Idiotic” by many, including Nick Kyrgios who has been seen by many as the sport’s voice of reason through the pandemic.
“You can’t be dancing on tables, money grabbing your way around Europe, trying to make a quick buck hosting an exhibition,” the Aussie said when announcing he would not take part in this year’s US Open.
“That’s just so selfish. Think of all the other people for once.”
News of the strict waiver and player protocols comes on the same day Alexei Popyrin became the latest Australian player to withdraw from the Flushing Meadows following compatriots Ashleigh Barty and Kyrgios.
The decision by Popyrin, the 20-year-old world number 103, means that former champion Andy Murray moves into the main draw as of right having already been awarded a wildcard by the organisers.
Women’s world number one Barty and Kyrgios both said they would not make the trip to New York for the Grand Slam event citing serious health concerns over the coronavirus for their decision. The reason for Popyrin’s withdrawal was not given.
Maybe I should start reading more waivers from now on..
— Wesley Koolhof (@wesleykoolhof) August 9, 2020
“I voluntarily assume full responsibility for any risk including serious illness or deathâ€
“This is a release of liability and agree that it is valid foreverâ€
Please sign here ________#usopen pic.twitter.com/ptrW8TaE3f
Four-time champion Rafael Nadal has also opted not to take part as have women’s top 10 players Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens.
Murray, currently ranked 129 after a lengthy period battling a hip injury, narrowly missed direct entry into the US Open which starts on August 31.
The 33-year-old won the first of his three Grand Slam titles at the tournament in 2012, becoming the first British male to win a major since Fred Perry in 1936.
Mitchell Krueger of the United States will receive the wildcard entry previously awarded to Murray.
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Originally published as US Open COVID-19 player waiver is extreme and even has a death clause