Tennis: I’ve been shut out of the US Open because I can’t walk, says Dylan Alcott

Australian star Dylan Alcott has savaged US tennis officials for what he claims is discriminatory behaviour.

Dylan Alcott is furious there will be no wheelchair tournament at the US Open

Australian star Dylan Alcott has savaged US tennis officials for what he claims is discriminatory behaviour as Serena Williams confirmed she would play the US Open.

A winner of 10 grand slam wheelchair tennis singles titles, including two US Opens, Alcott vented on Twitter after it was officially announced the 2020 US Open would go ahead in New York in its scheduled August 31-September 13 dates but without a wheelchair tournament.

“Just got announced that the US Open will go ahead WITHOUT wheelchair tennis. Players weren’t consulted,” he wrote on social media.

“I thought I did enough to qualify (as a two-time) champion (and) number one in the world. But unfortunately I missed the only thing that mattered, being able to walk. Disgusting discrimination.

“And please do not tell me that I am a ‘greater risk’ because I am disabled. I am disabled, yes, but that does not make me SICK. I am fitter and healthier than nearly everybody reading this right now. There are no added risks.

“And, for sure, there are far more important things going on in the world, but that choice should’ve been up to me. It is blatant discrimination for able bodied people to decide on my behalf what I do with my life and career just because I am disabled. Not good enough.”

A series of major announcements regarding the resumption of tennis in August, beginning with WTA tournaments in Palermo and Charleston from August 3, also displeased Nick Kyrgios.

The Canberran was incredulous of a claim from ATP Tour chairman Andrea Gaudenzi that the return to tennis had been the result of a collaborative approach, dubbing him a “potato”.

The participation of world No 1 Ash Barty and fellow Queenslander John Millman in the early stages of the tour return, along with several leading players around the world, is also in doubt given the high COVID-19 rates in the US.

But the tour, at least, has released a plan of action for coming months in regards to the tournaments to be played and the required safety regulations to navigate the crisis.

The presence of Williams, who sits one major win behind Margaret Court on the all-time list with 23 grand slam singles titles, is a major boost for a US Open, which is likely to be thinner in talent than usual.

In a season decimated by coronavirus, Corona Park will be the scene of a fascinating experiment as tennis returns from mid-August in a nation that is a hot spot for the killer virus.

Corona Park is the home of Flushing Meadows, which will also host a temporarily relocated Cincinnati Masters in the week prior to an abridged US Open.

The US Open will be played without qualifying — which raises concerns about fairness — behind closed doors and without media aside from the tournament broadcasters.

Lines people will feature on the two main courts but Hawkeye will be used elsewhere.

But with television rights reportedly worth $100m, there is a significant financial incentive to return, even though the event will reportedly be hit with an 80 per cent reduction in income for 2020.

Prize money has been reduced by 8 per cent, with a combined purse of $87.5m for the two events.

As players such as Australian Daria Gavrilova have said, many tour players need to earn an income given the circuit has been shut down since March.

Players will be able to have up to three people on site, as opposed to one, and should stars wish to take bigger entourages to New York, they have the option of renting a house on Long Island. US officials priced this option at an average cost of $58,000 for the month.

But the US Open will not host a mixed doubles event, the juniors or a wheelchair tournament, stating measures needed to be taken to limit the number of people on site.

The French Open has also confirmed its intention to push ahead with a late September start, with qualifying to begin on September 21.

Major clay court events have been rescheduled to start immediately after the US Open, with the Madrid Masters and Italian Open leading into Roland Garros.

Both the ATP and WTA Tours are still planning to go ahead with lucrative season-ending championships in London and China.

Australians such as Astra Sharma, Lizette Cabrera and Priscilla Hon are in uncertain territory for the US Open and their participation will depend on how many of the top 120 men and women opt to play the major.

US Open officials have the discretion to award eight wildcards, with former champions Kim Clijsters and Andy Murray clear candidates.

Tennis Australia holds a reciprocal wildcard into both the US and French Opens.

Another issue still to be finalised relates to rankings. Points will be awarded at the US Open and in other tournaments, but there are clear concerns about fairness given some players will be restricted from competing.