#US Open bubble filling with players and optimism

There’s already been one COVID-19 positive from a staffer and a handful of top players have pulled out, but the U.S. Open bubble is forming and optimism is growing.

Ninety percent of the players have arrived in New York, with many already inside the tennis bubble. Players are being confined to the Long Island Marriott next to the Nassau Coliseum while “a very limited number” chose private residences with the same strict bubble protocols.

In a conference call to promote the health protocols for the first fan-less U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 31 at Flushing Meadows, USTA CEO Mike Dowse said the field is better than he envisioned, considering the pandemic.

“I couldn’t be happier,’’ Dowse said. “It’s exceeded our expectations. We are missing some of the players, but overall the numbers are really strong on the strength of our field. I’m just excited to see some great tennis that we haven’t seen for several months. People are starved to see these great athletes competing in these two big tournaments.”

Six of the top 10 women’s players have withdrawn, including defending champion Bianca Andreescu. But Serena Williams will attempt history in trying to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles. And 10 former Slam women’s champions are in the field — as well teenage sensation Coco Gauff.

On the men’s side, seven of the top 10 players are in the field, including eight former Slam finalists, and 90 of the top 100 players. But the sport’s most popular players, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, will each miss the Open as a tandem for the first time since 1999.

“I’m really optimistic that we’re going to look back at this in a few months and really be proud of what everyone accomplished, what this has done for tennis,’’ Dowse said.

In a twist, the tennis community moved the Open tuneup, the Western & Southern Open, from suburban Cincinnati to Flushing, starting Monday to keep a tighter bubble and reduce travel.

Players in that event must be confined to the “bubble’’ by Wednesday. Players entered only in the Open need to be bubbled-up four days before their first match.

Even if a player doesn’t win either event, the person stands to win a lot of Marriott points.

“The Long Island Marriott is 100 percent ours,’’ Dowse said. “We have transformed that property to create an exceptional experience of activities. We call it the Manhattan Project. You can’t go to Manhattan but we’ll bring Manhattan to you.’’

Dowse said there are fitness rooms, gyms, arcade areas, gaming rooms, golf-simulator stations, a sport-simulator area, a massive outdoor lounge and food trucks.

The Open is paying lots for these extra accommodations despite losing 80 percent of net operating income without fans. Dowse said the USTA is digging into its “financial reserves’’ to award 95 percent of last year’s prize money.

“As we’ve seen the players come in, the energy has been really positive,’’ tournament director Stacy McAllister said. “They’re excited to be back. They’re happy to see each other.’’

A player testing positive in the four days leading up to the Open or during the event leads to automatic disqualification. USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier specified that is due to New York State quarantine guidelines — not USTA laws. According to a source, the Open’s Western tuneup won’t use Arthur Ashe Stadium — with the Grandstand being used as its center court.

“Seeing them show up, doing air hugs, they’re so excited to be back into the sport,” Dowse said.