USO - have they put out clear policies about players' exposure to Covid?

gogo

Legend
I may have missed it since I've been a bit absent on this board, but I was wondering if the US Open has put forward clear policies as to what will happen if a player tests positive (even if a finalist or semi-finalist?) and if a player has been in close contact with someone who tests positive.

Will it be one policy for the lower-ranked players in the early rounds versus what they may decide in late rounds if it affects one of their 'stars'?
What happens if they have close contact with someone who tests positive the day before the tournament starts? What happens if it is after it starts?
What is the definition of 'close'?
If a number of players tested positive, at what point would they call the tournament?


Has anyone seen anything explicit? Or has it just been general statements with no specifics?
 

van_Loederen

Professional
I may have missed it since I've been a bit absent on this board, but I was wondering if the US Open has put forward clear policies as to what will happen if a player tests positive (even if a finalist or semi-finalist?) and if a player has been in close contact with someone who tests positive.

Will it be one policy for the lower-ranked players in the early rounds versus what they may decide in late rounds if it affects one of their 'stars'?
What happens if they have close contact with someone who tests positive the day before the tournament starts? What happens if it is after it starts?
What is the definition of 'close'?
If a number of players tested positive, at what point would they call the tournament?


Has anyone seen anything explicit? Or has it just been general statements with no specifics?
there was a thread here about the regulations. apparently a player that tests positive simply will be out from that moment.
as for your 'close contacts' thought, the players are supposed to avoid it, so there won't be official close contacts. suspected 'close contacts' will be out only if they actually test positive themselves. it's allowed to test possible 'close contacts' again, upon suspicion.
 

dahcovixx

Professional
there was a thread here about the regulations. apparently a player that tests positive simply will be out from that moment.
as for your 'close contacts' thought, the players are supposed to avoid it, so there won't be official close contacts. suspected 'close contacts' will be out only if they actually test positive themselves. it's allowed to test possible 'close contacts' again, upon suspicion.

What if its a false positive? People have tested positive the first time and neg the 2nd. Imagine defaulting your semi final because they messed upo_Oo_O
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
NY Health Department requires the tournament to immediately remove any player that tests positive. But we do not know who is monitoring these tests.
Test result positive? No problem. Let's test you again until we get a negative result.
 
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gogo

Legend
there was a thread here about the regulations. apparently a player that tests positive simply will be out from that moment.
as for your 'close contacts' thought, the players are supposed to avoid it, so there won't be official close contacts. suspected 'close contacts' will be out only if they actually test positive themselves. it's allowed to test possible 'close contacts' again, upon suspicion.

So how often will they test? Will they test just before SF ? Will they wait until 2 positives before removing?

Saying they should avoid close contact, how does that work with their trainer? For example, Guido Pella is in isolation because his trainer just tested positive. Will he be allowed to play Cincy ?


Of course I'm hopeful that the bubble will hold...but if there's a 'leak'...all bets are off and organizers will have a difficult time balancing priorities.
 

Gary Duane

Talk Tennis Guru
I want to see if this thread gets nuked. I asked about the status of Nishikori and the next day the thread was gone. I can't talk about Covid on this site even if it has to so with tennis and is relevant. Maybe the mods like you better than they like me. The unofficial view on this site seems to be that there is no virus and that we shouldn't talk about it.
 

van_Loederen

Professional
What if its a false positive? People have tested positive the first time and neg the 2nd. Imagine defaulting your semi final because they messed upo_Oo_O
false positives are very rare. you can test negative the second time because you defeated the virus.

the risk is still there, but playing conditions at these USO are anyway pretty questionable all in all.

So how often will they test?
my memory gives out the phrasing: regularly. so not every day, but also not only before the SF.
gogo said:
Will they wait until 2 positives before removing?
i don't remember that specification, so i guess 'no'. likelihood of a false positive is small and the delay would be too great.
gogo said:
Saying they should avoid close contact, how does that work with their trainer?
they are free to have closer contacts to their team mates, but the team mates are supposed to keep distance to other teams.
 

gogo

Legend
false positives are very rare. you can test negative the second time because you defeated the virus.

the risk is still there, but playing conditions at these USO are anyway pretty questionable all in all.


my memory gives out the phrasing: regularly. so not every day, but also not only before the SF.

i don't remember that specification, so i guess 'no'. likelihood of a false positive is small and the delay would be too great.

they are free to have closer contacts to their team mates, but the team mates are supposed to keep distance to other teams.

Regarding the close contacts, that still doesn't address the question. If Thiem's trainer tested positive just before Thiem was to play the quarters, what would happen? Would he have to isolate? Would he be allowed to play the quarters?

Regarding frequency of testing, what is it? Can they arbitrarily change it during the tournament ?

If anyone can point me to the policies, that would be great. I think it's important for the rules to be clear before the tourney starts. That's the only way for the tournament to be impartial.
 

Moose Malloy

G.O.A.T.
I want to see if this thread gets nuked. I asked about the status of Nishikori and the next day the thread was gone. I can't talk about Covid on this site even if it has to so with tennis and is relevant. Maybe the mods like you better than they like me. The unofficial view on this site seems to be that there is no virus and that we shouldn't talk about it.


There already was a thread about Nishikori before yours, it got locked after 3 pages. In light of that, it made sense to delete yours.

And the subject of this thread has already been addressed in other threads(like others have mentioned), so it probably shouldn't be kept either.

Also, political discussions are forbidden on this site(they used to have a section called Rants and Raves, it was pretty brutal, I wasn't sad to see it go) so I'm pretty sure that's the reason they made the Cov-id rule. Many posters here are incapable of discussing that in relation to tennis without offering their views on Trump Biden etc. And then the name calling starts...
 
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van_Loederen

Professional
Im seeing around a 15% false positive rate with Covid.
one can't generalize as it depends on size and infection rate of the cohort, but with proper testing it should be below 1% according to official sources.

Regarding frequency of testing, what is it? Can they arbitrarily change it during the tournament ?
it sounded similar to doping tests, just more frequently.
i can't imagine that the tournament gets to decide such things on its own, for conflict of interests.
gogo said:
If Thiem's trainer tested positive just before Thiem was to play the quarters, what would happen? Would he have to isolate? Would he be allowed to play the quarters?
Thiem himself has to test positive to be expelled, and even if a positive Thiem played a match, due to the distances in tennis he could hardly infect his opponent, so i doubt there will be that much drama.
gogo said:
If anyone can point me to the policies, that would be great. I think it's important for the rules to be clear before the tourney starts. That's the only way for the tournament to be impartial.
the USO homepage?
the policies (shown in the deleted thread) were extensive, but providing for all contingencies is probably impossible. many words were used alone on outlining the bubble.

And the subject of this thread has already been addressed in other threads(like others have mentioned), so it probably shouldn't be kept either.
but deleted too? i can't find it.
 
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Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
USO - have they put out clear policies about players' exposure to Covid?

I may have missed it since I've been a bit absent on this board, but I was wondering if the US Open has put forward clear policies as to what will happen if a player tests positive (even if a finalist or semi-finalist?) and if a player has been in close contact with someone who tests positive.

Will it be one policy for the lower-ranked players in the early rounds versus what they may decide in late rounds if it affects one of their 'stars'?
What happens if they have close contact with someone who tests positive the day before the tournament starts? What happens if it is after it starts?
What is the definition of 'close'?
If a number of players tested positive, at what point would they call the tournament?


Has anyone seen anything explicit? Or has it just been general statements with no specifics?
No.
 

Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
Sport requires a level playing field. If the rules aren't clear, heading into the event, then it's not a fair event. I'm still happy for someone to point me to the specific rules and policies regarding Covid.
I agree, and I am so glad to have helped.
 

gogo

Legend
There already was a thread about Nishikori before yours, it got locked after 3 pages. In light of that, it made sense to delete yours.

And the subject of this thread has already been addressed in other threads(like others have mentioned), so it probably shouldn't be kept either.

Also, political discussions are forbidden on this site(they used to have a section called Rants and Raves, it was pretty brutal, I wasn't sad to see it go) so I'm pretty sure that's the reason they made the Cov-id rule. Many posters here are incapable of discussing that in relation to tennis without offering their views on Trump Biden etc. And then the name calling starts...

Please point me to any threads where these specific questions have been addressed, including posting of specific rules by US Open. That was one of my original questions. I've not seen any specific reference to another thread. I was genuine in my question and would still like to know.

Ive also not raised any political issues. I just asked for the rules. Rules are not political. I think we all deserve to know the rules. The players definitely need clear rules.

I'm excited that the season is starting up again and I'd love for it to be successful.
 
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Tshooter

G.O.A.T.
NY Health Department requires the tournament to immediately remove any player that tests positive. But we do not know who is monitoring these tests.
Test result positive? No problem. Let's test you again until we get a negative result.

I guess I’m naive :giggle: but I can’t imagine the testing lab or, in the unlikely event the USTA controls custody of the test results, a USTA official trying to game the City. It may even be criminal to do so.
 

Tshooter

G.O.A.T.
Sport requires a level playing field. If the rules aren't clear, heading into the event, then it's not a fair event. I'm still happy for someone to point me to the specific rules and policies regarding Covid.

I think you already know how your quest for specific rules and policies will end but I wish you a safe journey.

This is my quest,
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless,
No matter how far.

Tennis being an individual sport comprised of independent contractors probably has one of the least level playing fields. One player may arrive by private jet with a squadron of support personal and they may stay in luxury housing. Another player can show up after a long rental car ride and stay in a shabby motel alone and have to arrange every logistical matter before they even think about getting on a practice court. By the time the two step on court one starts from behind before a single point is played.
 
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gogo

Legend
@Raul_SJ and @Bartelby (and @Born_to_slice) , it would be great if we could keep this one thread focused on specific rules relating to the tennis tournament, rather than getting into your ongoing virus/vaccine discussion again. I think that's why the other threads keep getting deleted. Please leave a thread for the rest of us to talk specifically about tennis. Thanks very much.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Pella and Galvan are likely out from Cincy because they received a massage from their physio who had tested positive. Now they have to isolate for 10 days.

The pair are out of the Cincinnati Masters, which starts on Friday and is also being played at Flushing Meadows.​
Galvan has been told to quarantine for 10 days, with the USTA previously saying players would have to isolate for 14 days.​
Pella, speaking in a video on social media, said he hoped he would still be able to play in the first Grand Slam event to take place amid the Covid-19 pandemic.​
Neither Pella nor Dellien have any symptoms.​
"After initiating the internal contact tracing process, it was determined that two players have been in close and prolonged contact with this individual," said Cincinnati organisers.​
"In consultation with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, those two players have been removed from the 2020 Western and Southern Open and are currently under quarantine."​
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
would be great if we could keep this one thread focused on specific rules relating to the tennis tournament

Somebody needs to find the 10½-page “Player Q&A Update”.

A player testing positive for COVID-19 will be dropped from the U.S. Open, but the U.S. Tennis Association has not established how many infected participants would force the Grand Slam tournament to be called off.​
According to a 10½-page “Player Q&A Update” sent out this week by the USTA, “There are no guidelines available to determine what number (of positive tests) will compel” the cancellation of the U.S. Open or the tournament that will precede it at Flushing Meadows this month amid the coronavirus pandemic.​
 
Somebody needs to find the 10½-page “Player Q&A Update”.

A player testing positive for COVID-19 will be dropped from the U.S. Open, but the U.S. Tennis Association has not established how many infected participants would force the Grand Slam tournament to be called off.​
According to a 10½-page “Player Q&A Update” sent out this week by the USTA, “There are no guidelines available to determine what number (of positive tests) will compel” the cancellation of the U.S. Open or the tournament that will precede it at Flushing Meadows this month amid the coronavirus pandemic.​

I wonder why.

I reckon a maximum of 127 players would do it.

Oh, wait, they will find a way to continue even then ......

:cool:
 

gogo

Legend
It is NOT clear that the players were aware that the physio had tested positive.
Why in the world would any player receive a massage from a positive masseuse?!

They didn't. They had a massage from him, and I believe Pella traveled with him on the plane, before he tested positive. i.e. before they knew he was positive.
 

a10best

Legend
ESPN just said Serena is renting a private house for the US Open because she said she has health issues. So, no bubble for some players. All this freedom will have players test positive for sure. Now they claim it is an extremely airborne virus & transmits farther than 6 feet away. But once again it has to be stressed, testing positive is not automatic sickness, not automatic hospitalization, or worse. Whenever I go to NYC I want my favorite food from a restaurant. I bet you some players feel the same way.
 

van_Loederen

Professional
www.usopen.org/pdf/2020-US-Open-Medical-Safety-and-Risk-Mitigation-Plan.pdf
www.tennis365.com/us-open/what-happens-if-a-player-tests-positive-at-us-open-or-if-the-player-leaves-the-bubble-some-answers/

so players need two negative tests before they can start into the competition,
and afterwards they will be tested every 4 days.

since there's no mention of a second test if they test positive during competition, it looks like they will be out then,
and that even though "Test results are expected to be within 24 hours".

well, waiting for a second test result while preparing (how?) for your next match, would probably be a problem indeed,
but IF (according to some utterances on the internet) the chance of false positive tests was any high, then only one test would seem very unfair, so i assume that said chance is actually very low.
 
www.usopen.org/pdf/2020-US-Open-Medical-Safety-and-Risk-Mitigation-Plan.pdf
www.tennis365.com/us-open/what-happens-if-a-player-tests-positive-at-us-open-or-if-the-player-leaves-the-bubble-some-answers/

so players need two negative tests before they can start into the competition,
and afterwards they will be tested every 4 days.

since there's no mention of a second test if they test positive during competition, it looks like they will be out then,
and that even though "Test results are expected to be within 24 hours".

well, waiting for a second test result while preparing (how?) for your next match, would probably be a problem indeed,
but IF (according to some utterances on the internet) the chance of false positive tests was any high, then only one test would seem very unfair, so i assume that said chance is actually very low.

So, technically, a player can compete in two successive rounds without being tested. If there is a false negative that time extends to half the tournament.

:cool:
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
since there's no mention of a second test if they test positive during competition, it looks like they will be out then,
and that even though "Test results are expected to be within 24 hours".

well, waiting for a second test result while preparing (how?) for your next match, would probably be a problem indeed,

Hopefully, there is a second test after a positive result but the (up to) 24 hour turnaround time for results could be problematic.

IF there is even a second test, the player will not be allowed to practice in the interim time awaiting a second test result. The player is immediately isolated.

What happens if a player tests positive?
“In accordance to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and CDC guidelines, if a player tests positive he/she will be isolated immediately and if the player’s competition has started, he/she will be automatically withdrawn.​
 

van_Loederen

Professional
^i did read that, but i don't know the details of the isolation. does it necessarily mean - given it's a bubble - that the player can't rent a (special) court and practice with his coach?
maybe the detail could read that the coach has to stay at the other side of the net or something. 8-B
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
We read "isolation" to mean as immediate isolation from all humans and pets!

 
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van_Loederen

Professional
^in case of a positive test, all team members have to isolate, no?
but if 2 members of the same team (who've had close contact all through the previous days) meet on a court and stay at a distance... 8-B
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
in case of a positive test, all team members have to isolate, no?

Not necessarily. Only if they have shared a room with team member or if they have had close contact. Best idea is for players NOT to share a room with anyone and try to avoid massages and close contact with team members...Suggest the USO provide on-site rotating shift of physios that are constantly tested.

Isolation only applies to someone confirmed to be positive. Someone suspected of being positive would have to quarantine.

Player testing positive will be withdrawn from tournament & isolated for 10 days. Player sharing a room with a person testing positive will be withdrawn from tournament & quarantined for 14 days.​
 

van_Loederen

Professional
^we were talking about the situation between - hypothesized - 2 tests, so when the player isn't perfectly deemed confirmed positive yet.
you gave the correct infos that we got, but maybe these definitions don't apply in that situation so clearly yet.

already that second test is only my speculation though. i thought maybe authorities will have that latitude.
a little hard for me to believe that say Thiem would simply be out after a positive test after the QF.
test results are expected to be back within 24 hours, which with some goodwill for say Thiem maybe could be accelerated to say 5 hours,
and for Zverev to 20.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
thought maybe authorities will have that latitude.
a little hard for me to believe that say Thiem would simply be out after a positive test after the QF.

What is the consensus on the chance of false positives? If false positives are rare and false negatives are common then it might make sense to take only one test... What if you take a second test and it comes back negative, how do you justify throwing out the positive test?
 
What is the consensus on the chance of false positives? If false positives are rare and false negatives are common then it might make sense to take only one test... What if you take a second test and it comes back negative, how do you justify throwing out the positive test?

There is no announced policy on these matters from USO, and that is done intentionally, so that they could do whatever they want. Essentially they have prepared everything needed to see the tournament through, no matter what, so your whole discussion about procedures and whatnot is just a pointless talk. Sit back and enjoy the farce.

:cool:
 

van_Loederen

Professional
^great that would be. :sneaky:

What is the consensus on the chance of false positives? If false positives are rare and false negatives are common then it might make sense to take only one test... What if you take a second test and it comes back negative, how do you justify throwing out the positive test?
for the tournament it could also make sense to protect the player from expulsion until proven positive.
a negative test following a positive one could be regarded as insufficient proof.

but yeah, possible i'm too optimistic here. that discrepancy you describe is a thing alas and may also explain the absence of info about a second test. :confused:
 
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