As we come out of lockdown, worldwide sport is slowly coming back. The Premier League and multiple football leagues overseas are back in action, the AFL locally – and how could we forget the planet-saving NRL! But the news isn’t so great for tennis fans, particularly for Aussie superstar Dylan Alcott, with the US Open saying they’ll be going ahead in 2020 – without wheelchair tennis.
The decision on this year’s Open was pushed out via a statement on the official website, where it was mentioned that the men’s and women’s singles would be going ahead as part of the competition – as well as men’s and women’s doubles. There was no room for mixed doubles, juniors, or wheelchair tennis though, the latter which has been building in popularity over the past few years.
And former Triple J host, and all round legend, Alcott was not having a bar of it.
Ranked number one in wheelchair tennis, Alcott unleashed via a series of tweets on Twitter, saying that players weren’t consulted, wheelchair players aren’t at a greater risk due to COVID, and that the decision was “disgusting discrimination”.
Just got announced that the US Open will go ahead WITHOUT wheelchair tennis.. Players weren’t consulted. I thought I did enough to qualify – 2x champion, number 1 in the world. But unfortunately I missed the only thing that mattered, being able to walk. Disgusting discrimination
— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) June 17, 2020
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 @usopen
— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) June 17, 2020
In the statement released by the US Open, Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive of the USTA, said that the goal was to minimise risk by having less people on-site. Including no fans, like most returning sport.
“The decision to hold the 2020 US Open without fans was not an easy one, but ultimately it was the correct one,” she said.
“To mitigate risk, we must minimise numbers on-site. Though we will not have fans on our site, we will engage with tennis fans around the world in new and exciting ways with the help of our global broadcast partners, and all our US Open sponsors.”
But the backlash has been real, with fans around the world flooding the US Open socials with questions about wheelchair tennis.
This also does not seem fair… How can US Open say they’re going ahead with the event but cancel wheelchair tennis?? Is wheelchair tennis not a valid part of the US Open? https://t.co/iXUsgYVWPk
— dotty (@dottytt) June 17, 2020
US Open to go ahead only they’re excluding the wheelchair athletes.
Explain that one to me….
Can’t walk, can’t play ????Do better – You still have time !!!!
— DanRo68 (@OzziRed) June 17, 2020
Outraged that the wheelchair US Open won’t go ahead. It’s blatant discrimination. https://t.co/LbKmpzMmGo
— Nicole Hayes: author / social distancer 🏉📚✍️🌈 (@nichmelbourne) June 17, 2020
You see they have cancelled the US Open wheelchair tennis but left the able bodied round to go ahead? The number 1 men’s player Dylan Alcott from here is going off his head and I don’t blame him
— Glenn Hampson (@GlennHampson) June 17, 2020
Alcott has of course long been a champion for disability awareness and rights, and when you consider how straight up unfair this seems – you can understand his anger.
He’s the best player in the world in his sport, and deserves to play in a grand slam – especially if you have men’s, women’s, men’s doubles and women’s doubles being player. Let’s hope the US Open come to their senses, but let’s be honest – not holding my breath.
Image Source: Dylan Alcott Twitter