All eyes will be on the US Open when major league tennis resumes in the Covid-19 era at the Flushing Meadows, New York on August 31. The Grand Slam will be held behind closed doors and have a number of health and safety protocols.
Now, as Dutch tennis player Wesley Koolhof revealed, players will also have to sign waivers ahead of the hard-court Slam.
Maybe I should start reading more waivers from now on..
“I voluntarily assume full responsibility for any risk including serious illness or death”
“This is a release of liability and agree that it is valid forever”
Please sign here ________#usopen pic.twitter.com/ptrW8TaE3f— Wesley Koolhof (@wesleykoolhof) August 9, 2020
The first line of the disclaimer reads, “I am fully aware of the risks involved with entering USTA National Tennis Center Incorporated (herein, the “NTC”) premises and facilities located at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing, New York.”
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The US Open will be the first major player since the tennis tours were suspended in March due to Coronavirus.
Koolhof, who put a copy of the document on Twitter on Sunday, wrote, “Maybe I should start reading more waivers from now on.. I voluntarily assume full responsibility for any risk including serious illness or death. This is a release of liability and agree that it is valid forever. Please sign here ________”
The waiver says: ‘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.
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‘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.’
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..
— Wesley Koolhof (@wesleykoolhof) August 9, 2020
According to the document, the players cannot sue the NTC, USTA, ATP, WTA or any of their affiliates for any liability, loss or damage.
“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,” Koolhof added.
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The Grand Slam has already lost some of its star power with players like Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Nick Kyrgios, Ashleigh Barty and Elina Svitolina deciding to skip the Open due to health and safety concerns.
Meanwhile, former champions Andy Murray and Kim Clijsters have been awarded wildcards for the major.
