USTA rolls out new rules for event

Electronic line-calling will be used instead of line judges for U.S. Open matches at all courts except the two largest arenas, while singles qualifying and mixed doubles, junior and wheelchair competition are being eliminated entirely.

There also will be three ball people instead of six at courts other than Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Those are among the changes announced Wednesday by the U.S. Tennis Association as it outlined plans for running a scaled-down, no-spectators version of its Grand Slam tournament in New York City amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Without question, this is a journey. Things are evolving," new tournament director Stacey Allaster said during a video conference. "We have the plan today. We're in daily contact with both tours."

At a minimum, there will be testing for COVID-19 via nasal swabs upon arrival at what Allaster termed "U.S. Open world," and then once weekly thereafter. If there is the possibility that the tournament "bubble" has been breached by the virus, there could be testing every other day.

It is unlikely players would be asked to sign waivers absolving the USTA of responsibility should they get sick.

The tournament received the go-ahead from the New York state government Tuesday to be held in its usual location in Flushing Meadows, Queens, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13. In an unusual arrangement, the hard-court tuneup tournament normally held in Cincinnati will be held right before the U.S. Open — and at the Open's site.

There are still lingering questions about which top players will participate.

Among the other changes: Men's and women's doubles will be reduced from 64 teams each to 32, with players who are entered in the singles fields not allowed to enter doubles.

With qualifying cut, each of the 128-player...