Andy Murray willing to risk his life for Grand Slam Title

Andy Murray, a three-time Grand Slam winner, who has not played competitively since November, has demanded assurance on quarantine issues before US Open

According to media reports, in a recent statement, former world number one Andy Murray said that players need assurance that they would not face mandatory quarantine upon returning to Europe from the U.S. Open before travelling to New York amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initially, players were to be restricted to approved hotels, but that has been relaxed in a bid to attract more players to New York.

However, Murray opposes it.

Moreover, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) organizers said they will set up a strict bio-security ‘bubble’ to minimise the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus during the Grand Slam.

The Grand Slam will be played from Aug. 31-Sept. 13.

The two major claycourt events in the leadup to Roland Garros are in Madrid (Sept. 13-20) and Rome (Sept. 20-27).

He said that “Hopefully before we leave, the players will have the assurances that, when they come back from America, they won’t have to quarantine for two weeks.”

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Murray added that “If that is the case, and if you do well in the U.S. Open, you can’t just arrive on Sunday before the French Open starts on Monday. That’s not going to work.”

Murray has not played competitively since November due to hip problems.

The 33-year-old said he is willing to take the travel “risk” as he missed playing in big events.

“The situation I’ve been in the last few years, I’ve not had the opportunity to play in many Slams. I don’t know how many I’ll have left,” Murray said.