According to announcers, the players participating in this year’s U.S. Open are living in a bubble. This is true of course, but – having covered the Open one year, as well as the Miami Open – I know that tennis players are always in a bubble. This year’s is simply more airtight.
And I suspect that except for the crowd energy during matches, most players are not missing the fans. They can hit on the practice courts without anyone watching; they can stroll the grounds without being hounded for autographs. The top-ranked players have been given corporate boxes, and during matches the camera will occasionally zoom in on – not a famous actor or celebrity athlete – but a shirtless Sasha Zverev or a chopstick-wielding Naomi Osaka. The players are the only stars in attendance, and they have been given the run of the place. For many it must be the ideal tournament.
