MX23RW : Sunday, September 13 08:32:21| >> :600:3772820:3772820:

Andy Murray calls for players who break bio-secure bubble to be heavily penalised

Andy Murray calls for players who break bio-secure bubble to be heavily penalised
© Reuters
The Scot wants anyone who breaks the bio-secure bubble to face strict punishment.

Andy Murray says players who break the bio-secure bubble at the forthcoming US Open should be penalised heavily.

Murray is due to travel to New York for the Western & Southern Open and the US Open in the next couple of weeks, with both events played at the same Flushing Meadows site in August and September.

Strict protocols will be put in place to ensure the safety of the players, who will be expected not to break rules, stay at nearby hotels and not visit Manhattan.

The PGA Tour and NBA have seen incidents of players leaving the bubble and Murray has called for strict penalties on any tennis player doing so.

"I think the majority of players will stick to the rules but it would be silly to expect nobody would break the rules and the protocols," he said.

"You've seen that in the NBA and I think it has happened in the golf, I'm not 100 per cent sure, I could be wrong on that.

"In the NBA for example, which I think will be a similarish set-up for us, players have broken it so we should be preparing for that and that is where it is really important, I think, the repercussions should be quite serious because you end up putting the whole tour and event at risk.

"The USTA is going through a huge effort to try to get this on and make it as safe as possible so if players aren't abiding by the rules the repercussions should be severe."

Murray is still intending to compete at both events – a Masters 1000 and a grand slam – even though he has concerns over flying to the United States.

Women's world number one Ashleigh Barty has already pulled out of both due to fears over Covid-19 and Murray has said he has been told some of the top men's players will also withdraw.

But the three-time grand slam champion, who is ready to return to the tour after 10 months away, will press ahead with his plans, even with worries over flying.

"Everyone will have different feelings on it, we're all individuals," he said. "I will have apprehensions about getting there and getting on flights for the first time in months.

"It is a difficult one because you don't know when the right time to start travelling would be, who do you l listen to? Do you trust everything the government is telling you all the time? Probably not.

"You need to make your own decision on that and I trust that the USTA will have come up with a secure bubble for the players. It is just the getting there that I would be a bit concerned with.

"I will probably book flights in the next couple of days."

ID:408635:
Latest coronavirus PSA banner

Coronavirus outbreak - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Andy Murray

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Ashleigh Barty in action at Wimbledon on July 8, 2019
Read Next:
Ashleigh Barty pulls out of US Open due to coronavirus fears
>
Latest Sports Video
Read more about Andy Murray Tennis

rhs 2.0
Premier League
La Liga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
DFB-Pokal
League One
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Greek Superleague
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
Norwegian Eliteserien
Swedish Allsvenskan
Danish Superliga
Finnish Veikkausliiga
League of Ireland Premier
Belarusian Premier League
Segunda Division
Eerste Divisie
Major League Soccer
Brasileiro
Uruguayan Primera Division
Liga MX
Chinese Super League
J1 League
Premier League 2 - Div 1
International Friendlies
Women's Super League
Gallagher Premiership
Challenge Cup
NFL

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!