US Open organisers have bowed to public pressure and reinstated wheelchair competitions to this year's grand slam in New York.
International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons had accused the US Tennis Association (USTA) of undoing "years of great work to promote and showcase the sport of wheelchair tennis" when the sport was originally excluded.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) had also added their weight to the argument for inclusion.
However, the USTA have confirmed that wheelchair tennis will still have a place at this year's US Open.
While the men's and women's singles will take place from August 31 to September 13, the wheelchair competitions will run from September 10-13.
In a statement they wrote:
The 2020 US Open Wheelchair Tennis Competition will be held in its traditional place on the US Open calendar at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center this September. The tournament will run from Sept. 10-13.
This decision was made following multiple virtual meetings with a group of wheelchair athletes and the International Tennis Federation over the last week. The 2020 US Open Wheelchair Competition will feature men’s and women’s singles and doubles events and quad singles and doubles events, all with draw sizes similar to past US Opens.
Wheelchair athletes will follow the same health and safety procedures as all players participating in the US Open and will be able to access the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center beginning on Sept. 7.
The ITF is carefully reviewing the impact of this evolving situation related to awarding wheelchair ranking points in regards to the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour. The USTA expects a decision to be announced in the coming days.
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