Instead of a compromised US Open—how about a North American Nationals?

Roger Federer is already out of the US Open, as well as whatever may be left of this year’s tennis season, after undergoing another recently announced knee surgery.

Rafael Nadal has barely touched a racquet for three months while holed up in his apartment in Spain. The defending US Open champion has also said that he loathes the idea of playing in a cavernous arena with no screaming fans to spur him to victory. Not to mention the fact that the French Open, which Nadal has won a record 12 times, is currently being contested just two weeks after the US Open, much closer to home.

And then there’s world No. 1 and reigning Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, who has voiced opposition to traveling with only one member of his entourage, to having to arrive to the U.S. in time for a two-week quarantine period and to being told that he must forego New York City and stay at the TWA Hotel near JFK Airport alongside every other player and tournament official. And who knows how the vaccine-averse Djokovic will feel about having his temperature taken daily and his body monitored for signs of COVID-19.

“Most of the players were quite negative on whether they would go there,” Djokovic said about the US Open earlier this week. “These are quite extreme conditions for playing and I don’t think this is sustainable.”

Djokovic has suggested that he might instead renew his season on European clay in September; in response, Danielle Collins ripped the Serbian on Instagram for not supporting less financially stable players who need to rejoin the tour in order to make a living,

Besides Collins, few women have spoken up either way—other than world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty and world No. 2 Simona Halep, who have both expressed concern about the travel restrictions involved in making the overseas journey to New York. Currently, 66 of the ATP Top 100 men are from Europe, including every member of the Top 10. Sixty-six of the WTA Top 100 hail from Europe as well.

The fact is, the coronavirus pandemic has claimed more lives in the United States than anywhere in the world, and more lives in New York than any other state in the U.S.

The USTA is doing everything in its power to host the US Open, in New York and on time. Believing it good for the economy—the tournament typically brings in $350 million in annual revenue and generates more than $750 million in economic impact to New York City, though that figure is based on some 850,000 visitors that will not be allowed on site this year—USTA officials are busy arranging for chartered flights from various cities worldwide, seeking ways to pipe in simulated noise to make up for the fan-less stadiums and offering top players luxury suites once occupied by sponsors.

In the absence of live spectators, the tournament will become a made-for-TV event, except that announcers will likely be commentating from off-site. In the interest of social distancing, press conferences are likely to be held via Zoom. In short, this year’s Open, assuming health officials give the go-ahead, will be more closed than ever.

In a North American Nationals, Denis Shapovalov would be the top men's seed. (Getty Images)

So here’s my proposal: Scrap the plans and cancel the US Open this year. Have the Europeans stay home, practice on clay and play the French Open at the end of September.

And instead of the US Open, the USTA should host the North American Nationals, allowing U.S. and Canadian players the opportunity to compete close to home, for mountains more prize money than they might win at any other tournament.

With no fans in attendance, this, too, would be a made-for-TV event. No ATP nor WTA points would be awarded. ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has already made such a proposal if the Open does take place, according to an article in *Marca*, a Spanish sports daily. That allows for an escape clause should players not want to travel to New York.

With a tournament dedicated solely to North Americans, players could avoid air travel and drive to New York if they choose. Canadian Denis Shapovalov, currently No. 16, would be the top seed; his countryman, Felix Auger-Alliasime, would be No. 2; 35-year-old John Isner would be the third seed. Kevin Anderson, runner-up to Nadal in 2018, who lives in Florida and received U.S. citizenship in 2018 (though he still competes for his native South Africa), would also be eligible. Sadly, 2018 champion Naomi Osaka, who renounced her U.S. citizenship in favor of a more lucrative sponsorship deal in Japan, would not be.

The women’s field would be decidedly stronger than the men’s, with reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, a Floridian currently ranked No. 4 in the world, leading the seeds. Behind her would be defending US Open champ Bianca Andreescu, six time-winner Serena Williams, two-time champ Venus Williams, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens. Keys was runner-up to Stephens in the 2017 US Open final. Williams remains one major away from breaking the all-time record of 24 majors held by Margaret Court.

Another advantage of the North American Nationals would be that lower-ranked players would finally have a chance to make some meaningful money. Collins would now have a chance at a multi-million-dollar paycheck. Seventy-ninth-ranked Madison Brengle might receive some long-overdue attention. And Kristie Ahn, a Stanford grad who delighted fans with her run to the round of 16 last year—and has continued to do so with her Tik Tok videos during the pandemic—might have another shot at a big win.

Kristie Ahn's US Open run was one of the stories of last year's tournament. (Getty Images)

I’m not suggesting that the men’s and women’s winners of the Nationals should each take home $3,850,000, as Nadal and Andreescu did last year. Or that first-round losers should make $58,000. Prize money could be halved and the players should still be happy.

There are, of course, obstacles, chief among them television and sponsorship contracts.

“They would have to open up every single contract and renegotiate them all,” says WTA president Micky Lawler, who handles deals for the WTA but not the USTA. “Your global footprint and broadcaster partnerships would be very different in terms of audience numbers, especially without overseas broadcasters. I can see them saying, ‘This is a completely different conversation,’ and having an out if they want it. Either way, this is financially disastrous for the USTA.”

Former U.S. Davis Cup captain and ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe thinks the US Open should go on as planned, whether or not the top three men are in attendance.

“I think the idea of having a national tournament is a great one, if it can happen, but I believe there should be a US Open,” says McEnroe, who waged his own battle with COVID-19. “I also believe the majority of the players will come. Don’t go by what Nadal and Djokovic say. They’re the rich getting richer and their views are skewed. Talk to players like Roberto Bautista Agut, who’s making no money right now.”

Right now, pros are competing in regional events all over the world: a heavy Spanish contingent played last weekend in Valencia; Germans have been competing against fellow Germans since early May; Djokovic is about to launch an exhibition tour that begins in Serbia. Other sports are resuming with no fans and serious restrictions, but most of those athletes don’t have to travel globally. Who knows if the U.S. government will even allow players to enter the country from Asia.

I understand the psychological boost—as well as the financial one—associated with playing the US Open in the epicenter of the pandemic. But maybe it’s better to wait a little while longer to bring everyone together.

Maybe, for this year, the North American Nationals is all we really need.

Cindy Shmerler has covered 41 consecutive US Opens for major newspapers, magazines, television networks and radio. She has been a contributing editor at Tennis Magazine and TENNIS.com.