Thiem happy with virus protocols in NY

World No. 3 Dominic Thiem believes US Open officials have taken their security protocols ‘very seriously’ ahead of the Western & Southern Open, which starts next week.

Thiem told Austrian media he was very satisfied with the rules in place ahead of the US Open.

“We’re in this hotel, it’s really nice. We have a nice room with a balcony, which is incredibly valuable in New York,” he said.

“Dennis (Novak) is also in the hotel, but we can’t see each other yet because we did the test on arrival yesterday and have a blue bracelet (which indicated that the players have been tested but are awaiting their results).

“It only changes to green when the negative test result is there. Only then are we allowed to do something. The first training is only possible when we are negative.

“We’re 30 miles away from the city, we don’t even see the city, the airport was completely empty. Then by car to the main hotel, test there, then to the other hotel, now in the room for 14 hours. For three or four weeks, it will only be the hotel complex and that’s it.”