tennis
'Disgusting discrimination': Dylan Alcott blasts US Open over omission
- Wheelchair tennis left out of 2020 grand slam
- ‘Players weren’t consulted,’ says two time champion
Australia’s Dylan Alcott has slammed
US Open tennis organisers, accusing them of “disgusting discrimination” for planning this year’s coronavirus-compromised grand slam tournament without wheelchair tennis.
A winner of 10 grand slam wheelchair tennis singles titles, including two US Opens, Alcott vented on Twitter after it was officially announced the 2020 US Open would go ahead in New York in its scheduled 31 August to 13 September dates but with some big changes and under strict bio-security measures.
“Just got announced that the US Open will go ahead WITHOUT wheelchair tennis.. Players weren’t consulted,” wrote Alcott. “I thought I did enough to qualify - 2x champion, number 1 in the world. But unfortunately I missed the only thing that mattered, being able to walk. Disgusting discrimination.”
He added: “And please do not tell me I am a ‘greater risk’ because I am disabled. I am disabled yes but that does not make me SICK. I am fitter and healthier than nearly everybody reading this right now. There are no added risks.
“And for sure there are far more important things going on in the world, but that choice should’ve been up TO ME. It is blatant discrimination for able bodied people to decide on my behalf what I do with my LIFE AND CAREER just because I am disabled. Not good enough.”
US Open tennis organisers are planning this year’s coronavirus-compromised grand slam tournament without wheelchair tennis
www.theguardian.com