ジョコビッチが全米ＯＰ出場を表明、「わくわくしている」

【パリＡＦＰ＝時事】男子テニス、世界ランク1位のノバク・ジョコビッチ（セルビア）は13日、全米オープンテニスへの出場を表明した。これにより、新型コロナウイルスによる中断からの再開後では初となる四大大会（グランドスラム）に向けた、自身の立場に関する臆測に終止符を打った。（写真は男子テニスのノバク・ジョコビッチ、資料写真）
　グランドスラムで通算１７回の優勝を誇る３３歳のジョコビッチは、自身のツイッターアカウントに、「今年のウェスタン＆サザンオープンと全米オープンに参加することを喜んでお知らせする」「あらゆる局面における、全ての障害や試練からすれば簡単な決断ではなかったが、再び出場する見通しが立ってとてもわくわくしている」と投稿した。
　３１日に米ニューヨークにおいて無観客で開幕する全米オープンを前に、ジョコビッチは前哨戦のウェスタン＆サザンオープンに向けて１５日に米国に到着する予定となっている。同大会は例年シンシナティで開催されているが、今年は会場がニューヨークに変更された。
　ジョコビッチが出場を決めたことは、大勢のトップ選手が辞退している今年の全米オープンにとって大きな弾みになる。
　男子では通算４度の優勝を誇るラファエル・ナダル（スペイン）を筆頭に、ニック・キリオス（オーストラリア）や元大会覇者のスタン・ワウリンカ（スイス）が欠場を決めたほか、通算５度のタイトル獲得を誇るロジャー・フェデラー（スイス）も、膝にメスを入れて出場を見送った。
　一方、女子では世界１位のアシュリー・バーティ（オーストラリア）や昨年大会を制したビアンカ・アンドレスク（カナダ）ら有力選手が不在となっている。
　ジョコビッチは、６月に自身が主催するバルカン半島での慈善大会において、自身を含めて大勢の選手が新型コロナウイルス感染症（ＣＯＶＩＤ-１９）の検査で陽性となったことで激しい批判にさらされた。
　それ以来の実戦復帰となるジョコビッチはこの日、公式ウェブサイトにコメント文を発表し、「今回は選手やニューヨークの人々を守るために、これまでと全く違う手順や安全対策が施されていると承知している」「それでも、チームと練習に励んで調子を整えているから、新しいコンディションに適応する準備はできている」と述べた。
　また、「全ての健康診断」を終えて新型コロナウイルスから完治したことも明かした上で、「最高のテニスを約束できる状態でコートに戻る準備ができている」と意欲を見せた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/08/14-14:35）

Novak Djokovic confirmed on Thursday he will play at the US Open, the world number one ending speculation about his presence at the first Grand Slam tournament since the season restarted following the coronavirus-enforced shutdown.
I'm happy to confirm that I'll participate at #CincyTennis and #USOpen this year, the 33-year-old world number one tweeted.
It was not an easy decision to make with all the obstacles and challenges on many sides, but the prospect of competing again makes me really excited, added the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
The US Open gets underway behind closed doors in New York on August 31, with Djokovic arriving in the United States on Saturday to tune up in the Western and Southern Open, which is normally played in Cincinnati but has been moved to New York this year.
His decision to take part is a major boost for the US Open after a host of headline names pulled out.
The list of absentees includes four-time champion Rafael Nadal, women's world number one Ashleigh Barty and her fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios. Five-time winner Roger Federer is also missing as the Swiss legend recovers from knee surgery.
Former champions Stan Wawrinka and Svetlana Kuznetsova are also notable absentees.
Djokovic makes his competitive return after being heavily criticised for hosting a charity tennis event in the Balkans in June at which he and a raft of players tested positive for COVID-19.
Kyrgios was among those to serve up verbal volleys, describing Djokovic's decision to put on the ill-fated Adria Tour as boneheaded.
Djokovic, president of the ATP Player Council, said he was so deeply sorry that the event caused harm, but described the level of criticism as like a witch hunt.
Confirmation that he will bid for a fourth US Open title came after he initially expressed scepticism over strict protocols, describing limits on players' entourages at the tournament as extreme and impossible.
In a statement on his website on Friday he wrote: I am aware that this time around it will be very different with all the protocols and safety measures that are put in place to protect players and people of NY.
Nevertheless, I have trained hard with my team and got my body in shape so I am ready to adapt to new conditions.
He said he had completed all the check-ups, was fully recovered from coronavirus and was ready to get back on court fully committed to playing my best tennis.
The winner of a record eighth Australian Open before the season went into lockdown said he respected and appreciated the time, effort, and energy taken to put on the two events which are being staged in a quarantine environment without spectators at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows.
He had expressed hope that the existing ban on South American players travelling to compete would be eased before the US Open began.
Unfortunately for the players and the game itself, the current situation is not allowing everyone to travel and compete at the same level of risk, and I hope the situation will change soon and we will all be back to doing what we love and do best.
The US Open, which finishes on September 13, is followed a fortnight later by the rescheduled French Open at Roland Garros.
Later Thursday, France's world number 44 Fiona Ferro, who won the Palermo WTA event last week, announced she would not play the US Open.
She is the 10th player from the women's top 50 to withdraw.
Her place in the draw goes to Caroline Dolehide of the United States.