Coronavirus, quick courts and a Clijsters comeback

The first time Kim Clijsters entered the US Open, all the way back in 1999, she faced a certain someone by the name of Serena Williams.

All these years later, three-time US Open champion Clijsters is back ready to play at Flushing Meadows, out of retirement at age 37 and entered in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2012.

And Williams, less than a month from turning 39, is still at the top of tennis, the runner-up in New York each of the past two years and at four of the past seven major championships.

Asked to name a moment that sticks in her memory, Clijsters pointed to that first meeting against Williams, who won 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the third round and would go on to claim the first of her 23 majors.

"It was an incredible match. The atmosphere was great. For me, that kind of, I think, started the energy that I feel here when I play here," said Clijsters, who won the US Open in 2005, 2009(defeating Williams in the final) and 2010, along with the 2011 Australian Open.

"Any night match that you get to play here at the US Open on Arthur Ashe is incredible," the Belgian said. "It's nothing like anything else anywhere else."

As for Clijsters' thoughts on Williams and the possibility of equaling Margaret Court's total of 24 Slam singles titles?

"The great results she had, not even a year after her daughter was born－playing Grand Slam finals, competing for Grand Slam titles－was, I think, incredible," Clijsters said. "Obviously, a lot of people talk about it. I think also for her, it gets harder to kind of not let it get to you, I think. She's still working at it very hard, very passionate out there. That's what we love to see. She's a great competitor. Always has been that. You can only support that for somebody who has achieved so much and done so much."

Here are other things to know as the US Open gets started:

Safety first

The pandemic will loom over the two weeks. How couldn't it? In April, indoor practice courts housed a field hospital. On Sunday, the first player, 17th-seeded Benoit Paire of France, tested positive for COVID-19. There are no spectators. Players' entourages are limited to three people. Everyone on the grounds must wear masks.

Djokovic juggernaut

Novak Djokovic is 23-0 in 2020, the best opening to a season for a man since he went 41-0 in 2011. He's also the only member of the Big Three in New York: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are not in the draw. That trio has collected the past 13 Grand Slam trophies in a row; that includes five of the last seven for Djokovic alone. "Whether I have a bigger chance to win it because Roger and Rafa are not here, I really don't know," the 33-year-old Djokovic said. "I think it's unfair for me to talk about. That, in a way, is kind of disrespectful towards other players who are here."

Injury fears

Ramping up to top-flight competition after so many months away because of the pandemic could lead to injuries. During the Western& Southern Open, for example, Djokovic dealt with a neck issue and two-time major champion Naomi Osaka pulled out of the women's singles final because of a left hamstring problem. "I do think that still a lot of players are going to have problems and we're going to see a lot of withdrawals" at the US Open, 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev said, "especially if it's going to be hot, because... after six months without competitive tennis, to play (best) out of five (sets) is tough."

Need for speed

Players testing the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center courts in practice or during competition at the Western&Southern Open－normally held in Ohio, it shifted to Flushing Meadows as part of a "controlled environment"－seemed pretty much in agreement: The speed is faster everywhere except maybe Arthur Ashe and Louis Amstrong Stadium. The brand of the court surfaces changed for the first time since 1978, with a five-year agreement to use Laykold hard courts made by Advanced Polymer Technology. "At least 20 to 30 percent quicker than last year's," reckons Djokovic.

Hawk-Eye live

There will be line judges only on the two largest courts. Everywhere else, a chair umpire will be assisted by electronic line-calling (Hawk-Eye)－removing the human element in the name of social distancing. Other concessions include: qualifying and mixed doubles were eliminated entirely; the men's and women's doubles fields were reduced by half; total prize money decreased, including a cut from $3.85 million to $3 million each to the singles champions.

Associated Press