Aug. 25 (UPI) — Professional tennis players will have more access to mental health resources, including licensed providers and quiet rooms, at the 2021 U.S. Open, the United States Tennis Association announced.
The U.S. Open qualifiers started Tuesday for the tournament that runs from Aug. 30 through Sept. 12 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.
The move to increase resources follows a nearly two-month hiatus from the sport by Japanese tennis ace Naomi Osaka.
“The USTA’s mental health initiative will ensure that a holistic approach is taken with all aspects of player health, including mental health,” the USTA said in a statement Tuesday.
Osaka, the No. 3 player in the WTA rankings, withdrew from the French Open in May for mental health reasons, citing anxiety and depression, and missed Wimbledon. She returned to competition at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo last month, but did not medal.
Osaka is expected to defend her title at the U.S. Open beginning next week.
“Our goal is to make mental health services as readily available to athletes as services for a sprained ankle — and with no stigma attached,” said Dr. Brian Hainline, first vice president of the USTA. “We will provide an environment that fosters wellness while providing the necessary resources to readily allow mental health care seeking.”
The USTA said it will provide players with “other support services” in addition to the quiet rooms at the Open. Tournament officials will work with the WTA and ATP sports science and medicine staff to expand players access and help them understand the enhanced medical services.
“The USTA and U.S. Open are always looking for ways to work collaboratively with the other Grand Slam events, ATP, WTA and ITF to provide the greatest level of support for our competitors,” USTA CEO Mike Dowse said.
“We recognize that ensuring the mental health of the players is an area that needed to be addressed, and we are taking formative steps to give athletes the necessary resources to compete at the highest level.”
The U.S. Open’s medical care system is a partnership with Mount Sinai Health System. Dr. Alexis Colvin is chief medical officer for the tournament.
Hainline, Dr. Claudia Reardon, an expert in sports psychiatry, USTA chief executive and U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster and U.S. Davis Cup team captain Mardy Fish are part of the new initiative’s leadership group.
“The USTA believes that ensuring this wider array of mental health support services are available, together with efforts to reduce and hopefully eliminate any stigma associated with seeking them out, will contribute to the health of the athletes and also send an important message to all of society about the importance of supporting and de-stigmatizing mental health,” the association added.
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