Two months after tickets went on sale, the U.S. Open announced Friday fans will have to show proof of vaccination to enter.
Four days before the first tennis ball is struck, the USTA was informed the New York City Mayor’s office will mandate proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entrance to Arthur Ashe Stadium.
In a statement, the USTA said: “Given the continuing evolution of the Delta variant and in keeping with our intention to put the health and safety of our fans first, the USTA will extend the Mayor’s requirement to all US Open ticket holders 12-years-old and older. Any US Open attendee with tickets to Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, The Grandstand, or the grounds of the US Open, will be required to provide proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to enter the grounds.’’
Masks will be required for fans who enter indoor areas, though the USTA has said it won’t be considered an indoor event if roofs are closed for rain.
In the past the only ticket-return policies were weather-related. With the new mandate, an unvaccinated ticket holder is encouraged to get vaccinated, sell their ticket to a vaccinated customer or go to refund options on the Ticketmaster website, a USTA spokesman told The Post.