Troubling ‘US Open bug’ taking down top tennis players

Even the top players in tennis are no match for this bug.

A mystery “US Open bug” is making the rounds among star athletes at this year’s tournament, resulting in shocking upsets and withdrawals as the athletes struggle to fight on the court through coughing fits and stomach aches.

“I’m a zombie because I have a flu,” Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur, 29, said at a news conference on Thursday after defeating Linda Noskova in three sets.

The No. 5 seed was visibly unwell during the match, and was seen coughing and sometimes even struggling to reach the ball on difficult shots.

“I’m taking a lot of medicine,” the No. 5 seed admitted at the conference, adding that she “basically took every medication” the tournament doctors could offer.

Jabeur – who was upset by Zheng Qinwen of China over the weekend – is one of many players felled by the so-called “US Open bug” since the tournament opened at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 28.

Emil Ruusuvuori, 24, of Finland, withdrew ahead of his first-round match due to an unspecified illness.

Austrian Dominic Thiem, 30, subsequently retired in the second set of his second-round match on Wednesday after collapsing onto the net with a stomach issue, the outlet reported.

Czech player Petra Kvitová, 33, also complained of stomach pains before ultimately losing to Caroline Wozniacki on Wednesday, Tennis World reported.

“I got the us open bug.. in a way still feels like I’m in the tournament but at home,” Tennys Sandgren, 32, who failed to advance past the qualifiers, tweeted on Thursday.

“Def a bug going around [at the Open,” he added in a separate post.

Also on Thursday, Polish player Hubert Hurkacz,  26, struggled on the court and was treated by medical staff before ultimately falling to Jack Draper, the New York Times reported.

During the match, sniffs, coughs, and other signs of illness were heard throughout the tennis grounds, the outlet added.

Players have also been spotted with tissues in their bags.

Off the court, legendary former player and tennis analyst John McEnroe reported on the second day of the tournament that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

“I’m watching the US Open from home & can’t wait to get back to work soon,” McEnroe said via ESPN.

McEnroe’s diagnosis and the proliferation of troubling symptoms among players has sparked concerns that the tournament may be a superspreader for COVID Pirola variant, which experts say is spreading fast.

Players – who are in close quarters and share many facilities – are not required to rest for COVID at the Open, the Times noted.

Spectators are also not asked to provide proof of vaccination, wear masks, or test prior to attending.

“It would be nice if those players who feel bad would wear masks or something like that. I don’t know if it’s something related to Covid, but usually at sporting events like this, these things can spread easily,” No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek, 22, said ahead of the tournament’s second week, according to Tennis World.

“I’ve already had a few colds this season and it’s had a big impact on me, so at a grand slam I definitely don’t want to make those mistakes. I also watch what I eat. It’s important for me to keep an eye on everything and prevent it,” she added.