The dates clash with the tennis schedule at the Asian Games, which will be held in Palembang from August 19 and go on till 25.
The timing of the Asian Games is far from ideal for Indian tennis players, with some of them having to sacrifice playing a Grand Slam in order of represent the country.
The US Open begins from August 27, with the qualifying rounds starting from August 21.
The dates clash with the tennis schedule at the Asian Games, which will be held in Palembang from August 19 and go on till 25.
While the All India Tennis Association (AITA) exempted the country's top-ranked singles player, world No. 99 Yuki Bhambri, from the Asiad to play the US Open, it came at a cost. Bhambri was excluded from the sports ministry's the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
The others were left to make a difficult choice.
The 117th-ranked Ramkumar Ramanathan, 171st-ranked Prajnesh Gunneswaran, 193rd-ranked Ankita Raina and 198th-ranked Karman Kaur Thandi would've made it to the qualifying rounds of this year's final Grand Slam, but all of them have chosen to play for the country instead.
Doubles specialists like Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan have also let go of the opportunity to play at the US Open.
It's a dilemma not everyone would've liked to have, more so the youngsters who are constantly looking to improve their rankings throughout the year on the Tour in order to consistently play in tennis' biggest stage.
"As a player, you feel disappointed that you have leave one event, because both are equally important," Ankita said.
"It's just foolish to have both the events during the same week and to not think from the players' point of view. It's sad that we are put in this situation. The Games could have taken place any other time when there is no Slam," she said.
Ankita took part in her maiden Grand Slam this year, playing in the qualifying rounds of French Open as well as Wimbledon. She would've been eager to take part in the US Open as well, but playing for the country in a mega event like the Asiad once in four years sealed the decision for her.
"My thinking was that the Games are once in four years but the Slams are once a year. So, as long as I'm playing well and fighting hard, I'll have a chance next year as well," she said.
Similar was the thought process for Ramkumar, who will lead the Indian men in the singles competition in the absence of Bhambri.
"It is difficult to miss the US Open, but the Asian Games is huge for me and huge for the country. I always dreamt of playing the Asian Games, and it'll be great to get a medal for India," Ramkumar said.
Karman, meanwhile, broke into the top-200 rankings in the world just last month, a feat that would've given her a US Open qualifying ticket. But she'll now have to wait for the Australian Open next year to take part in her maiden Grand Slam, assuming she maintains her ranking.
"I've broken into the top 200, which means I can enter qualifying of Grand Slams, even with the US Open this year. But the Asian Games is clashing with it. So, I'll be looking forward to Australian Open next year," she said.
INDIA'S TENNIS SQUAD
MEN: Ramkumar Ramanathan, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Sumit Nagal, Rohan Bopanna, Divij Sharan, Leander Paes; Coach: Zeeshan Ali
WOMEN: Ankita Raina, Karman Kaur Thandi, Rutuja Bhosale, Pranjala Yadlapalli, Riya Bhatia, Prarthana Thombare; Coach: Ankita Bhambri
FLASHBACK 2014
TENNIS
Among the men, Yuki Bhambri won a bronze in singles as well as doubles, with Divij Sharan. Saketh Myneni and Sanam Singh settled for silver. Among the women, Sania Mirza and Prarthana Thombare won bronze in doubles, while Sania also won gold in mixed doubles with Saketh Myneni.
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