Nadal, during the Acapulco tournament.
The ATP announced this Thursday the suspension of its professional circuit for six weeks “due to the increase in health and safety problems after the global outbreak” of the coronavirus, so no tournament will be held until the next April 27, measure that affects the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-Conde de God Trophy, which was to be held from April 20 to 26.
“The 2020 edition of Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell be affected by this measure and consequently not be held. The tournament organization is in permanent contact with the ATP and with the competent authorities, and wishes to show its concern about the health crisis in which all of society are immersed, in solidarity with measures whose priority is the protection of the health of fans, players , journalists and society in general “, pointed out from the organization of the Barcelona tournament.
The God informed that “when normalcy is restored, he will immediately work with his collaborators and the ATP with the confidence of celebrating the best possible 2021 edition” and that “the value” of the tickets will be reimbursed to those people that they request it “or they will be substituted by 2021 tournament tickets, respecting at all times the location of the reserve”.
Along with the Barcelons tournament, within the clay court tour, the other events affected are the Miami and Montercarlo Masters 1,000, and tournaments of Houston, Morocco and Budapest.
“This six-week suspension comes after the World Health Organization declared this Wednesday that COVID-19 is a global pandemic and the restriction announced by the United States for the next 30 days on flights with 26 countries in Europe. The suspension comes after numerous orders from local government restrictions, prohibitions or cancellations of meetings or public events, “said the association.
The ATP indicated that it has been “closely monitoring the rapid evolution of the COVID-19 related situation, advised by medical experts and travel advisers, as well as consulting with local authorities, and continually reviewing the feasibility of the events that follow in the calendar”.
Your president, Andrea GaudenziHe stressed that this decision had not been taken “lightly” and that it represented “a great loss to tournaments, players and fans around the world.” “However, we believe that it is a responsible and necessary action at the same time to protect the health and safety of our players, the staff, the tennis community and the general public health in the face of this global pandemic,” he added.
“The global nature of our sport and international travel involve significant risks and challenges in these circumstances, as do the increasingly restrictive guidelines issued by local authorities. We will continue to monitor daily and hope that the circuit will resume when the situation improves. Meanwhile, our thoughts and wishes are on everyone affected by the virus, “he said.
The ATP remarked that the suspension has “immediate effect“, which will mean the unfinished suspension of the two appointments of the circuit Challenger that were being disputed in Kazakhstan and South Africa, and that it is “carefully reviewing the great impact of this situation in relation to the points” of the world ranking. “In collaboration with the ITF, ranking points will not be available in any tournament ITF World Tennis Tour during this period of suspension, “he concluded.
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