Feliciano: “It is hard to suspend, but we are already looking at 2021”

The Madrid Open, scheduled from Might 3 to 10, is not going to be held in 2020 each on the agreed date and all year long. Confirmed it Feliciano López, director of the occasion, after the Worldwide Federation (ITF) extended the inactivity of the skilled circuit till June 7 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Behind this, Feliciano attended AS from the outskirts of Madrid, the place he is present process quarantine.

-Is there any choice to maintain the event all through 2020?

Sadly we haven’t any margin to play. Individuals within the group are unhappy, though the scenario was not very hopeful seeing the most recent occasions. It is a hard blow, but we are already looking at the 2021 version. As well as, it is going to be the 20th anniversary of the occasion.

– Does it pose any hazard to the way forward for tennis within the Spanish capital?

Subsequent 12 months the Open ends a contract in Madrid, but there is an intention to proceed and they’ll negotiate when this disaster passes. We glance additional, tennis has a future right here. This time, all of the individuals have understood it as a result of this is one thing that is not taking place solely in Spain, it is world. It stays to be seen when we will return to the competitors, but I feel there is nonetheless a great distance to go. The necessary factor in these hard instances are the individuals.

-Roland Garros was forward of attainable cancellations and determined to change his dates simply after the US Open.

They made a hasty determination, with out first consulting the remainder of the tournaments, gamers and others. I assume it could be the one date that they had obtainable, as a result of enjoying later in Paris can be inconceivable due to time.

-In a scant week, gamers would trade a quick monitor Grand Slam for a mud one.

It is an emergency scenario. If it lastly seems that approach, I think about that tennis gamers will need to play and few individuals will skip tournaments. This variation of monitor has normally occurred to us with Davis, who went from one floor to one other in lower than 5 days. Even at Wimbledon, as a result of now there are three weeks away with Roland Garros, but earlier than there have been two and also you went from land to grass.

-With 38 years (39 in September) and in place 56 of the ATP rating, how do you see the longer term?

I am going 12 months after 12 months, I don't look any additional. Now I’m coaching loads of physics. Within the US it is quite common to have a monitor in properties. It is not my case right here, and it is that in Europe it is much less frequent, though fortunately I’ve a home with house.

– Talking of that preparation, how in regards to the quarantine?

Doing loads of biking, I even have medication balls, run what I can round right here, videoconferences with my coach … A bit of every part and ready to see how occasions unfold.

– Looking forward to the Video games, do you suppose they’ll happen on the scheduled dates?

The logical factor can be to delay them, both due to the coronavirus or as a result of the athletes haven’t been ready to prepare properly for one thing they’ve been ready for 4 years. We’ll see if crucial measures are taken to see if the athletes themselves can prepare in any approach. All the things proper now is filled with uncertainty.