The Community of Madrid, according to a letter to which El Confidencial has had access, “discourages” the holding of the Madrid Open (September 12-20) due “to the increase in cases” of coronaviruses in the region.
The Madrid Open, for which Rafa Nadal has confirmed his presence, would be the first tournament in Europe after the US Open (August 31-September 13). The combined event (ATP and WTA) had been moved since May and was intended to be held with an audience.
“It is inadvisable to hold the tournament on September 2020, due to the aforementioned health risk that it would entail for both the public and the organization and the players,” stated the Letter signed by the Deputy Minister of Public Health and the COVID-19 Plan, Antonio Zapatero, to Feliciano López, director of the Open. Zapatero, veteran tennis champion, ran the IFEMA field hospital.