The Madrid Open will not be held this year. The organization of the tournament will official predictably throughout the day. And the tennis season trembles, with more and more stones on the way. The combined event of the Caja Mágica, which was to be held from September 13 to 20, Masters 1,000 category for the ATP and Premier Mandatory for the WTA (second level after the Grand Slams), ibto open the European season of the men's circuit and both Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic had confirmed their presence.
The Madrid's community, through the deputy council of Public Health Antonio Zapatero (champion of Spain's master's degree in tennis and former director of the IFEMA field hospital) made it known by letter addressed a few days ago to Feliciano López, tournament director, who he “advised against” the event due to the impossibility of guaranteeing health security. In Madrid there are more than 20 regrowths of COVID-19.
The official position of the authorities has tipped the balance towards the 'no' of Ion Tiriac, owner of the tournament, which causes a great disorder to ATP and WTA, but protects your economy. The option was to play with or without 30% of the public. And 'sanitary bubble' conditions could not be guaranteed in a tournament that distributes more than 12 million euros in prizes. Unlike Rome (September 20-27), where the tournament belongs to the Italian Federation, in Madrid the developer is private.
After the cancellation of Washington, the mixed event in Cincinnati (August 22-28) and the US Open (August 31-September 13) continue, but in the bubble created by the USTA between an airport hotel and the National Tennis Center. With strict sanitary measures. From there, the tennis players would immediately travel to Madrid, where the Higher Sports Council guaranteed entry to athletes from any country as it has done with the Motorcycle World Cup. But Italy maintains the quarantine obligation for travelers who do not come from the European Union. Between the US Open and Rome (September 21-27) there is only one week, reason why the tennis players worry about flying to the USA without knowing if they will be able to play later in Rome.
Everything, before Roland Garros (September 27-October 11), who wants to play with 60% of the public. And, from there, the emptiness. ATP has not announced more dates And the WTA has seen China ban seven events it had set. The option remains to continue in Europe after Paris to save the Masters (November 11-22), which injects money into the ATP economy. But the Davis Cup finals in Madrid, scheduled the following week, have already fallen. Tennis is prey to its globalization by COVID.