“We will see many tennis tournaments die”

The world of tennis continues to try to regain normality after a 2020 season in which, despite the pandemic, many of the tournaments on the calendar could be played.

However, despite the fact that the global situation has not prevented several of the major tournaments from being held, now it could fully affect the competitions with less name on the calendar, which could see their short-term future compromised.

In statements collected by the TennisHead portal, former tennis player Barbara Rittner He was very blunt on this matter. “I think everyone understands that it has to be this way. It is a new standard of living, a new time during this period of coronavirus. We will see many tennis tournaments die because the sponsors cannot do more. “

A similar opinion has the director of the ATP Challenger of Orleans, Didier Gerard, who stated that “for our tournament to survive, we must celebrate it at least once in 2021.”

Added to the difficulty of these tournaments to move forward due to the situation of their sponsors is the Unknown about the calendar for the 2021 season, since it is not yet defined while waiting for the Australian Open to make its dates official (it is expected to start on February 8). Meanwhile, the smaller tennis tournaments are looking for possible solutions so as not to disappear from the circuit.