World Tennis D-Day at a Zoom meeting

This Wednesday is the expected day so that the governing bodies of the world tennis decide if the professional circuit resumes or not in August. And, most importantly, if US Open and Roland Garros they can still be disputed in 2020 and under what conditions. ATP called the top players to a telematic meeting to be held via Zoom at 16:00 Spanish time, which will explain how the situation is and what options exist that the two Grand Slam mentioned can develop safely and in equality of conditions for all, the two aspects that most concern tennis players.

The long break due to the coronavirus pandemic started after the past March 8, four days before the scheduled start of the Indian Wells tournament, discontinued along with 31 others (in addition to the Federation Cup Finals and the Games), including Wimbledon, who gave up a postponement by being well covered for pandemic insurance.

The ATP and the International Federation (ITF) announced on May 15 that the global activity (nationally already returned) will remain suspended, As minimum, until july 31; while the WTA did not rule out a possible resumption on the 13th of the same month. Thus, the Palermo International (which would go to August 3) and the 125K in Karlsruhe (July 28) could still see the light, apart from the exhibition in Charleston (June 23), a city that could host the Volvo car also from the August 3rd. The return from competition male maybe happen in Washington and continue on Toronto, Cincinnati and Wiston-Salem, before the US Open, restart key and that did not move their dates (from August 31 to September 13). Then the plan is for there to be a mini tour of land that goes through rescue Madrid and Rome before Roland Garros. Paris changed its calendar unilaterally and now manages the option of its dispute between the September 27 and October 11. On the table is the option for the Cincinnati Western & Southern to go to New York before the US Open to avoid travel. This rescheduling would affect other events of that period, among them the Laver Cup, which made it easy for Defer until 2021.

Reluctance among players

The truth is many tennis players are not clear the project. Novak Djokovic, union president, is one of them. “The rules for holding the US Open are extreme. We will not have access to Manhattan, we will have to sleep in airport hotels to be checked two or three times a week. We will not be able to go to the club with more than one person … “, the Serb said about the measures that the US Grand Slam foresees. Rafa Nadal is also not optimistic: “We cannot play with fear of the virus. If I had to travel to New York now, I wouldn't “. Pablo Carreño, than confirmed today's meeting In an act of the COE, he expressed his doubts: “It would not be fair to start without everyone being able to travel and play those tournaments safely. “