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Tennis | ATP & WTA release provisional schedule, US Open & Roland Garros Latest

Ros Satar
Tennis

  • Provisional schedule for tournament restarts
  • US Open counts on Serena Williams’ support but no qualifying rounds and doubles draw is cut.
  • Roland Garros is planning to run with qualifying, and will include all formats including mixed doubles, wheelchair and junior tournaments
LONDON, UK – With countries putting on domestic tournaments as sport returns, tennis governing bodies release provisional resumption dates plus latest from the US Open and Roland Garros

 

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ATP, WTA and ITF announce provisional restart dates

Date ATP WTA
3 August Palermo Ladies Open (Italy)

Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic (San Jose)
14 August Citi Open (Washington)
22 August Western & Southern Open, (New York)
31 August US Open (New York)
8 September Generali Open (Kitzbuhel) Istanbul Open
13 September Mutua Madrid Open
20 September Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Rome)
Internationaux de Strasbourg
27 September Roland Garros (Paris)

 

While the ATP have stopped short of confirming the indoor European and Asian swing, the WTA look to be committed to the Asian swing, with dates and draws to be decided.

For both tournaments, the dates are conditional on several key factors, including medical guidance, travel policies.

It is anticipated that tournaments will be held without fans, and a limited amount of staff on site.

WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said, in a press release: “Having assessed the global outlook for travel in the latter half of the year, working with our medical experts on providing the safest environment possible, and working through the diverse operational challenges for running events safely in the context of COVID-19, the WTA is pleased to release a calendar for the remainder of the 2020 season.

“For now, the vital energy of spectators in stadiums will be greatly missed, but our broadcast and social media partners are exploring new ways to engage with our fantastic fans. It is our sincere hope and desire that we will be able to return to play this summer.”

 

US Open: Cut down tournament gains Serena Williams’ support, but draws criticism from others

Serena Williams gave the tournament a huge boost with her commitment

 

However, there has been a lot of criticism from players, who would have expected to be able to play in a Slam.

 

Roland Garros: Extends to three weeks to include qualifying

Rain at Roland Garros 2019, France
Rain at Roland Garros 2019, France | (CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images)

The French Open will run as a far fuller format than the US Open, and has been extended to include Qualifying rounds, and will include all other formats.

The organisation worked this time with the other stakeholders to agree a way forward for the postponed event after the entire clay court season was sidelined by the global coronavirus pandemic.

In a press release, they announced:

Following discussions with the international tennis authorities – the ATP, WTA and ITF – the French Tennis Federation is delighted to announce that this year’s Roland-Garros tournament will be played over three weeks, from 21st September to 11th October 2020, providing the conditions relating to the COVID-19 health crisis allow it to go ahead. The Parisian Grand Slam has been granted an extra week of competition, which means the qualifying tournament can be played from 21st September.

After the decision to postpone the Roland-Garros tournament to 20th September – 4th October and the ensuing discussions with the international tennis authorities, the new international schedule drawn up by the ATP, WTA and ITF has granted the Roland-Garros tournament an extra week of competition. This way, the qualifying rounds will be played from Monday 21st to Friday 25th September and will be followed by the main draw from Sunday 27th September to 11th October.

In a bid to act responsibly, the FFT is now working with the French government to prepare for the tournament and set out suitable measures that will ensure the health and safety of all people present. All options will be considered and are susceptible to change.

“We are delighted that our discussions with the various international tennis authorities have allowed us to extend the 2020 edition of the Roland-Garros tournament to three weeks. In the current, difficult climate, we are well aware that it is a privilege to be able to hold Roland-Garros in its usual format. Especially since the qualifying tournament will help to financially support a category of professional players who have been severely affected by this unprecedented crisis. The responsible decision we made on 17th March to postpone the Roland-Garros tournament – the climax of the clay season – until the autumn means that the 2020 clay season can be saved, providing the current situation continues to improve. The Roland-Garros tournament is thus fulfilling its historic role as the clay-court world championships. The tournament in autumn 2020 will be a new chapter in Roland-Garros’ ongoing history,” explained Bernard Giudicelli, President of the FFT.

 

Tennis has already returned domestically in a number of countries, but many will accept the new normal of no fans, just to see the sport return in as full a format as possible.

The WTA will kick-start the resumption of the professional tour on 3 August

 

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