A fall French Open? That will be a new reality if the coronavirus allows for tennis to be played in the second half of 2020.
The French Tennis Federation announced on Tuesday that because of the coronavirus crisis that has shut down the sports world and just about all other aspects of life around the world, the French Open will be held from Sept. 20 to Oct. 4. It had, as always, previously been scheduled for late May and early June.
“The whole world is affected by the public health crisis connected with COVID-19,” the FFT press department stated. “In order to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in organizing the tournament, the French Tennis Federation has made the decision to hold the 2020 edition of Roland Garros from 20th September to 4th October 2020.
“Though nobody is able to predict what the situation will be on 18th May, the current confinement measures have made it impossible for us to continue with our preparations and, as a result, we are unable to hold the tournament on the dates originally planned.
“In order to act responsibly and protect the health of its employees, service providers and suppliers during the organization period, the FFT has chosen the only option that will allow them to maintain the 2020 edition of the tournament while joining the fight against COVID-19. At this important period in its history, and since the progress of the stadium modernization means the tournament can be held at this time, the FFT was keen to maintain the 2020 tournament.
“This decision was made in the interest of both the community of professional tennis players, whose 2020 season has already been compromised, and of the many fans of tennis and Roland Garros.”
Events across the ATP and WTA Tours that are still scheduled to take place during the new French Open dates are St. Petersburg, Metz, Chengdu, Zhuhai, Sofia, Guangzhou, Seoul, Tokyo, Wuhan, Tashkent, and the Laver Cup.
WOW
It’s mad, mad, mad, mad world.
I’ll take it!…no prob!…As long as there will be FO this year!
Just hope Rafa will be healthy & still have the energy to fight for it at that time!…
#13thispossible!!
But…but…but…is it ideal for Rafa’s game?I mean,it’s in the fall where temperature will be a bit cold i think??Can’t it effect Rafa’s topspin with cold weather & stuff?
What do u guys think?
Hon, with the way things are going I’m pretty sure the last thing on Rafa’s mind is how his tennis will be affected by moving RG to September. But I’m also pretty sure he’d rather play RG 2020 in September than not at all.
Hehe…yeah Ramara!…u,of coz r very right!👍
Horrible play time for rafa..no sun that time…there goes a spanner in rafas quest for 20th
Sanju AT 1:49 PM,
Historically, September/October is drier than May/June in France:
https://i.ibb.co/ctMs2mM/Capture.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/9gdGy2q/Untitled.png
Oh ok good then Augusta..just that back to back slams (:-
Wimbledon 2.5 h ago: “The AELTC is continuing to monitor and respond to the coronavirus situation, working closely with the government and relevant health authorities.
While we continue to plan for The Championships at this time, it remains a continuously evolving situation.”
https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/1239969198043852801
Well its not like he’s never won the French. Why are you panicking? Testing conditions shouldn’t be a problem for any great player on their best surface.
post at 6.31 was to Sanju
Yeah Id be surprised if Wimby goes ahead.Iv eresigned myself to no tennis this year.
What makes us sure wimby won’t be postponed ?
Sanju AT 1:50 PM,
I’m sure Wimby won’t be played in June&July, because the British government’s strategy is to shift the peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK into summer months:
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/13/21/25949506-8110619-image-a-75_1584133813662.jpg
Wonder what effect this will have on the USO which is in September, Olympics, world cup etc ….
USTA Statement on US Open schedule:
https://twitter.com/usopen/status/1240046495367401472
I Think the Olympics will be called off, likewise the Euro football, i think your talking 3 GS been crammed together in such a short space of time , unless they finish the season later, which will leave not much time btween the end of the season , and then the AO next year, talk about a knock on effect ….
Reportedly, RG tournament director Guy Forget called Rafa before the announcement.
Rafa obviously liked the idea of postponing the tournament to autumn. 🙂
https://twitter.com/scambers73/status/1240026242356850693
Everyone stay healthy, stay safe, and stay home if you possibly can. We’ll have tennis back soon.
https://youtu.be/wMYbd2ZhhjE a song ….
I really doubt that Rg will happen at all this year, ditto wimby..
Are they really going to play in front of huge crowds?It seems astonishingly unlikely.If they are going to play them then they can only do it without spectators..
Actually tennis is lucky compared to other sports as there is zero physical contact between players. But the idea of large crowds convening this year is utterly absurd.
What is happening about the rankings system? It obviously isn’t fair to deduct points if the event doesn’t happen..
There’s talk about freezing the rankings until play resumes, but I don’t think anything has been decided.
they are frozen
deep freeze
I really really hope that the older posters here are ok. Nny I am very worried about you and would love to know you are alright…💜💜
ATP Tour 15 min ago:
“Due to the continuing outbreak of COVID-19, all ATP and WTA tournaments in the Spring clay-court swing will NOT be held as scheduled.”
“The FedEx ATP Rankings will be FROZEN throughout this period and until further notice.”
https://twitter.com/atptour/status/1240339729838718977
Amy i think one or probably two of the GS will go , the three will be all so close together , and i very much doubt the olympics will go ahead to be honest ….
it will either be zero or two. not one.
Wimbledon is out. French or US Open are now a package. Either both will happen or neither will.
Surely they can’t play in front of large crowds?
Hi Alison, hope you are well hon?
Very worried about nny who suffers from asthma…
At least there’s the chance of SOME tennis later this year…
If we see any tennis this year I’ll be amazed. Tennis is the last sport that will come online. It’s completely international, and most countries are closing their borders. This thing is going to come in waves, and it’s going to be with us for at least another year, imo. Stay safe, everyone!
Amy yeah good so far, work in a care home which is now on lockdown, only staff and doctors allowed in or out, really hope our gals Elizabeth, NNY, Andi Mira are all okay, really not expecting to see much sport of any description for the foreseeable , i never did see the USO mens final last year, so ill have a look on you tube and probably watch that, every cloud and all that lol ….
Be sure to watch the 5th set of the USO men’s final then. Really only one worth watching but it darn near killed me…
Hey Al!…hey amy!…Alhamdulillah i’m ok…i’m glad u & amy r ok too…just hope other wonder girls RC & Nny r ok as well…Miss their post too…and whats more…I MISS TENNIS & WATCHING RAFA PLAY LIKE CRAZY!!!…
As for tennis…well..honestly…i am still hoping to c tennis in the foreseeable future Al…As a Muslim,we’ve been taught about the greatness of Allah…if HE wants something to happen,it could happen in a blink of an eye…same with this pandemic,it came so suddenly,it could be gone so suddenly too..as early as tomorrow if Allah permitted…so, i really believe we will c tennis again this year…insyaallah…
God, by whatever name you call him, expects us humans to do our part. We were given brains and bodies for a reason. Coronavirus won’t “disappear in the blink of an eye” no matter how much praying you do. But if we humans take sensible precautions and work hard it will become much less of a problem in time. How much time and how much suffering depends on us.
Rafa is staying home and exercising there. He’s taken steps to insure that the kids who cannot leave his academy are properly cared for. He’s sent good wishes to everyone and has not publicly uttered ONE WORD of complaint about the effect of this on his tennis, his ranking or his slam count. Set Rafa a challenge and he “tries his best”. That’s one of the many things I love about him.