PARIS: Skilled tennis has been in chilly storage since March because of the coronavirus pandemic with tournaments unlikely to renew earlier than August.
AFP Sport appears at three speaking factors as the game heads into June:
Followers in or out at US Open and Roland Garros?
— In 2019, the US Open attracted a report crowd of just about 740,000 to its sprawling Billie Jean King Tennis Centre in New York.
The French Open final 12 months at Roland Garros introduced in 520,000 paying clients.
Nonetheless, the 2020 editions of the 2 remaining Grand Slam occasions on the calendar will look very completely different with the prospect of them being performed behind closed doorways an actual chance to keep away from the unfold of the coronavirus.
Roger Federer, whose 20-Grand Slam title haul contains 5 titles on the US Open and one in Paris, will not be eager on seeing rows and rows of empty seats.
“I can’t bear to see an empty stadium. I hope that won’t happen,” the Swiss star was quoted as saying by Brazilian media lately.
Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova mentioned she too has no want to play a Slam with with out spectators.
“I would like to play another Grand Slam, but if it’s like this, I’d rather cancel them,” Kvitova mentioned.
“Playing without fans who are our engine doesn’t look nice to me and the Grand Slam doesn’t deserve it.”
So far as the rescheduled Roland Garros in September and October is anxious, Jean-Francois Vilotte, the director-general of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), instructed AFP: “The aim is that there will be spectators.”
“But we will have the capacity to organise Roland Garros whatever the option decided, including behind closed doors.”
Cash issues?
— There was no prize cash to play for over one of the best a part of three months however that hasn’t stopped it being mentioned.
The ATP and WTA excursions, the Worldwide Tennis Federation and the 4 Grand Slam tournaments — the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open backed a fund value greater than $6 million to help low-ranked gamers hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
World primary Novak Djokovic had already mentioned that he, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — the game’s largest earners with over $100 million every banked in prize cash alone — have been additionally keen to assist.
Nonetheless, world quantity three Dominic Thiem was not eager on giving cash to lower-ranked gamers.
“Quite honestly I have to say that no tennis player will be fighting to survive, even those who are much lower-ranked,” mentioned the Austrian.
Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon champion, chimed in final week by suggesting a discount in doubles occasions with prize cash diverted to struggling gamers.
“You simply don’t make the identical effort (in doubles) as a singles participant. You don’t practise a lot, your routine is completely different.
“I don’t know if we have to stop doubles completely, but to get less money and give that money to qualification and others, that could be the solution.”
Are we making an exhibition of ourselves?
— There may be some tennis happening on the planet at a collection of tightly-controlled exhibition occasions.
Germany kicked it off on Could 1 with an eight-man exhibition within the tiny city of Hoehr-Grenzhausen, close to Koblenz which featured Dustin Brown, who famously defeated Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2015.
Strict guidelines over well being and security meant there have been no followers, no ball boys or women and no line judges. There was only a chair umpire.
Handshakes have been banned, gamers dealt with their very own towels and introduced their very own water and fruit to the clay courts.
Comparable occasions adopted within the US earlier than Petra Kvitova gained an all-Czech occasion in Prague final week.
“The gloves, face masks, the fact nobody handed us the towels, no handshakes, that was definitely bizarre,” mentioned Kvitova.
Different exhibitions are scheduled together with a World Crew Tennis event in West Virginia in July that includes Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens.
Andy Murray will return from his newest damage downside on June 23 in a charity event in London.
Nick Kyrgios joins Dominic Thiem at a grasscourt occasion – doubtless the one one this summer season – at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport from July 17-19.
