World Number one tennis player Novak Djokovic seems to be optimistic regarding the clay-court season getting underway later this year. The present situation of escalating coronavirus cases in North America might lead to the cancelation of tournaments from American hard-court Summer.
With the present scenario there, it is unsafe to hold tennis tournaments. Instead, it can be replaced by a European clay-court tour. Also, the Rogers Cup tournament in Canada has been canceled the event for the WTA track.
Novak Djokovic on tour’s schedule changes
“Officially it is July 13,” Novak Djokovic told Sky Sports Italia. “But they have already canceled the WTA tournament in Canada, but not the men’s one. We have to see how the situation in the United States will be because we should go there in August.”
By August, if conditions in Europe become feasible to carry out professional tennis matches, Serbian ace Djokovic wants the European swing to go on instead of the American events.
“If it becomes less risky, we will be able to resume. There is also the option that they will cancel all the tournaments in America. And then start with clay in the autumn, maybe come to Rome in 2-3 months. Hopefully, we can start playing again,” he continued.
At present, New York City has confirmed more than 300K coronavirus cases. The USTA has come up with the notion to shift US Open 2020 from New York to Tennis Paradise, Indian Wells, California. Also, there is a possibility of holding the American Slam in the month of November this year.
As of now, Indian Wells has not come up with any formal decision. But the USTA really wants the Slam to get underway.
BNP Paribas Open hosted in Palm Springs, Indian Wells was the first tennis tournament to be canceled in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Post that, the following events on the tour were canceled one by one, barring the French Open, which has rescheduled to take place towards the end of September 2020.
“I Have Been in a Meeting with Novak and Federer” – Rafael Nadal
World No.2 Rafael Nadal is trying to stay connected with the sport as much as possible while he is confined to his home. The Spaniard revealed that he is in constant touch with his arch-rivals, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, to think about how to bring the sport back in action.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected the tennis world unlike ever before. Consequently, there are a lot of issues to look upon during the global crisis. From how to resume the tour despite travel restrictions, to the financial crisis affecting the lower-ranked players. Hence, the ‘Big 3’ are banding together to try to resolve the problems due to the paralysis of the game.
“I try to be aware of what is happening” – Rafael Nadal
During a conversation with Spanish Basketball player Pau Gasol, Nadal revealed that he is trying to be aware of everything during the quarantine. He is also keeping in touch with his academy, where many children are quarantined without their families.
“Basically I’m going to sleep much later. There are times that I find it hard to fall asleep, this is the truth. I try to do two sessions of fixed work, because that way, among all, it takes up a little more time,” Nadal told Gasol.
“Then I try to be very aware of what is happening. For example, now we are here. I have been in a meeting before with Novak, Federer, and the ATP president talking about things. Also with my Foundation and looking for solutions. The Academy itself is a great concern because there are many people who work there and who are suffering,” he added.
Tennis is a global sport that requires a lot of travel week after week. With travel restrictions in place across the globe, tennis is still some way off from resuming. It could very well be one of the last sports to return to normalcy after the coronavirus subsides. We hope the ‘Big Three’, along with all the governing bodies of tennis and the other stakeholders of the sport unite and get through these tough times together.
