The French Open tennis event can be delayed by one week because of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers mentioned on Thursday (April 8). The clay-court Grand Slam event was set to start out on May 23, however first-round matches will now get underway on May 30.
The French tennis federation mentioned the choice was taken so as to maximize probabilities the occasion can be performed ‘in front of as many spectators as possible’ in a protected surroundings. Last yr’s event had been pushed again to September because of the well being disaster, with crowds restricted to 1,000 per day.
“In his latest speech, on 31 March, the French President announced that a schedule to progressively get cultural and sporting events back up and running would be set up from mid-May onwards, subject to the improvement of the health situation. Using this as their starting point, the FFT worked in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the relevant government services on potential scenarios for organising Roland-Garros, while taking the international sporting calendar into account,” French Open organisers mentioned in a assertion.
“In this context, it appeared that postponing the tournament by one week would be the best solution. Hence the qualifying rounds will be held from Monday 24 to Friday 28 May and will be followed by the main draw, from Sunday 30 May to Sunday 13 June,” the assertion added.
(with PTI inputs)
FFT president Gilles Moretton was additionally happy that ATP and WTA our bodies have been each on board with the choice to postpone the yr’s second Grand Slam.
“I’m delighted that the discussions with the general public authorities, the governing our bodies of worldwide tennis, our companions and broadcasters, and the continuing work with the WTA and ATP, have made it doable for us to postpone the 2021 Roland-Garros event by a week. I thank them for this.
“It will give the health situation more time to improve and should optimise our chances of welcoming spectators at Roland-Garros, into our newly-transformed stadium that now covers more than 30 acres. For the fans, the players and the atmosphere, the presence of spectators is vital for our tournament, the spring’s most important international sporting event,” introduced Gilles Moretton, President of the FFT.
