The French Open was on Thursday delayed by per week to Could 30-June 13 within the hope that heightened Covid-19 restrictions in France could have eased by then to permit the utmost variety of followers to attend the occasion. The French tennis federation (FFT) mentioned the choice had been made within the wake of French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement final month that “a schedule to progressively get cultural and sporting occasions again up and working could be arrange from mid-Could onwards, topic to the advance of the well being scenario”.
FFT president Gilles Moretton mentioned the week’s delay “will give the well being scenario extra time to enhance and may optimise our probabilities of welcoming spectators at Roland-Garros”.
“For the followers, the gamers and the ambiance, the presence of spectators is important for our event, the spring’s most vital worldwide sporting occasion,” Moretton added.
The qualifying rounds will now be held on Could 24-28, adopted by the primary draw from Could 30 to June 13.
Wimbledon, the subsequent Grand Slam event after the French Open, mentioned in an announcement that the choice had no impression on its deliberate begin date of June 28.
Ugo Valensi, government director of the Grand Slam Board, added: “These stay extraordinarily difficult instances for communities around the globe, and, whereas there’s optimism for the long run, it’s clear that this pandemic may be very a lot nonetheless with us.
“The Grand Slams symbolize essentially the most important spotlights for our sport and so we are going to do all the things attainable to make sure they are often staged efficiently.
“Additional to session, the choice by the FFT to postpone Roland-Garros by per week with a view to improve the chance of the event going down efficiently is subsequently absolutely supported by the Grand Slam Board.”
The FFT’s resolution was additionally given the inexperienced gentle by the ATP and WTA, governing our bodies of women and men’s skilled tennis respectively.
Promoted
“Tennis has required an agile strategy to the calendar over the previous 12 months with a view to handle the challenges of the pandemic, and this continues to be the case,” learn a joint ATP/WTA assertion.
“Each the WTA and @atptour are supportive of the choice and are working in session with all events impacted by the postponement to optimize the calendar for gamers, tournaments and followers, within the lead as much as and following Roland-Garros.”
