U.S. Open organizers have responded to the shock choice by their counterparts on the French Open to reschedule the tennis event to September with an announcement obliquely criticizing unilateral adjustments to the Grand Slam calendar.
US Open promises consultation over changes after French Open postponement
Shocking the tennis world, French Open organizers on Tuesday postponed the claycourt event at Roland Garros from May until Sept. 20-Oct. 4 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The swap has positioned the tournament per week after the final of the U.S. Open and leads to clashes with ATP tournaments in Metz, St. Petersburg, Chengdu, Sofia, and Zhuhai in addition to WTA occasions in Guangzhou, Seoul, Tokyo, and Wuhan.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) stated that at present there have been no plans to change the schedule for the Aug. 25-Sept. 13 U.S. Open and stressed any potential adjustments could be made solely after a session with different stakeholders.
The statement read, “At a time when the world is coming collectively together, we acknowledge that such a call shouldn’t be made unilaterally. Due to this fact, the USTA would solely accomplish that in full session with the other Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP, the ITF, and our partners, including the Laver Cup.”
The Laver Cup exhibition team competition, closely promoted by Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, was presupposed to happen from Sept. 25-27 in Boston, however, will now conflict with the rescheduled French Open.
Wimbledon organizers said they were still proceeding on the basis that the grasscourt Grand Slam would start on June 29, while organizers of the Australian Open are continuing to work towards the usual January start for the 2021 edition.
The men’s ATP tour, women’s WTA Tour, and International Tennis Federation have yet to respond publicly to the move but some players have taken to social media to criticize the lack of consultation.
Slamming the decision of the French tennis federation (FFT), Canadian Vasek Pospisil, a member of the ATP’s Players Council tweeted, “My issue with RG’s decision is the process in which it was done. The tour needs to work together if it is the function properly. Now more than ever.”
The coronavirus pandemic has infected over 190,000 and killed more than 7,500 people worldwide leading to shut down of various sports events worldwide.
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