Milan (AFP)
ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi said on Thursday that he hoped to resume the tennis season in August as tennis rallies to try to get out of the coronavirus crisis without too much damage.
"If we manage to start again in August, we would save three Grand Slams and six Masters 1000s. Otherwise, the problems are likely to multiply," said Gaudenzi in an interview with several Italian media.
"We have created 50 versions of the calendar that we change every day," said Gaudenzi, while declaring "confident" that the summer tour in the United States "will begin with the Masters 1000 in August in Toronto and Cincinnati, then the US Open. "
ATP would also like to postpone the clay court season, with in particular the Masters 1000 in Madrid and Rome and Roland-Garros, in the fall.
"In this way, three Grand Slam tournaments and six Masters 1000 would be disputed (there are also Shanghai and Bercy) and around 70% of the season could take place," said Gaudenzi.
He also hopes to be able to maintain the dates of the London Masters at the end of the year, scheduled for November 15 to 22. "The 02 Arena is only available within the week already fixed," he warned.
But the ATP boss wants to remain cautious despite the fact that no one can predict when the coronavirus epidemic will end.
"Talking about August, September or November, all that remains hypothetical for the moment. There is no point in banging your head against the walls for something that may not ultimately happen."
The ATP boss also said that he was considering support measures if the crisis were to last.
"Our system is solid, it can last a year without tennis, but not more," he warned.
© 2020 AFP