Paris (AFP)

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) is working on almost all the scenarios for the organization of Roland-Garros in the spring, the only ones that its new president Gilles Moretton "does not dare" to consider being the extremes: the audience gauge at 100 % and outright cancellation.

"We are studying a lot of options for Roland-Garros 2021. There is the total range ... or almost total because I dare not imagine a 100% gauge. But the gauge can start from behind closed doors to a gauge that will not be 100%. All the options with us are ready. We meet all the players regularly and we wait to see how things will turn out, "Moretton told AFP.

"For the moment, we are in the race, the tournament is on the scheduled date (May 23-June 6). But if we are told a general confinement for two months, we will necessarily have to take measures", a he recognized.

The worst being the outright cancellation, but "I dare not imagine that", added president of the FFT, elected on February 13.

"Let us remain cautious and wait. I will try to be optimistic in saying that the vaccination is progressing and that we are seeing the end of the tunnel," he added.

The French Grand Slam tournament comes a bit early compared to the evolution of the pandemic, but unlike the Australian Open at the very start of the season, where players were subjected to a harsh 14-day quarantine at the start of the season. he hotel, Roland-Garros will have been preceded by several tournaments which will have brought together the players in a geographical area closer to Paris.

"Before us, there are other tournaments like Monte-Carlo which takes place on the territory, which is done outside, after there are a few tournaments not too far away (Madrid, Rome, editor's note), so we are not not like in Australia ", he stressed, while conceding that there" would be constraints ".

The vaccine could be a solution if it is imposed by the French health authorities, but "I am not sure that we, tournaments, have the possibility of imposing something like that" in case a player demands it, even Rafael Nadal who will be looking for a 14th title at Roland Garros and a record 21st Major, noted Moretton.

© 2021 AFP