By the end of the year it is possible that the likes of Rafael Nadal and Co will be returning to competitive tennis but it may not be in the way many expect.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the sport to a standstill since March with doubts also being raised over its potential return date of July 13th. Highlighted by the recent decision to suspend the WTA Rogers Cup until 2021. Part of the venue of the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, which is set to host the US Open during the summer, has been turned into a temporary hospital to help New York cope with the virus. Meanwhile, both the ATP and WTA are looking into various scenarios which will allow them to resume the Tour again. Although neither of them have a start date.
Unlike the Premier League or the La Liga, is it a lot more complex for tennis to get going again. The prospect of holding an event featuring players all over the world has many questions. Due to different countries having their own policies to fight the pandemic, some players may have less travel restrictions than others. Furthermore, there are concerns about the risk of the virus being spread among players. Former world No.1 Amelie Mauresmo said she believes the Tour can’t resume safely until a vaccine is created.
Amid the uncertainty, national tennis federations are exploring other options. Newspaper Marca have reported that the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) is hoping to host a domestic men’s tournament that features their best players such as Nadal. The idea being that their players will be able to build up their match fitness again during the suspension. It has been reported that RFET vice-president Tomas Carbonell is planning for 8-10 tournaments to take place at clubs and academies across the country.
The plans have since been confirmed by world No.97 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. In an Instagram live chat on Monday, the 20-year-old described it as a ‘private national circuit.’ On the ATP Tour there are nine Spanish players in the top 100.
Davidovich saying that the best Spanish Players plan to organize a 'private national circuit' when it's doable and if the tour doesn't comeback. "Just to get some play"
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) April 13, 2020
In Latin America the Argentinian tennis community is also pressing ahead with a similar event. La Nacion have reported that a WhatsApp group, including both players and coaches have mentioned a national tournament as a way to support them during the pandemic. Kevin Konfederak, who is the coach of world No.35 Guido Pella, believes that event will act as a motivation.
“It is likely that in a moment here we will have the clubs open, but we will still not be able to travel. So, a local tournament can act as motivation and training. It would be good to put it together with the (Argentinian tennis) Association,’ he said.
“There will be no economic incentives for ATP, of course, but imagine how nice it is for a boy who usually plays Futures rankings, to see himself in the same box as an elite player.’
“We are going to make a document with a potential competition system and we will present it in the AAT. There is no date why not we know, but we do want to have something armed by the time we are free. Taking health precautions, with health as a priority.”
Other countries considering a similar approach include the Czech Republic. Last week, two-time grand slam champion Petra Kvitova returned to training after the Czech government reopened sports grounds to ease its COVID-19 measures.
“Frankly, it feels very weird, motivation is at zero right now, and I don’t know what to aim my training at,” Kvitova said in a recording provided by her Sparta Prague club.
“So I’m rather trying to keep my body in shape,” the world number 12 added.
The idea of putting on a domestic event is undoubtedly more straightforward due to the travelling of players. For example on Monday Spain allowed some construction workers to return back to their jobs. Something other countries have not done due to being in different stages of the pandemic. It will be months before every country is at the same level.
Although none of these events have been publicly given the green light, they do echo the same view. Which is the chances of the ATP/WTA Tours resuming in July are low.
