After more than five months of suspension, the ATP Tour is set to resume on August 14, 2020 with the Citi Open in Washington DC.
The ATP issued a provisional revised calendar on June 17, 2020 to map a possible return to tennis since the tour was suspended in March, starting with the Indian Wells Masters, due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Our objective has been to reschedule as many tournaments as possible and salvage as much of the season as we can,” ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said.
“It has been a truly collaborative effort and we hope to add more events to the calendar as the situation evolves. I would like to recognise our tournaments’ efforts to operate during these challenging times, as well as our players who will be competing under different conditions. At every turn, ensuring that the resumption of the Tour takes place in a safe environment will be paramount.”
Cincinnati Masters shifts to New York
The Cincinnati Masters, traditionally one of the tune-up events to the US Open, will be held at the Flushing Meadows this year to keep the players in the ‘bio-bubble’ in New York. It will begin in August 22, 2020, only a week ahead of the hard-court Grand Slam.
Even though America is the worst-hit country, and New York the epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic, the USTA has decided to go ahead with the US Open, starting August 31, 2020.
With the French Open scheduled to be the last Grand Slam of the season, the tour will immediately gear up for a clay swing. In fact, the ATP 250 event in Kitzbuhel will co-incide with the second week of US Open and top-10 singles players will not be allowed to participate in it unless they have already played and lost at the US Open.
Hitting the red dirt
The Madrid Masters (starting September 13, 2020) and Rome Masters (starting September 20, 2020) will be the two major clay-court events ahead of the French Open, scheduled for a September 27 start.
“The calendar is subject to change and continued assessments will be made relating to health & safety, international travel policies, and governmental approval of sporting events,” the ATP said in a statement. “All events will be held under strict guidelines related to health & safety, social distancing, reduced or no fans on-site.”
The ATP Challenger Tour will also resume from August 17.
