ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi: It’s Unknown When The Tour Will Resume
It’s been a crazy indoctrination for new ATP head Andrea Gaudenzi who just started the job on January 1. The former Top 20 is now at the helm of one of the biggest stoppages ever in pro tennis due to the Coronavirus, and there’s no indication of when the tour will resume and how the calendar will change once it does.
“Our ability to address any supportive measures will be best guided once we know the duration of the crisis and when the Tour will resume, which remains unknown at this time,” said Gaudenzi.
“We continue to assess all options related to preserving and maximizing the calendar based on various return dates for the Tour. It goes without saying that full cooperation with the other governing bodies is essential. We are in close discussion with all the grass-court events and they remain on the calendar as scheduled at this time,” he said. “The reality is this is a rapidly evolving situation and there is no option other than to take this day-by-day and week-by-week.”
Gaudenzi also has more than just tennis on his mind as his home country of Italy continues to fight the virus.
“On a personal level, the stories I have heard from acquaintances at home in Italy are harrowing,” he said. “The need to take this seriously, stay at home and practice responsible social distancing, is paramount and we urge everyone in the tennis community to spread this important message in the days and weeks ahead.”
All tours are in suspension at least through June 7. But the prospects of starting as scheduled on the grass look grim.
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