2021 French Open postponed by every week on account of Covid-19 pandemic
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Posted On April 11, 2021
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The second grand slam of the 12 months was initially scheduled to happen from Monday 17 Might to Sunday 6 June.
The final time France noticed the next variety of sufferers in ICUs was almost a 12 months in the past on April 19, 2020, throughout the first wave of the pandemic.
In a speech on 31 March, French President Emmauel Macron mentioned he hoped cultural and sporting occasions can be again up and operating from mid-Might onwards, topic to the advance of the well being scenario.
“On this context, it appeared that suspending the event by one week can be the very best answer,” the FFT mentioned in a press release
The qualifying rounds for the clay court docket occasion will now be held from Monday 24 to Friday 28 Might and can be adopted by the primary draw, from Sunday 30 Might to Sunday 13 June.
“It can give the well being scenario extra time to enhance and may optimise our possibilities of welcoming spectators at Roland-Garros into our newly-transformed stadium,” FFT President Gilles Moretton added.
“For the followers, the gamers and the environment, the presence of spectators is important for our event, the spring’s most necessary worldwide sporting occasion.”
The 2020 version of the event was postponed by 4 months because of the Covid-19 pandemic and finally befell on the finish of September in entrance of restricted crowds.
“Tennis has required an agile strategy to the calendar over the previous 12 months as a way to handle the challenges of the pandemic, and this continues to be the case,” the ATP and WTA mentioned in a joint assertion.
“The choice to delay the beginning of Roland-Garros by one week has been made within the context of not too long ago heightened COVID-19 restrictions in France, with the extra time enhancing the chance of enhanced situations and skill to welcome followers on the occasion.
“Each the ATP and WTA are working in session with all events impacted by the postponement to optimize the calendar for gamers, tournaments and followers within the lead as much as and following Roland-Garros. Additional updates can be communicated sooner or later.”
Rafael Nadal sealed his record-extending thirteenth males’s singles title in 2020, whereas Polish teenager Iga Swiatek gained her first Grand Slam title.
Based on John Hopkins College, France has now recorded 4,807,123 circumstances and 96,672 deaths.
Schams Elwazer contributed to this report.
