"Ghost tournaments" work - and remain the reality in tennis
An exhibition tournament in Höhr-Grenzhausen brought tennis fans the first live games after weeks. Further events will follow in the coming weeks, including a tournament series from the DTB and tennisnet.com - with Jan-Lennard Struff and Laura Siegemund among others.
by SID / tennisnet
last edit: May 05, 2020, 10:32 am
Tiebreak in the third set, Roger Federer under pressure. The audience cheers for the Swiss superstar and his self-assured challenger Alexander Zverev. It's all about now.
Tennis fans will probably have to do without scenes like this, duels between industry giants in the world's major arenas, for even longer. After all, they are not completely denied fresh aces, returns and volleys. A small event in Höhr-Grenzhausen showed that "ghost tournaments" can work on a national level. Yannick Hanfmann, number 143 in the world’s best-placed participant, finally won Dustin Brown in the final. International tennis "will probably be the last of all sports," said Vice President Dirk Hordorff of the German Tennis Association (DTB) to SID: "We have the very great danger from the many trips."
Struff and Siegemund at the start
This is another reason why Hordorff acted and developed a series for the DTB, which will start on June 8th. With Jan-Lennard Struff (ATP-34.) And Laura Siegemund (WTA-65.) He has won prominent draft horses. Zverev, who is training in the USA, seventh in the frozen rankings, and three-time major winner Angelique Kerber will not be there.
"We don't have to worry whether Angelique Kerber or Alexander Zverev survive the current phase financially," said Hordorff: "Everyone has their own plan. The aim of the series is more to do something for the players behind it, small income opportunities and To offer game practice. "
The feedback is "incredibly positive" from the media, the players and the other partners of the DTB, which will announce the venues shortly. It will be played at several locations in Germany, the total prize money is 377,000 euros and the matches will be shown in streams. In several countries such as France or the USA, competitions without spectators are also planned. A corresponding series is also planned in Austria under the leadership of Wolfgang Thiem, Jürgen Melzer and tennisnet.com, starting here should be May 25th .
What happens to the US Open and French Open?
At the same time, those responsible for the remaining two Grand Slam tournaments will continue to examine all possible scenarios this year - apparently ghost games are not one of them. The New York Post now reported that the US Open could be held in Indian Wells instead of Queens from August 24 to September 13 to have fans with it. So far, however, it is probably only a model of thinking. The US Open itself recently announced that it would not make a decision until mid-June.
There is a clear statement from Paris. The French Open (September 20 to October 4) will not take place without spectators. This was confirmed by Minister of Sport Roxana Maracineanu.