Kitzbühel, Hamburg postponed - how could it go on?
The organizers of the ATP tournaments in Kitzbühel and Hamburg are working with the ATP on new dates for their events. A race in late summer would also bring great opportunities.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 16, 2020, 07:32 am
The excitement of the unauthorized postponement of the French Open in late September is still well remembered by all observers of the tennis circus. There was talk of boycott threats, also of the possibility that if the Bois de Boulogne was actually played, no ATP points should be awarded. After all, tournaments like Metz or St. Petersburg and, yes, the Laver Cup would take place in parallel.
At least the latter has postponed itself to 2021, but the hope that Roland Garros will still play professional tennis this year is still alive. Because with the announcement of the ATP, to talk to the tournament organizers from the summer, i.e. in Kitzbühel, Hamburg and Gstaad in the German-speaking area about a later event, a late European clay court tour is announced, which could end in an extraordinarily late climax in Paris .
"We expected the decision of the ATP so, because there was no alternative. We are now focusing fully on a possible relocation. For this we have to wait for the further course of the pandemic and the next decisions of the ATP and the tennis world association ITF, especially with regard to the execution of the tournaments in North America and especially the US Open, ”said Hamburg tournament director Sandra Reichel on Friday.
Opportunities for Hamburg and Kitzbühel
The series in North America has already been shortened after the events in Newport and Atlanta have been canceled. The very sporty plan to hold the combined ATP and WTA tournament in Washington in early August is unlikely to be popular with the umbrella organizations. After that, the big tournaments in Canada, some of which have already been canceled, will open up a gap. And in the midst of the debate about solidarity funds in professional tennis, a comeback can actually only take place at all levels - for men, therefore, ATP, ATP Challenger and ITF tournaments. It is difficult to imagine at the moment that the US Open will take place on the scheduled date at the end of August, especially in New York City hit by the corona pandemic.
In any case, the current planning offers opportunities for the organizers in Kitzbühel and Hamburg. If the European tournament series comes into existence, then the professionals need game practice before the very big tasks (perhaps in Madrid and Rome). How the tableaus of the smaller events could experience an upgrade.