WTA rebuilds calendar - premiere of the tournament in Cologne postponed
Everything was actually ready for the first international premium tennis event for women in Cologne. However, due to the still incalculable corona infection situation, the organizers are forced to postpone the start of the COLOGNE OPEN planned for May 2021 to the coming year. The cancellation is part of a revised WTA tournament schedule.
by PM / red
last edit: Apr 16, 2021, 03:01 pm
Exciting rallies and world-class players in Cologne: this dream of many tennis fans will not come true this year due to the ongoing corona pandemic. 30 days before the planned start of the COLOGNE OPEN on May 15, the organizers postponed the premiere of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournament to 2022 in close consultation with the health authorities and the WTA.
An easing of the pandemic situation is not in sight; as a result of the new corona mutations, new waves of infection are even possible. In Germany there is a de facto ban on events and the international travel restrictions that continue to apply make it currently impossible to hold a large live sports event characterized by top international players.
Unclear infection situation leaves no other choice
"For these reasons, we decided with a heavy heart to postpone the long-awaited premiere of the COLOGNE OPEN to 2022 - out of responsibility towards the athletes, the spectators, our partners and of course towards the citizens of Cologne," explains tournament director Oliver Mueller. “We worked intensively and with passion for this event and were very confident for a long time. But the unclear infection situation leaves us no other choice. Out of our social responsibility, a 'Lex COLOGNE OPEN', which contrary to applicable guidelines and restrictions provides for exceptions for professional athletes, is out of the question. "
“A scaled-down 'alibi tournament' that does not meet the high quality standards is not an option,” says Mueller. "Cologne's 'tennis maintainment' without the enthusiasm of the great Cologne audience - that doesn't work at all."
Steve Simon, WTA Chairman & CEO: "Although it is regrettable that the first edition of the COLOGNE OPEN has been postponed, we support the decision as the health and safety of our players, the tournament staff and the WTA community are of the utmost importance", explains Steve Simon. "We recognize the effort and value the tournament went into making this event happen and we look forward to playing in Cologne in 2022."
Timetable up to the US Open fixed
In addition to the tournament in Cologne, the lawn event in 's-Hertogenbosch was also canceled. It is also unclear whether the event in Nottingham can go ahead as planned.
What is now fixed, however, is that the tournament in Strasbourg will be postponed by a week and will take place immediately before the French Open. In the week before the event in France, there will also be games in Belgrade. The WTA 250 event takes the place of the event in Anning, China, which was scheduled to take place from April 12th to 18th.
The schedule from Wimbledon to the US Open has also already been set for the women. Budapest will replace Bucharest as the venue from July 12th, and Prague will also be playing at the same time. The tournament in the Czech capital would originally have taken place on clay in May, but changed not only the date but also the surface (hard court).
The event in Washington had to change not only the surface, but also the venue. Instead of the hard court tournament, it will be played on clay from July 19 in Gdynia, Poland. Otherwise everything stayed the same until the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, only from August 23rd an additional WTA 250 event will take place in Cleveland.