The lads’s Davis Cup and ladies’s Fed Cup tennis finals have each been rescheduled for subsequent yr as a result of problems posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the ITF introduced Friday. This yr’s Davis Cup finals in Madrid, the second installment of a new-look competitors, had been as a result of run November 23-29 whereas the revamped Fed Cup had been postponed indefinitely after April’s finals had been referred to as off.
“It is an enormous disappointment for all of us that the Davis Cup Finals is not going to be held in 2020,” mentioned Barcelona soccer star Gerard Pique, whose Kosmos funding group funds the competitors.
“We do not know the way the scenario will develop in every certified nation, or if restrictions in Spain will stay sufficiently eased, as such it’s not possible to foretell the scenario in November and assure the security of these travelling to Madrid.”
The rearranged finals will comprise the 18 groups which certified for the this yr’s version. It is going to as an alternative start the week beginning November 22, 2021.
“It is a robust resolution to must make, however delivering a world staff occasion on this scale whereas guaranteeing the well being and security of all concerned finally poses too nice a threat,” mentioned ITF president David Haggerty.
Spain has one of many worst affected international locations by the pandemic, struggling greater than 28,000 deaths, however began reopening its borders on the finish of final week.
The announcement capped a nasty week for tennis after world primary Novak Djokovic’s exhibition match within the Balkans led to him and different prime gamers Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki testing constructive for COVID-19.
All skilled tennis has been in chilly storage since mid-March with Wimbledon cancelled for the primary time for the reason that World Battle II and Roland Garros moved again to September and October.
The US Open goes forward as scheduled in New York from August 31, though the rash of constructive assessments at Djokovic’s occasion has raised questions in regards to the resumption of the season.
Various Davis Cup qualifiers in March had been performed behind closed doorways on the onset of the worldwide well being disaster. World Group I and II ties scheduled for September might be pushed again till subsequent yr.
The revised 12-team Fed Cup finals had been initially as a result of happen on indoor clay in Budapest from April 14-19 however had been shelved in response to the virus outbreak. They’ve been reprogrammed for April 13-18, 2021.
“As a result of ongoing challenges offered by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not been potential to reschedule the postponed Finals in 2020,” the ITF mentioned Friday.
“Along with the Laszlo Papp Area being unavailable over the latter a part of the yr, there stay important logistical and regulatory challenges that imply internet hosting an indoor mass gathering whereas guaranteeing the well being and security of all concerned is not going to be possible.”
‘Extraordinary instances’
Eight Fed Cup play-off ties to be held at varied venues world wide had been additionally placed on maintain in March. They are going to be performed subsequent February.
“Whereas it’s regrettable that the Finals won’t be able to happen this yr, we’re assured that we will host an excellent occasion in Budapest in April 2021,” mentioned Haggerty.
“In these extraordinary instances, we consider that one of the best ways ahead so as each to guard the well being and security of all concerned and to greatest respect the integrity of the competitors is to increase this yr’s Fed Cup into 2021, with the occasion returning to an annual foundation the next yr.”
The transfer to reform the Fed Cup adopted the same overhaul of the Davis Cup, with Madrid internet hosting the inaugural finals received by Rafael Nadal’s Spain in Madrid final November.
The earlier format, which noticed the eight-team World Group determined over three ties separated over the course of the season, was criticised for being too protracted and for not defending participant welfare which led many prime gamers to cease representing their international locations.
The brand new-look match will supply a complete prize pot of $18 million with $12 million going to gamers and $6 million to nationwide tennis associations.
Promoted
The finals will characteristic 4 teams of three groups, with the winners progressing to the semi-finals and ultimate. All matches will encompass two singles and one doubles.
France received final yr’s competitors after beating Australia 3-2 within the ultimate in Perth.
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