This year's Madrid Open is the latest tournament to fall by the wayside as the ATP/WTA restart gets underway this month with the Coronavirus pandemic the reason why it has been cancelled.
A tournament which is important to the calendar due to its ATP Masters 1000 and WTA Premier status was in doubt
late last week; with the government advising it not to be held.
Now in a statement from the organisers they have said that due to the recommendation and the spike in cases of COVID-19 restricting Madrid itself; they had no option but to cancel the tournament which will now return to its traditional slot of May next year; after it was moved due to the initial outbreak of Coronavirus.
“We have given our all to stage the tournament”, said Feliciano López, the director of the Mutua Madrid Open.
“After the first cancellation in May, we got to work on the September date with the hope of being able to enjoy first-class tennis in the Caja Mágica during this year; which has been so hard for everyone.
However, the continued instability is still too great to hold a tournament like this in complete safety. Once again, we would like to thank the Madrid City Council; and all of our sponsors and suppliers for being by our side during every step we have taken”.
As a result of this cancellation, there will be no top tennis in Madrid this year; with the Davis Cup Finals also cancelled. The WTA now have also lost all four Premier Mandatory events this year.
They have made a
joint statement since the announcement saying they are assessing updates to the calendar following the US Open; an update will be issued in due course.
https://twitter.com/MutuaMadridOpen/status/1290663823876251654?s=20