Rafael Nadal has reacted as Indian Wells tennis tournament is cancelled over coronavirus fears.
He posted on Twitter:
You probably all heard the news. Indian Wells cancelled.
We are here and still deciding what’s next. So sad for all that is happening around the world with this situation.
Hopefully soon solutions from the authorities. Stay all well and safe.
‘We are very disappointed that the tournament will not take place, but the health and safety of the local community, fans, players, volunteers, sponsors, employees, vendors, and everyone involved with the event is of paramount importance,’ said tournament director Tommy Haas.
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!:) TRUSTING YOUR INNER DISCIPLINE AND HIGH DEDICATION TO YOUR FITNESS AND MAGICAL TENNIS, WE KNOW YOU WILL BE MORE THAN READY FOR ALL FUTURE TOURNAMENTS!!!!:):):):):):) NO MATTER WHEN OR WHERE THE NEXT TOURNAMENT WILL TAKE PLACE, OR ON WHICHEVER COURT SURFACE, YOU WILL BE EAGERLY WAITING TO HIT YOUR GENIUS FH….BH….PRECIOUS EFFECTIVE SERVE AND YOUR PASSIONATE SPEEDY COURT COVERAGE!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON EFFORT AND YOU ARE THE ONE AND ONLY GOAT AND TOP TOP TOP HARD WORKING GENIUS!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND ENJOY EACH WORK OUT….EACH PRECIOUS PRACTICE…… YOU HAVE THAT BRILLIANT STEP BY STEP PREPARATION FORCE AND DRIVE IN YOU, CI……CI…..CI…….AND WI………WI……WI……..ALWAYS READILY AVAILABLE FOR YOU FOR YOUR TOP LEVEL PLAY!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO ENJOY EVERYTHING!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU AND SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!:) :):):):):):)XOXOXO
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!:) TRUSTING YOUR INNER DISCIPLINE AND HIGH DEDICATION TO YOUR FITNESS AND MAGICAL TENNIS, WE KNOW YOU WILL BE MORE THAN READY FOR ALL FUTURE TOURNAMENTS!!!!:) NO MATTER WHEN OR WHERE THE NEXT TOURNAMENT WILL TAKE PLACE, OR ON WHICHEVER COURT SURFACE, YOU WILL BE EAGERLY WAITING TO HIT YOUR GENIUS FH….BH….PRECIOUS EFFECTIVE SERVE AND YOUR PASSIONATE SPEEDY COURT COVERAGE!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON EFFORT AND YOU ARE THE ONE AND ONLY GOAT AND TOP TOP TOP HARD WORKING GENIUS!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND ENJOY EACH WORK OUT….EACH PRECIOUS PRACTICE…… YOU HAVE THAT BRILLIANT STEP BY STEP PREPARATION FORCE AND DRIVE IN YOU, CI……CI…..CI…….AND WI………WI……WI……..ALWAYS READILY AVAILABLE FOR YOU FOR YOUR TOP LEVEL PLAY!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO ENJOY EVERYTHING!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU AND SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!:)
I just received the following email from the ATP Tour.
ATP AND WTA EXTEND SUSPENSION OF TOURS
After careful consideration, and due to the continuing outbreak of COVID-19, all ATP and WTA tournaments tin the Spring clay-court swing will not be held as scheduled. This includes the combined ATP/WTA tournaments in Madrid and Rome, along with the WTA events in Strasbourg and Rabat and ATP events in Munich, Estoril, Geneva and Lyon.
The professional tennis season is now suspended through 7 June 2020, including the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour. At this time, tournaments taking place from 8 June 2020 onwards are still planning to go ahead as per the published schedule.
In parallel, the FedEx ATP Rankings and WTA Rankings will be frozen throughout this period and until further notice.
The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to professional tennis demand greater collaboration than ever from everyone in the tennis community in order for the sport to move forward collectively in the best interest of players, tournaments and fans.
We are assessing all options related to preserving and maximising the tennis calendar based on various return dates for the Tours, which remains an unknown at this time. We are committed to working through these matters with our player and tournament members, and the other governing bodies, in the weeks and months ahead.
Now is not a time to act unilaterally, but in unison. All decisions related to the impact of the coronavirus require appropriate consultation and review with the stakeholders in the game, a view that is shared by ATP, WTA, ITF, AELTC, Tennis Australia, and USTA.
Thanks Margo. That’s a clear and fair statement. All parties working in collaboration is key.
USTA released a statement yesterday saying…
“These are unprecedented times, and we are assessing all our options, including the possibility of moving the tournament to a later date….
At a time when the world is coming together, we recognize that such a decision should not be made unilaterally and therefore the USTA would only do so in full consultation with the other Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP , the ITF and our partners including the Laver Cup.”
Sounds like they’re throwing some shade at the FO … and rightly so…
Mac…. So sorry for your loss….
Ugh! Everything is getting postponed! I lost my dad a month ago his funeral may be postponed as well:) Damn this corona virus.
I think the FO took one for the (grand slams) team and tested the waters just to see the reaction. Result? Not good! Lets hope the world gets back to normal soon enough.
This year may just end up being an asterisk* year, with some tournaments not taking place.
Hoping Rafa does not get too comfortable with the home life… or else delayed or canceled tournaments would be the least of our problems:):)
Finally… (Impersonating Snake Island) I’m predicting a Rafa Nadal Jr around this time next year;););) But as always…
Very sorry for your loss Mac.
There are unconfirmed reports that Roland Garros director Guy Forget called Rafa to discuss the change prior to announcing it. Wondering if Rafa will be stating his opinion publicly on this proposal as he would be the most impacted by it of any player.
We would all be very delighted to see a little Rafa or Maria soon so hoping your crystal ball is working.
Hi Mac. My condolences for the loss of your dad. Good to hear from you on this site, but sorry it had to be under such sad and challenging circumstances.
Apparently the FFT had made a unilateral decision to move the FO to September without proper consultation with stakeholders in the game. The new date clashes with The Laver Cup and will put many top players in an awkward position, having to choose. In addition there are many minor tournaments taking place in September, on both the men’s an women’s side, which can not be moved. Urgent talks are scheduled for this morning between the FFT, ATP and WTA.
With global sport in limbo and no guarantee that the slam will go ahead anyway, the FFT attempts to shoehorn the FO has not gone down well. Let’s see what transpires from the talks.
Thanks Lorna. Only now had a chance to check my inbox and so I posted the email I received from the ATP Tour to share it here.
Your comment about the FFT resolved my question about the last paragraph, a strong reproach, from the ATP Tour email. I had no idea the FFT was doing things “unilaterally.” WOW is all I can say.
Japan’s Prime Minister Abe insists the games will be played as scheduled, perhaps with fewer participants. Have you learned anything about yesterday and today’s IOC teleconference calls?
No. I haven’t seen anything yet about the outcome of the IOC discussions.
Marleena, thanks for the update on the ticket situation regarding the US Open. I certainly hope that the situation improves by then and you will be able to go.
RR, we are merely exchanging information here. I don’t think anyone is getting their knickers in a knot. Obviously the revised date for the FO isn’t written in stone, as it’s totally dependant on how well the pandemic is brought under control.
For sure, with all that’s going on in the world, tennis isn’t the priority, but it’s good to be positive and live in the hope that those tournaments will be able to go ahead in six months’ time.
Margo, in terms of practice and being tournament ready, with the clay season being cancelled in effect, I suppose it will affect players differently depending on the country and restrictions imposed. Looking at curfews and the closure of facilities, I wouldn’t have thought that there would be many players with clay courts within the grounds of their home and if they do, then evidently they would have the advantage. Who knows?
What do you think?
Lorna,
I had just read the tweet from our Canadian player Vasek Pospisil when I commented. He is quite livid over the news. He and some others would do well to put this in perspective in light of the overall world situation.
Agree with you that thinking about tennis and dreaming of it returning is a pleasant distraction. It’s wonderful to have this forum to be able to comment on it.
Japan’s Prime Minister Abe said the games will go on as planned. The IOC held a teleconference today will follow-up with another conference to be held tomorrow, Wednesday. I am waiting to see if anything changes after these two conferences. I would think COVID-19 has a say in this but I am praying it is gone before June. Unrealistic, I know.
Hi Margo,
It definitely is hard to imagine the Games going forward at this moment. I read that Rafa was not even certain of his participation even before the virus hit. Haven’t verified it though. Were you aware of this?
Regarding your previous inquiry: Whenever the tour resumes all the players will be rusty. Rafa is hoping to train at his academy after this current 15 day lockdown but Spain is considering extending it. Players always say that practice never really simulates match play. Certainly hope there will be one or two warm up tourneys before any GS.
BTW stay safe in NYC as I know you have been hard hit there as we have been here in the province of Ontario.
This goes for everyone everywhere as well.
September seems to be the month that many sporting events are considering for rescheduling purposes as we all hope by then we are in the clear… The Masters Golf has been talking up September as a possible month but nothing is confirmed yet…and the Kentucky Derby in the US has been rescheduled for September 5th. And now the French Open is rescheduled September 20 – October 4.
As a season ticket holder at the US Open I received an email from the USTA a few days ago….
” Currently, we are not implementing any changes to the 2020 US Open, and planning for the event is ongoing. Fortunately, we have many months between now and the first day of the main draw on Monday, August 31. We recognize however, that this is a very fluid situation, and therefore are continually monitoring the situation through regular briefings with government, security and medical experts. The USTA’s top priority is the health, safety, and well-being of our everyone involved with the US Open including all our fans and ticketholders, our staff and, of course, the players. ”
They then went on to address refunds or credits if a cancellation was necessary… with a message of
keeping us updated as time goes on….
This situation is scary … never thought I’d experience this in my lifetime…
Tennis is a love we all share…
Stay safe everyone…. wishing you all good health….
The French Open has been rescheduled to start on 20th September, ending 4th Ocober – just one week after the US Open. Not much time to practice on clay, but players will have to try and adjust given the circumstances.
No one should be getting their knickers in a knot over this announcement. This date for the F.O. is far from certain. Who knows what will happen between now and then? It is not at the top of the list of priorities at the present time.
All that the players can do is keep up with their physical fitness as Rafa stated he is doing at home as per the Marca article from yesterday.
RR and Lorna, I was disheartened to learn that many players, depending on where they live, won’t be able to practice due to lockdowns, curfews, and orders to stay home unless they have an emergency or to food shop.
I am wondering who, among all players, will be tournament ready whether or not they practiced during the COVID-19 restrictions.
Thoughts?
Hi everyone,
Recall that I had long that Rafa’s quest for an unprecedented 13th FO may not altogether be easy. Notice my choice and strategic combination of words.
I had to rein-in and restrain myself from saying it might just not altogether be possible. Why?
Because the 13th is a riddle, a mystery, a puzzle, oddity….now for the 1st time ever, the FO & Nadal”s quest for a 13th triumph has been postponed!!! But what does this forebodes, uh?
But, as always, we shall see, we shall see….cheer y’ all.
Just heard the news that The French Open has been pistponed until September. It was almost inevitable that it would happen as previously scheduled, but hey, at least it isn’t cancelled completely. No doubt there will have to be some juggling of the tournament timetable and the US Open may well be moved too in order to accommodate both grand slams.
Of corse, this isn’t ideal for Rafa, but in the big scheme of things i guess, like us and other players, he’ll be thankful for whatever tennis he can get.
Hi guys. Life without tennis sucks. I’m having to resort to looking at throwback articles and videos. Can’t wait for normal service to be resumed. The players must be climbing the walls right now, not knowing when they can shift into action. Meanwhile, I wish the very best for all communities around the world suffering the effects of this current crisis. We will kick it!
The players are getting a bit of a taste of what their retirement years might be like without any tournaments to go to. Albeit with many more restrictions on their movements.
In Spain visits to family and friends are prohibited. This must be extremely difficult for Rafa to adhere to as they are his lifeblood. Not sure if it can be well enforced but social distancing has proven to be effective in other countries.
One of our sports networks here is showing classic tennis matches. Coming up will be Bianca vs Serena from last year’s usopen. Would love to rewatch the men’s final with Rafa/Medvedev. Or if a
they’re featuring Canadians hoping to see Rafa vs. any of Felix, Denis or Milos.
Hang in there everyone.