12 March 2020

Fed Cup finals postponed as WTA & ATP tours could face shut down until May

The WTA & ATP Tours could be shut down until May after professional tennis players have shared their concern over the coronavirus.

If the decision becomes official then no tennis will be played on either the male or female tours before the Madrid Open which is set to begin in early May. 

The Fed Cup finals and play-off ties in Budapest next month have been postponed with the new dates set to be announced in due course. 

ITF President David Haggerty said the decision has not been 'made lightly' and that the current situation goes 'beyond sport'.

It joins the Indian Wells tournament which was cancelled last minute on Sunday due to the coronavirus. 

And following meetings of the ATP and WTA player councils in Indian Wells, it became known that several professional players were unhappy playing through the outbreak, which has now been confirmed by the World Health Organisation as a pandemic.

US player Nicole Gibbs wrote on social media: "This is low key a big deal. As soon as the athletes start contracting it, takes playing without fans out as a 'safe option'.

"Just gonna say it: @wta needs to step up and suspend season NOW."

WTA tournaments which could be cancelled include The Volvo Car Open in Charleston, USA and The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. 

And ATP events in Monte Carlo and Barcelona could also be affected. 

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