The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has made the decision to move the 2020 edition of the French Open from its usual slot in May to instead begin on 20th September. This means that the scheduled end date of the clay-court Grand Slam won’t be until the 4th October.
⚠️The Roland-Garros tournament will be played from 20th September to 4th October 2020.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/eZhnSfAiQA
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) March 17, 2020
“Impossible for us to continue with the dates originally planned”
The FFT believe that because there is very little way of knowing what the situation will be on 18th May, when the tournament was originally scheduled, they have take this early action to move the event further back in the calendar. Also, many of the usual preparations that would currently be underway for Roland-Garros cannot be done under current restrictions, rendering a start date in May impossible to achieve.
Bernard Giudicelli, President of the FFT explains:
“We have made a difficult yet brave decision in this UNPRECENTED situation, which has evolved greatly since last weekend. We are acting responsibly, and must work together in the fight to ensure everybody’s health and safety.”
The current confinement measures have made it impossible for us to continue with the dates originally planned. More informations : https://t.co/PEITQaR6j5#RolandGarros
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) March 17, 2020
Tickets purchased can be refunded or exchanged
Fans who had bought tickets for the event in May will be given the option to be refunded or to exchange their tickets for new ones when the schedule is finalised.
What now for Wimbledon and the US Open?
There has of yet been no clarification from either of the other Grand Slam tournaments yet to be held, Wimbledon and the US Open, as to any changes they may make to their events. Wimbledon is currently scheduled to take place on the 29th of June, but with restrictions on public events tightening by the day in the U.K., speculation will increase on the viability of that starting date.
The US Open is pencilled in for August 31st, which would, therefore, conclude on the 13th September. With the French Open main draw now scheduled for 20th September if the US Open was to hold its ground on those dates there would be back-to-back Grand Slams across different continents and vastly different surfaces.
These truly are unprecedented times for the sport. There are many unanswered questions from the statement of the FFT on Roland-Garros. What will happen to the sport going forward? No one knows, and we’re all anxiously waiting to find out.
