The tennis world should’ve been visiting the glamorous principality of Monaco last week until the coronavirus pandemic intervened.
Rafael Nadal’s record-breaking twelfth title, just like all the champagne served at the Monte Carlo Country Club venue, will have to be put on ice.
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the tennis world and put much of the 2020 season into doubt.
Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since the Second World War, the French Open has been controversially moved to the autumn whilst the US Open, set for late August, could also be a doubt.
There are countless parts of the extended tennis summer season that will be missed but Platform magazine has picked out some of the biggest losses for tennis fans.
Roland Garros and it’s Shiny New Roof
As a tennis fan, flicking on ITV4 on a Sunday morning late in May always signalled the dawn of the tennis summer.
John Inverdale in a little studio overlooking the outside courts of Roland Garros just creates that buzz of excitement for two weeks of entertainment and drama on the red dirt.
The sound of the bullfight-like chant sung countless times by the passionate French fans will be sorely missed.
The French Open had finally finished building a roof for Court Phillipe-Chatrier and this may vital should the grand slam now take place in September as planned.
The Best Grass Courts in England
Not where you might think but Queen’s Club are renowned for having the best grass courts in all the land.
Call me crazy but my first childhood memory of Queen’s is rushing back from school on the Monday afternoon to see grass courts for the first time in the year – they were always almost too bright to be real.
The last warm-up before SW19 rarely disappointed – a blockbuster line-up always made for some big matches in the early rounds.
Quarantine Means No SW19
The biggest loss for most British tennis fans will of course be the postponement of Wimbledon.
The sight of the outside courts swarming with fans, the crowd hushing ahead of every point and the military-style covering of the courts when the typical summer weather inevitably arrives.
SW19 will be sorely missed for many a reason, not least being that it’s one less chance to witness Andy Murray grace the grass courts of South West London in the final years of his career.
No Time for Tokyo
Another loss for the 2020 season is the postponement of the Olympic Games; much wider hitting than just in tennis but it will be missed, nonetheless.
Now expected to take place in 2021, the Olympics is always a coveted title for the sport’s big names, especially as it only comes around every four years.
This might be the last chance that Roger Federer has at winning the single’s gold once and for all; whilst, spurred on by the home crowd, Naomi Osaka could become Japan’s first player to win gold.
US Open looking unlikely
A night session in the Arthur Ashe Stadium always produces some fiery ties, especially when the American crowd are cheering on one of their own.
Despite not being officially moved or cancelled, there are serious doubts over the US Open going ahead in late August.
Suggestions of playing the tournament without any fans have been quashed.
The Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre is currently housing a temporary hospital which casts considerable doubt over the final major of the year going ahead.
By Pete Trifunovic