After the spread of the new crown virus pneumonia epidemic in Europe and the United States, the world tennis scene has stagnated, and the tour was forced to be suspended for four months. It will not be possible to recover until July 13 at the earliest. Recently, there was news that the tour is likely to be postponed again until August 3 to restart. Since the news is not from the official, it is uncertain whether it is true. In any case, the 2020 season is really too difficult!
There were media reports yesterday that Bernard Giudicelli, chairman of the French Tennis Association, accepted an interview with the French newspaper "Sunday" on the 10th, explaining related issues such as the extension of the French Open. During the interview, Giudicelli did not regret the decision of the French Tennis Association to unilaterally postpone the French Open until late September, and believed that this was a deliberate and responsible decision on the premise of safeguarding the interests of French tennis. .
Judicelli also said that if the epidemic is not fully contained by then, the French Open after the postponement may be held empty to ensure the revenue of the event broadcast. Coincidentally, Shelley, the head of the US Tennis Association, recently made the same voice as the French Open in an interview with the media, that is, US Open will also include empty games as an option to ensure that the tournament is held as scheduled.
At the beginning of the suspension of the tour, the French Open and US Open organizing committees have stated that they will not consider empty games. "A Grand Slam tournament without a live audience is unimaginable." After the tournament has been postponed repeatedly and Wimbledon and decisively canceled the game, the French Open and US Open organizers have gradually realized the seriousness of the problem, and the pressure on the competition has increased sharply. Although the epidemic in Europe and the United States has been initially contained and everything is developing for the better, there is still uncertainty about whether the game can be held as scheduled.
From the perspective of the French Tennis Association and the US Tennis Association, they will not make a cancellation decision as a last resort. As we all know, the All England Grassland Club has “foresight” and purchased epidemic insurance for Wimbledon, so after the cancellation of the event, it received US$141 million in compensation. The French Open and the U.S. Open are completely different. Since neither of them has this insurance, once the event is cancelled, the huge economic losses caused by it can only be borne by themselves.
According to reports, the revenue from the French Open is about 300 million US dollars, while the US Open’s revenue is close to 400 million US dollars. If the event cannot be held, the loss is incalculable, and it is likely to endanger the overall operation of these two Grand Slam events in the future. Against this background, the French Open and the US Open naturally refused to make the decision to cancel easily, even at empty games, so that at least the revenue from the broadcast of the event can be guaranteed without losing a mess.
According to media reports, the French Open has begun to process refunds for fans who bought tickets. In other words, even if the postponed French Open is held smoothly as scheduled, fans who want to watch the game will need to re-purchase tickets. The French Tennis Association's move also shows their determination to run the game even if it is empty. Although the French Open and the US Open coincidentally include empty games as their options, there are still many variables.
The current epidemic situation in Europe has improved slightly, while the situation in the United States is still severe. As a Grand Slam, French Open and US Open players, there are hundreds of people in the main and qualifying matches, plus the coaching team members of the players, the service staff of the tournament organizer, referees, etc., not to mention. More than 1,000 people.
These people come from different countries and regions. By then, they will need to take a variety of transportation to travel to France and the United States. When the epidemic has not been completely contained, the risk of spreading infection is still very high. Therefore, the event organizer can choose to run the game empty, but the players may not take the risk.
Prior to this, many players have expressed that they do not like the feeling of empty games, thinking that "the picture is unimaginable." If more than one-third of the participating players refuse to take a risk or are forced to retire, the empty game will become even more dull. (Source: House of tennis: Maverick)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-