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Thursday, 19 March 2020 16:35

French Open date change over pandemic rocks tennis

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The global tennis calendar has been thrown into further chaos after the decision by French Open organisers to postpone the Grand Slam, with players and rival tournaments critical of the apparently unilateral move.  As quoted by AFP.com (19/3), the event at Roland Garros, traditionally the second major of the season, was on Tuesday moved from a May 24 start date to September 20, meaning it would start just one week after the US Open, if that event remains in its original slot. Organisers said strict confinement measures imposed by the French government to tackle COVID-19 had made it impossible to continue with preparations. French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli said his side   has made a difficult yet brave decision in this unprecedented situation, which has evolved greatly since last weekend. Organisers of the Grand Slam in New York acknowledged it might need to be moved but, in a scarcely veiled dig at the French Open organisers, said they would not go it alone//AFP

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