As the USTA announced plans for the upcoming US Open, the men’s and women’s tours have released schedules for the remainder of the 2020 season. Both organizations released provisional calendars on Wednesday, incorporating the US Open, the relocated Western & Southern Open in New York, the rescheduled French Open, and a host of other events across the globe.
“Having assessed the global outlook for travel in the latter half of the year, working with our medical experts on providing the safest environment possible, and working through the diverse operational challenges for running events safely in the context of COVID-19, the WTA is pleased to release a calendar for the remainder of the 2020 season,” said WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon at WTATennis.com.
The women’s tour will resume in Palermo in early August, with the possibility of a second stop ahead of the tour’s arrival in New York. On August 21, the Western & Southern Open – previously hosted in Cincinnati – will be relocated to New York as a lead-in to the US Open. The year’s second Grand Slam (Wimbledon was cancelled in the midst of the worldwide pandemic), the US Open will begin its two week stint on August 31.
Amidst talk of players opting not to participate, 23-time major champion Serena Williams has announced her intention to play the US Open. She is one Slam title away from tying the all-time leader, Margaret Court.
A brief European leg will follow ahead of the French, before the tour navigates through Asia in October and November.
On the men’s side, the tour returns August 14 in Washington DC for the Citi Open, and continues with the two New York events. The ATP will shift to Europe after Flushing Meadows, with three tune-ups ahead of the French Open. The tour has not yet revealed any events following the French, which begins play on September 27.
“Our objective has been to reschedule as many tournaments as possible and salvage as much of the season as we can,” said Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, at ATPTour.com. “It has been a truly collaborative effort and we hope to add more events to the calendar as the situation evolves. I would like to recognize our tournaments’ efforts to operate during these challenging times, as well as our players who will be competing under different conditions. At every turn, ensuring that the resumption of the Tour takes place in a safe environment will be paramount.”
WTA Schedule
Palermo (August 3-9), San Jose (tent., August 3-9), New York (August 21-28), US Open (August 31 – September 12), Istanbul (September 8-13), Madrid (September 14-20), Strasbourg (September 20-26), Rome (September 20-26), French Open (September 27 – October 10), Taipei (October 5-11), Seoul (October 6-11), Beijing (October 12-18), Wuhan (October 19-25), Nanchang (October 19-25), Zhengzhou (October 26 – November 1), Moscow (November 2-7), Tokyo (November 2-7), Shenzhen (October 8-15), Zhuhai (November 17-22), Guangzhou (November 23-29).
ATP Schedule
Washington (August 14-21), New York (August 22-28), US Open (August 31-September 12), Kitzbuhel (September 8-13), Madrid (September 13-20), Rome (September 20-27), French Open (September 27- October 11). The Tour will announce the remaining schedule in mid-July.
Learn more at ATPTour.com and WTATennis.com.
PC: Darren Carroll/USTA