The 2020 Australian Open champion and Olympic silver medallist in mixed doubles, Rajeev Ram, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, talked about the nationwide protests in the US, racism, training in lockdown, future of US Open, players' safety post resumption, ATP-WTA merger, Tokyo Olympics&nbsp;and much more.&nbsp;

Digvijay Singh Deo: Rajeev, thanks for staying up pretty late, how have these last few months been for you?

Rajeev Ram: The last few months have been tricky for me, like it has been for everyone else. The tennis season has come to a standstill. I remember being excited for the Indian Wells Open in early March but everything has gone downhill since then. I thought the shutdown would only last for a week or two, but here we are in the first week of June and hardly any action is taking place in the world of sport.

DSD: You are in Indianapolis which is where the speedway is for us sports fans, but even in your state the numbers have been pretty high in terms of COVID-19 cases.

Rajeev Ram: All over America, the situation looks very grim. There are almost 2 million COVID-19 cases in the country and more than 100,000 deaths have taken place because of the virus. Every individual, regardless of status, colour or wealth is equally susceptible to the disease.

DSD: I was speaking to John Barnes,the former Liverpool FC captain last week and he said that one of the reasons the USA and the UK have seen such high number of cases is because of people’s views on individual freedom. Do you agree with that when you compare it to India and the lockdown we have had.

Rajeev Ram: Yes, probably that is one of the reasons. This is an unprecedented crisis and it makes sense for people to not come in contact with each other because the virus is so contagious. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to contain the virus here in America. More industries are being opened up and we might see a further rise in the number of cases in the near future. One of the worst things about this pandemic is that there is so much uncertainty because of the unprecedented nature of the crisis.

DSD: The last few days has seen massive violence over the death of George Floyd. The protests have been peaceful in places and pretty violent elsewhere.

Rajeev Ram: Here in Indianapolis, some of the protests have taken a violent turn. There has been some looting and vandalism. I don't know if the situation here is as bad as we see in some of the other cities, but it certainly is an incredibly troublesome time in America. I don't know if anyone alive has seen times like these, with the coronavirus and the nationwide protests. There was a curfew imposed here the other night from 8 pm to 5 am and I don't ever remember that happening.

DSD: Rajeev, you are the son of Indian parents and also a national hero after your Olympic medal in 2016 for the US. Have you ever felt this divide that is rocking America?

Rajeev Ram: Yes, these are definitely troubling times. I am fortunate that I have never been subjected to racism in my life but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Turning a blind eye to racism just because it doesn't affect you directly is as bad as denying its existence. Racism is a real issue and we are seeing it on a regular basis. Sometimes, it takes protests like these to get to the bottom of things. I don't know if this will bring about real change, but the George Floyd killing is not a one-off incident, racism is a major issue in the country.

DSD: You would agree that this hasn’t shown up America in good light. Even sports stars from those in tennis like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to the likes of Lewis Hamilton have expressed anger at what happened...

Rajeev Ram: It hasn't shown America in the best light but I also believe that the hardest times bring out the best in people. Athletes all over the world, regardless of colour, creed or nationality have raised their voice against racism and injustice and we have gotten to see the beauty of sport. Sport transcends borders and doesn't discriminate on the basis of race, country or gender, it's a great lesson for people all over the world.

<img alt="US protest" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="413d6970-0054-4d97-ac82-df664921af64" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1SR1D7.jpg" />

DSD: There are also quite a few burning issues in your sport. You love your Golf and the PGA Tour resumes next week but as things stand no word from tennis authorities.

Rajeev Ram: Yes, I'm a huge fan of golf and I just played 24 holes today. Tennis is a global sport, tournaments take place all over the world, so the sport faces a lot of challenges at this time. Leagues like the NBA and NFL can get all the teams in one city and create a bio-secure environment for them, but that can't be done for tennis. I don't think it would be wise for our governing bodies to make commitments which they can't deliver on. I'm very interested to see what happens with golf's PGA Tour because it might provide a lot of sports, including tennis, a template to work with during the pandemic. At this point, I can't see a clear timeline for tennis to resume.

DSD: Have you been training through this period and staying in shape?

Rajeev Ram: it's been very hard over the last few months. Luckily, I have been able to find a private tennis court near my house where I have played a little bit. I have used some of the equipment I have at home to do my fitness training. However, it is tough to train without a goal in mind. I have no idea when competitive tennis will resume and I'm just trying to maintain my general fitness levels. The positive thing is that everyone is in the same boat.

DSD: This break sort of hit you at the wrong time didn’t it as it had been a pretty good start to the 2020 season with your first men’s doubles grand slam at the Australian Open.

Rajeev Ram: I'd like to look at it positively. The fact that I was able to win the grand slam before the hiatus gives me some sort of relief, this break would have troubled me even before if I had lost in the Australian Open final. I think I'll still have some momentum when action returns because of my good form earlier this year. I'm not the only one who has had to stop playing. There are certain things that are out my control, I'm just going to do the best I can when I return to the court.

DSD: The thing with restarting the tennis season is the fairness aspect. Unlike the PGA Tour which is largely American, the ATP and WTA Tours have professionals from all over the world playing and till every player is eligible to travel and compete resumption looks difficult.

Rajeev Ram: I completely agree. The global nature of our sport is what makes it so wonderful. Everyone has an equal opportunity to compete no matter where you are from. However, the global nature of the sport will also lead to massive challenges amid the pandemic.

DSD: The US Open still remains uncertain and a decision will be taken by the end of this month.lots of interesting options being thrown about including the masters 1000 event in Cincinnati being moved to New York and to have back to back tournaments. As a player how does that sound to you?

Rajeev Ram: We can't have the US open until everyone who has qualified for the event is in a position to travel to the event, until that happens we are going to be at a standstill. As far as holding the back-to-back events are concerned, the idea sounds good as long as the authorities can ensure the safety of everyone involved. I don't think it would be fair for the tournament to go ahead if players can't make it due to travel restrictions. Even if one player who has qualified cannot make it to the us open because of some travel regulations, then I believe should not go ahead. For the tournament to take place, a safe and secure environment must be created and the competition should also be fair on all tennis players.

DSD: The options sound good in theory, chartered flights to fly players in, no fans, no locker room access on practice days, centralised housing and lots of testing.that will require a lot of compromise from the players.

Rajeev Ram: Personally, I would be willing to compromise on my access to facilities or the number of guests I am allowed to take with me. However, I wouldn't be willing to sacrifice my safety or the fairness of the competition. If the competition is not fair or safe then we shouldn't go ahead with it. I realise everyone is in a different situation, some players need to travel with their children and families, so it will be a major problem for them if only one guest is permitted. I think we have to see the current situation from different points of view.

DSD: Till the time a vaccine comes out, will players feel 100% safe while competing?

Rajeev Ram: I don't see players feeling 100% safe without a vaccine because there would always be a risk of contracting the virus. The virus is so contagious and in any kind of sport, athletes are always in close contact with their peers, whether it be on the field or in the locker rooms, there is just no way around it. There is always going to be a risk without a vaccine. I don't think the US Open or any event will take place if a certain number of players feel uncomfortable or unsafe while playing.

DSD: I was speaking to Daniel Nestor and he felt that it is going to be tough physically to play best of five sets at the US Open after such a long layoff where not many have held a racket. A best of three has been mooted, same for all formats. Where do you stand on this?

Rajeev Ram: It doesn't affect me as much because I'm not a singles player any more, but if I were competing in the event, I would be fine with matches being reduced to best of three sets. There are going to be a few adjustments that all players are going to have to make and I completely agree with Daniel Nestor's point that players are not going to be conditioned to play five sets after such a long break. It's going to be tough for players to play at full capacity after this layoff.

DSD: There is also the question of goodbyes. Take the Bryan brothers - Bob and Mike - for&nbsp;instance, legends of the sport and American sporting icons. This would have been their last hurrah and for sentimental reasons, they deserve one big sendoff.

Rajeev Ram: They deserve whatever farewell they want. They are simply the greatest men's doubles pairing of all time. However this just shows you the power of the pandemic, it doesn't care about sentiments. I hope the Bryan brothers stick around and get an opportunity to play another US Open so that they are able to get a proper send-off, which they deserve. I also think this is going to be a significant chapter in the history of the sport, it might be a turning point for many of the greats.

DSD: If they manage to create this bio bubble which is being spoken about it will also be an opportunity to trial Federer's theory of merging both the men’s and women’s tours. Cincinnati plays both events simultaneously.

Rajeev Ram: This is the perfect time for the authorities to trial Federer's theory of merging the tours. It is definitely going to be a massive logistical challenge, but if there was ever a time to test the merger, then it is now.

<img alt="Rajeev Ram" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2e019219-b5b8-4598-853f-9e14362c4295" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1OM64L.jpg" />

DSD: Now through this period there have been hardships for lesser ranked players. Are you happy with the response of tennis bodies with the player fund that was created?

Rajeev Ram: This is such a strange and unique situation. There is no rule book on how to handle this crisis, that is why we see many people unsure about how to act. I certainly feel that it is important to support the young players so that they don't lose the incentive to continue with tennis. We have a responsibility to help the next generation carry the sport forward. I can't imagine the plight of a 20-year-old player whose development will be halted because of this shutdown. This might have a long-lasting effect on their careers.

DSD: Now there was a suggestion from former Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli about scrapping doubles events and boosting the prize money at challengers and lower levels. You have predominantly played doubles last few years and are world no 9 now. Is that statement uncalled for?

Rajeev Ram: She's entitled to her opinion, however i completely disagree with it. I look at it from a totally different perspective. The majority of the amateur and club players in the world play doubles and the event has been an integral part of tennis since the sport was created. The doubles discipline actually complements the singles category since it is a team event, so it adds a lot of value to the sport. If doubles events are marketed in a better fashion, then they could be as popular as the singles game. In my opinion, scrapping the doubles events would be completely wrong.

DSD: Not everyone can be a great singles player, in India, we have had some legendary doubles players from Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi to Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza. Fact&nbsp;remains that Federer's only Olympic gold came in doubles so it does require a whole lot of extra skills.

Rajeev Ram: Doubles is an integral part of all the major events in tennis - Davis Cup, Fed Cup and now the ATP Cup. Some of the biggest stars in the sport plied their trade and made their name in the doubles format. People don't realise how much they would miss doubles events if they were to be scrapped.

<img alt="Rajeev Ram" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cf801778-b6cd-45d2-9b25-2d46ae33d63e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1OM62L.jpg" />

DSD: This break actually works out in Federer's favour doesn't it and even andy Murray’s as they will probably be able to recover from their surgeries. But you can't battle father time forever, can you?

Rajeev Ram: I'm not sure if it does work out in Federer's favour. He isn't getting any younger. He's 38 now and the best chance he had to win another major was at Wimbledon, which was cancelled this year. It's difficult to say what impact it will have on his career, but he will have to make a call sooner rather than later. As for Serena, this break doesn't help her at all. I think she's ready to win every major and she will definitely look at this break as a lost opportunity. This hiatus might be able to buy Andy Murray a bit of time for his recovery, but no true competitor wants the sport disrupted like this. Murray has overcome injuries before and I'm sure he'll do it again. This period probably hurts some more than others but it affects everybody.

DSD: For you as well, how does the Olympic postponement affect you.you won with Venus Williams in Rio and I was there when you beat Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza. Venus will be 41 next year and not a sure-shot contender to make the team while you as things stand.

Rajeev Ram: It's a real shame. I was really looking forward to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, but as I said before, some things are out of our control. There is a lot of time left for the postponed Olympics in 2021, I don't know who will be on the team, but I hope I get the opportunity to play.

DSD: Lots of uncertainty over the Olympics as well, is it frustrating as players not to have a definite target ahead of you and do you see this being a trial and error process till we achieve some sort of normalcy?

Rajeev Ram: Absolutely. As I said before, there is no rule-book to follow for this crisis. Some organisations are being cautious, others are being more aggressive, but no one really has the answers. I don't think there is any guarantee of the Olympics happening next year as well. If there is no vaccine available and there is a second wave of the virus in 2021, we could be in the same situation we find ourselves in right now. It is very frustrating for us athletes to not know when we will be able to compete again.

The 2020 Australian Open champion and Olympic silver medallist in mixed doubles, Rajeev Ram, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, talked about the nationwide protests in the US, racism, training in lockdown, future of US Open, players' safety post resumption, ATP-WTA merger, Tokyo Olympics and much more.

The 2020 Australian Open champion and Olympic silver medallist in mixed doubles, Rajeev Ram, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, talked about the nationwide protests in the US, racism, training in lockdown, future of US Open, players' safety post resumption, ATP-WTA merger, Tokyo Olympics and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Rajeev, thanks for staying up pretty late, how have these last few months been for you? Rajeev Ram: The last few months have been tricky for me, like it has been for everyone else. The tennis season has come to a standstill. I remember being excited for the Indian Wells Open in early March but everything has gone downhill since then. I thought the shutdown would only last for a week or two, but here we are in the first week of June and hardly any action is taking place in the world of sport. DSD: You are in Indianapolis which is where the speedway is for us sports fans, but even in your state the numbers have been pretty high in terms of COVID-19 cases. Rajeev Ram: All over America, the situation looks very grim. There are almost 2 million COVID-19 cases in the country and more than 100,000 deaths have taken place because of the virus. Every individual, regardless of status, colour or wealth is equally susceptible to the disease. DSD: I was speaking to John Barnes,the former Liverpool FC captain last week and he said that one of the reasons the USA and the UK have seen such high number of cases is because of people’s views on individual freedom. Do you agree with that when you compare it to India and the lockdown we have had. Rajeev Ram: Yes, probably that is one of the reasons. This is an unprecedented crisis and it makes sense for people to not come in contact with each other because the virus is so contagious. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to contain the virus here in America. More industries are being opened up and we might see a further rise in the number of cases in the near future. One of the worst things about this pandemic is that there is so much uncertainty because of the unprecedented nature of the crisis. DSD: The last few days has seen massive violence over the death of George Floyd. The protests have been peaceful in places and pretty violent elsewhere. Rajeev Ram: Here in Indianapolis, some of the protests have taken a violent turn. There has been some looting and vandalism. I don't know if the situation here is as bad as we see in some of the other cities, but it certainly is an incredibly troublesome time in America. I don't know if anyone alive has seen times like these, with the coronavirus and the nationwide protests. There was a curfew imposed here the other night from 8 pm to 5 am and I don't ever remember that happening. DSD: Rajeev, you are the son of Indian parents and also a national hero after your Olympic medal in 2016 for the US. Have you ever felt this divide that is rocking America? Rajeev Ram: Yes, these are definitely troubling times. I am fortunate that I have never been subjected to racism in my life but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Turning a blind eye to racism just because it doesn't affect you directly is as bad as denying its existence. Racism is a real issue and we are seeing it on a regular basis. Sometimes, it takes protests like these to get to the bottom of things. I don't know if this will bring about real change, but the George Floyd killing is not a one-off incident, racism is a major issue in the country. DSD: You would agree that this hasn’t shown up America in good light. Even sports stars from those in tennis like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to the likes of Lewis Hamilton have expressed anger at what happened... Rajeev Ram: It hasn't shown America in the best light but I also believe that the hardest times bring out the best in people. Athletes all over the world, regardless of colour, creed or nationality have raised their voice against racism and injustice and we have gotten to see the beauty of sport. Sport transcends borders and doesn't discriminate on the basis of race, country or gender, it's a great lesson for people all over the world. DSD: There are also quite a few burning issues in your sport. You love your Golf and the PGA Tour resumes next week but as things stand no word from tennis authorities. Rajeev Ram: Yes, I'm a huge fan of golf and I just played 24 holes today. Tennis is a global sport, tournaments take place all over the world, so the sport faces a lot of challenges at this time. Leagues like the NBA and NFL can get all the teams in one city and create a bio-secure environment for them, but that can't be done for tennis. I don't think it would be wise for our governing bodies to make commitments which they can't deliver on. I'm very interested to see what happens with golf's PGA Tour because it might provide a lot of sports, including tennis, a template to work with during the pandemic. At this point, I can't see a clear timeline for tennis to resume. DSD: Have you been training through this period and staying in shape? Rajeev Ram: it's been very hard over the last few months. Luckily, I have been able to find a private tennis court near my house where I have played a little bit. I have used some of the equipment I have at home to do my fitness training. However, it is tough to train without a goal in mind. I have no idea when competitive tennis will resume and I'm just trying to maintain my general fitness levels. The positive thing is that everyone is in the same boat. DSD: This break sort of hit you at the wrong time didn’t it as it had been a pretty good start to the 2020 season with your first men’s doubles grand slam at the Australian Open. Rajeev Ram: I'd like to look at it positively. The fact that I was able to win the grand slam before the hiatus gives me some sort of relief, this break would have troubled me even before if I had lost in the Australian Open final. I think I'll still have some momentum when action returns because of my good form earlier this year. I'm not the only one who has had to stop playing. There are certain things that are out my control, I'm just going to do the best I can when I return to the court. DSD: The thing with restarting the tennis season is the fairness aspect. Unlike the PGA Tour which is largely American, the ATP and WTA Tours have professionals from all over the world playing and till every player is eligible to travel and compete resumption looks difficult. Rajeev Ram: I completely agree. The global nature of our sport is what makes it so wonderful. Everyone has an equal opportunity to compete no matter where you are from. However, the global nature of the sport will also lead to massive challenges amid the pandemic. DSD: The US Open still remains uncertain and a decision will be taken by the end of this month.lots of interesting options being thrown about including the masters 1000 event in Cincinnati being moved to New York and to have back to back tournaments. As a player how does that sound to you? Rajeev Ram: We can't have the US open until everyone who has qualified for the event is in a position to travel to the event, until that happens we are going to be at a standstill. As far as holding the back-to-back events are concerned, the idea sounds good as long as the authorities can ensure the safety of everyone involved. I don't think it would be fair for the tournament to go ahead if players can't make it due to travel restrictions. Even if one player who has qualified cannot make it to the us open because of some travel regulations, then I believe should not go ahead. For the tournament to take place, a safe and secure environment must be created and the competition should also be fair on all tennis players. DSD: The options sound good in theory, chartered flights to fly players in, no fans, no locker room access on practice days, centralised housing and lots of testing.that will require a lot of compromise from the players. Rajeev Ram: Personally, I would be willing to compromise on my access to facilities or the number of guests I am allowed to take with me. However, I wouldn't be willing to sacrifice my safety or the fairness of the competition. If the competition is not fair or safe then we shouldn't go ahead with it. I realise everyone is in a different situation, some players need to travel with their children and families, so it will be a major problem for them if only one guest is permitted. I think we have to see the current situation from different points of view. DSD: Till the time a vaccine comes out, will players feel 100% safe while competing? Rajeev Ram: I don't see players feeling 100% safe without a vaccine because there would always be a risk of contracting the virus. The virus is so contagious and in any kind of sport, athletes are always in close contact with their peers, whether it be on the field or in the locker rooms, there is just no way around it. There is always going to be a risk without a vaccine. I don't think the US Open or any event will take place if a certain number of players feel uncomfortable or unsafe while playing. DSD: I was speaking to Daniel Nestor and he felt that it is going to be tough physically to play best of five sets at the US Open after such a long layoff where not many have held a racket. A best of three has been mooted, same for all formats. Where do you stand on this? Rajeev Ram: It doesn't affect me as much because I'm not a singles player any more, but if I were competing in the event, I would be fine with matches being reduced to best of three sets. There are going to be a few adjustments that all players are going to have to make and I completely agree with Daniel Nestor's point that players are not going to be conditioned to play five sets after such a long break. It's going to be tough for players to play at full capacity after this layoff. DSD: There is also the question of goodbyes. Take the Bryan brothers - Bob and Mike - for instance, legends of the sport and American sporting icons. This would have been their last hurrah and for sentimental reasons, they deserve one big sendoff. Rajeev Ram: They deserve whatever farewell they want. They are simply the greatest men's doubles pairing of all time. However this just shows you the power of the pandemic, it doesn't care about sentiments. I hope the Bryan brothers stick around and get an opportunity to play another US Open so that they are able to get a proper send-off, which they deserve. I also think this is going to be a significant chapter in the history of the sport, it might be a turning point for many of the greats. DSD: If they manage to create this bio bubble which is being spoken about it will also be an opportunity to trial Federer's theory of merging both the men’s and women’s tours. Cincinnati plays both events simultaneously. Rajeev Ram: This is the perfect time for the authorities to trial Federer's theory of merging the tours. It is definitely going to be a massive logistical challenge, but if there was ever a time to test the merger, then it is now. DSD: Now through this period there have been hardships for lesser ranked players. Are you happy with the response of tennis bodies with the player fund that was created? Rajeev Ram: This is such a strange and unique situation. There is no rule book on how to handle this crisis, that is why we see many people unsure about how to act. I certainly feel that it is important to support the young players so that they don't lose the incentive to continue with tennis. We have a responsibility to help the next generation carry the sport forward. I can't imagine the plight of a 20-year-old player whose development will be halted because of this shutdown. This might have a long-lasting effect on their careers. DSD: Now there was a suggestion from former Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli about scrapping doubles events and boosting the prize money at challengers and lower levels. You have predominantly played doubles last few years and are world no 9 now. Is that statement uncalled for? Rajeev Ram: She's entitled to her opinion, however i completely disagree with it. I look at it from a totally different perspective. The majority of the amateur and club players in the world play doubles and the event has been an integral part of tennis since the sport was created. The doubles discipline actually complements the singles category since it is a team event, so it adds a lot of value to the sport. If doubles events are marketed in a better fashion, then they could be as popular as the singles game. In my opinion, scrapping the doubles events would be completely wrong. DSD: Not everyone can be a great singles player, in India, we have had some legendary doubles players from Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi to Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza. Fact remains that Federer's only Olympic gold came in doubles so it does require a whole lot of extra skills. Rajeev Ram: Doubles is an integral part of all the major events in tennis - Davis Cup, Fed Cup and now the ATP Cup. Some of the biggest stars in the sport plied their trade and made their name in the doubles format. People don't realise how much they would miss doubles events if they were to be scrapped. DSD: This break actually works out in Federer's favour doesn't it and even andy Murray’s as they will probably be able to recover from their surgeries. But you can't battle father time forever, can you? Rajeev Ram: I'm not sure if it does work out in Federer's favour. He isn't getting any younger. He's 38 now and the best chance he had to win another major was at Wimbledon, which was cancelled this year. It's difficult to say what impact it will have on his career, but he will have to make a call sooner rather than later. As for Serena, this break doesn't help her at all. I think she's ready to win every major and she will definitely look at this break as a lost opportunity. This hiatus might be able to buy Andy Murray a bit of time for his recovery, but no true competitor wants the sport disrupted like this. Murray has overcome injuries before and I'm sure he'll do it again. This period probably hurts some more than others but it affects everybody. DSD: For you as well, how does the Olympic postponement affect you.you won with Venus Williams in Rio and I was there when you beat Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza. Venus will be 41 next year and not a sure-shot contender to make the team while you as things stand. Rajeev Ram: It's a real shame. I was really looking forward to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, but as I said before, some things are out of our control. There is a lot of time left for the postponed Olympics in 2021, I don't know who will be on the team, but I hope I get the opportunity to play. DSD: Lots of uncertainty over the Olympics as well, is it frustrating as players not to have a definite target ahead of you and do you see this being a trial and error process till we achieve some sort of normalcy? Rajeev Ram: Absolutely. As I said before, there is no rule-book to follow for this crisis. Some organisations are being cautious, others are being more aggressive, but no one really has the answers. I don't think there is any guarantee of the Olympics happening next year as well. If there is no vaccine available and there is a second wave of the virus in 2021, we could be in the same situation we find ourselves in right now. It is very frustrating for us athletes to not know when we will be able to compete again.

Rajeev Ram: US Open should not go ahead even if one player is unable to travel to New York

Former Canadian tennis ace and a legend of the game with 12 Grand Slam Doubles titles, an Olympic Gold medal to his name, Daniel Nestor, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about life in lockdown, tennis calendar, merger between ATP and WTA, partnership with Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna, Bryan brothers, and much more…

Digvijay Singh Deo: Daniel Nestor,thank you for joining me, what have these last couple of months been like for you? Have you had a lot of restrictions to deal with?

Daniel Nestor: The restrictions here in Toronto haven't been quite as strict as the ones you see in India. There have been a few cases that have been reported, but now the situation is improving and things are slowly starting to open up. Hopefully we will continue to move in that direction and return to some sort of normalcy.

DSD: How have you been spending your time in these circumstances? Have you taken up a hobby or something?

Daniel Nestor: I have been trying to keep in shape, so I go for regular runs in the neighbourhood. Fortunately, we have some friends in our area so there is some amount of social interaction. Our dog also keeps us busy. Overall, our lifestyle has certainly changed in the last two months.

DSD: The number of coronavirus cases in Canada has risen to over 85,000 now, but importantly the death toll isn't that high in comparison to neighbours USA, what is it in your opinion that the health authorities have done well...

Daniel Nestor: We have been fortunate, but there has been a slight rise in cases after the relaxation of certain restrictions. It is too early right now to give a verdict on how Canada has handled the crisis, hopefully, we will be able to contain the virus to a considerable extent in the near future.

DSD: A&nbsp;lot of praise also coming for the Canadian government, for the economic support they have provided the citizens during the crisis.

Daniel Nestor:&nbsp;Yes, the government has provided some sort of stimulus to those who are in need. However, unemployment has increased &nbsp;and a number of small businesses have suffered. Hopefully, those affected will be able to weather the storm and get their livelihoods back soon.

<img alt="Daniel Nestor" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3e781a2f-9fde-4bed-a7eb-77c68b6e3a6b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_LE9LZ.jpg" />

DSD: You retired only a couple of years ago after a remarkably long career - 28 years, 91 titles, a ridiculous amount of travel. Are you happy to not have to think about all that anymore? Or do you miss it sometimes?

Daniel Nestor: During a crisis like this, I think I am fortunate to be with my family. Back when I was playing, I did enjoy the 'jet-setting' aspect of our profession. I appreciated the fact that we could travel the world while competing at the highest level. But other things, I did not enjoy as much, it was always difficult to say goodbye to the family and I was a bit of a nervous flyer as well. So I'm just grateful to be home right now. It hasn't been a huge adjustment for me during this lockdown period because I am a homebody. I'm glad I can spend some time with my kids, they have certainly enjoyed being at home and not going to school.

DSD: I mentioned the travel and globetrotting for a reason.we know that the tennis calendar for this season has been decimated by the virus pandemic...It's a massive loss for the sport, isn't it? From usually having tournaments every single week all over the world to none at all till at least august as things stand.

Daniel Nestor: Tennis is such a global sport, events take place all over the world during the season and that is precisely why I&nbsp;don't see the sport resuming anytime soon. With the prevailing circumstances and quarantine protocols, I don't see how international travel will be possible during the crisis. The NBA and NFL are in discussions to hold their seasons at just one venue, with all the teams staying in one city, but I don't see how that is going to be possible in tennis. I think the US Open organisers are also trying to figure out a solution for the event. New york city has been devastated by the crisis, so the tournament could be held at the national tennis centre in Orlando. It would be great for the game of tennis to have a major tournament, but I understand that there are a lot of other factors that need to be considered.

DSD: The Tours remain suspended, but we're beginning to get a sense of what tennis might look like as we continue to deal with the pandemic.there have been some exhibition events in Europe, in the US and a big one planned in Canada next week as well featuring Bianca Andreescu among others. This is with all social distancing rules in place. I'm curious to know if you have seen any of them and what did you make of it - both as a former pro and as a fan watching the sport you love.

Daniel Nestor: From a player's perspective, it is definitely going to be strange playing in an empty stadium. Even practising social distancing at the venue and locker rooms is going to be hard, given the number of people present at a venue during a tournament. The fans at home will still be able to enjoy the game on tv, so at least they will get to see some action. Obviously the atmosphere will not be the same in an empty stadium, but that I think is the new norm for every sport. Watching the German Bundesliga has been a strange experience because we are not used to watching athletes compete without spectators. Hopefully, this will change soon and sport as we know it will return.

DSD: Roger Federer said earlier this week that he is really not keen on playing events if at least one-third to half of the stadium is not full. Players like Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have said that they are often driven by the atmosphere that is created at the arenas, we know that tennis stars play training matches against each other quite often - but would it be a huge difference to have to do it in a tournament setting?

Daniel Nestor: I feel these are compromises that the sport will have to make. I know Leander Paes feeds off the crowd and he does like to mix things up during a match. He might have to get under the skin of his opponent to get motivated. I'm sure Leander, being a veteran, will find a way to keep himself going. Every sport has to adapt. Players have different approaches to the game and this change is probably going to affect some more so than others. I think the top players will make the necessary changes and find a way to maintain their levels, adaptability is the key.

<img alt="Daniel Nestor" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6937c9b0-b3c0-4c9f-9aa2-73b9d0dfbffb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_YO5GN.jpg" />

DSD: How do you think this break in tennis will impact the sport once it restarts.how much practice do you think the players will need before returning for a proper tournament - let us say the French Open which is on the cards in September-October... And especially the men, who have to play best-of-five sets...

Daniel Nestor:&nbsp;It's hard to imagine that a grand slam - the US Open- &nbsp;will be the first tournament after the coronavirus break. If that is the case then the scoring format would have to be modified. It is almost cruel to expect men's players to play the best of a five-set match without some preparation. There is the heat factor as well, temperatures are going to be soaring in new york city and even in Orlando, which is the alternative venue. Ideally, there should be a couple of tournaments before the US Open, but if it is the first tournament to be held after the break, then scoring changes will have to be made. I think there should an at least a month's notice for the players on the dates of these tournaments. I feel it is inevitable that there will be a lot of injuries when tennis resumes, but we have to try and limit that as much as possible.

DSD: Who do you expect to be able to handle this break better and hit the ground running? Is it the younger stars who are probably fitter and raring to go all the time - or the seasoned pros who have a lot of experience to fall back on and presumably a better understanding of their own bodies...

Daniel Nestor: You would expect the younger guys to be better equipped, but I'm not sure if that will be the case. Tennis has become more physically demanding over the years and the fitness levels of players have improved, you would hence expect the younger and fitter athletes to dominate the sport, but that obviously hasn't happened. I think the experienced players will be better prepared mentally, while the younger players will be in better physical shape, so it's going to be very interesting to see what happens when the sport resumes. If the US Open is the first tournament to be held and it is the best of a five-sets affair, then I believe the youngsters will have an edge. It is going to be very challenging to play long matches in those boiling conditions.

DSD: And just to follow up from that - there has been a lot of discussion about what this gap might mean for greats like Serena Williams or Roger Federer - who as we know are not getting any younger. Do you think an added year makes it tougher for them to win a slam title again - or the opposite - that they might actually benefit from a long period of rest and come back hungry and full of energy once tennis resumes.

Daniel Nestor: I'm not really sure how it is going to affect their respective careers, but it is definitely going to be a major challenge for them once things get up and running. I think both of them will find it tough at the US Open if it is the first tournament after the hiatus. Players, especially the older ones, need a few tournaments under their belt before the majors.

<img alt="Daniel Nestor" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b8e3b743-73d0-440a-9957-5e3981f3e745" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Par7658273.jpg" />

DSD: Now, the big-three are all gunning for that grand slam titles record. Novak Djokovic, who just turned 33 recently, threw down the gauntlet this week - saying that he was confident that he would pass Federer and also break the record for the longest number 1 streak in singles history... With any other player, you might think - wait a minute, that's a big, bold prediction, but with how dominant Djokovic has shown he can be - it is hard to bet against him, isn't it?

Daniel Nestor: It is incredible what he's accomplished over the last decade. His record against Nadal and Federer is also remarkable. Djokovic is also the youngest and fittest of the big three, which will work to his advantage. Nadal used to be incredibly fit, but his knees have given him some problems recently. So you can't really doubt Djokovic's claims here. &nbsp;A lot also depends on Nadal's health, if he is able to keep fit then he could be able to win a couple of more french open titles. The Wimbledon cancellation was a huge setback for Federer, he is coming close to the age of 40 and there will come a time when he will need to make a decision on his career. I think it will take time for Djokovic to find the same level of form that he was showing earlier in the year, so it will be a challenge for him once the tour resumes.

DSD: We are still waiting for word on whether the US&nbsp;Open will go ahead. There are many reasons why we hope that tournament goes ahead - among them is because it is to be a farewell for a doubles team that you fought many memorable battles with over your career - the Bryan brothers. A&nbsp;career like theirs deserves that sort of home slam farewell, doesn't it?

Daniel Nestor: Yes, it would definitely be a fitting farewell for them both. I won't be surprised if they come back for the tournament next year if this year's event is cancelled. I'm not sure if they will have enough fuel in the tank to come back, but there is no doubt that the Bryan brothers have had amazing careers and they deserve a home slam farewell.

DSD: What was your relationship like with the Bryans and some of the other top men's teams of your playing time...Were you a competitive person, keeping your distance from rival players in a sense - a bit like Maria Sharapova - or was it a case of everyone being mates in the locker room?

Daniel Nestor: When I was younger, I definitely saw them more as rivals and opponents. But as I became a more experienced player, I learned to appreciate all aspects of the sport, including my rivals. They have my respect and my relationship with them has been a positive one. I had a lot of battles against them in my career, 59 to be exact. They are up 30-29, so they'll always have that edge over me. Like the Bryan brothers, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have also been great champions of the sport. It'll be great to see Leander have one more crack at a major tournament.

DSD: You are of course very well known to Indian audiences as well - having partnered both Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna over your career and almost Mahesh Bhupathi as well at one point. Leander had announced this season as his last on the Tour...Are you surprised that he's managed to outdo even you in terms of longevity?

Daniel Nestor: Leander is very athletic and he's managed to outlast me. I was slowing down quite a bit towards the end of my career and that is bound to happen with age, so it's incredible to see him still playing. He's such a great champion and charismatic figure for the sport. He has always been a very entertaining player to watch and the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 will be a fitting end to his career. Even though we didn't play together very long, I thoroughly enjoyed my partnership with him. We should have probably teamed up earlier in our careers. Similarly, I loved playing with Rohan Bopanna, he's a very dynamic player and great shot-maker. Unfortunately, Mahesh and I were both left-sided specialists, so my partnership with him didn't work out, but he's obviously a great champion. I can see a bunch of talented players coming up in India and the sport has a bright future in the country.

DSD: Another topic I want to pick your brains on is this suggestion of a merger between the ATP and WTA tours. Many players have welcomed the idea, some notably haven't.tennis is a very lucrative, quite global sport already as things stand - would such a merger down the road be beneficial to both sets of players?

Daniel Nestor: I think there is talk of a merger between the WTA and the ATP tours, which will be great for the cities that will host the events, but that means that a lot of venues on the tour will lose out on tournaments. It is also going to be very difficult for the players on the Challenger Tour because those events will lose funding in terms of sponsorship and revenue. It is undoubtedly going to be a very challenging time for tennis, but it is going to be the same for everyone else in the world. We have to look at things in perspective. I think there are people who are suffering more in the world than professional athletes right now. I understand that players are desperate to get back out there, but they will still have the opportunity to compete at some point and the best will rise to the top, as they always have. I think the need of the hour is patience and perseverance.

<img alt="Daniel Nestor" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c157633e-f717-4d80-bf51-5bd8b139bf27" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Hkg823140.jpg" />

DSD: One final question Daniel - the other day I saw all the top Canadian players get together for a group chat. Pospisil, Raonic, Shapovalov, Auger-Aliasime and the women too - Andreescu, Gabriella Dabrowski. You must be absolutely delighted with the depth of talent coming out of your country right now...

Daniel Nestor: Yes, it is definitely a great period for tennis in Canada. Who would have ever thought that we would be such a strong tennis nation, in both men's and women's events? I think Milos Raonic was a catalyst, his consistent singles performances on the ATP circuit instilled a sense of belief in youngsters across the country. Before Raonic, we never really had a top 20 or 30 player perform at that level. He and Vasek Pospisil kind of led the way for the younger generation. The younger crop of players, Shapovalov, Auger Aliassime and Andreescu have shown great promise and hopefully, they will continue to grow as professionals. They also have 10-15 years ahead of them and the sky is the limit.

The Canadian Tennis Federation also played a great role in their development .they hired international coaches, upgraded the facilities and provided players with whatever support they needed. However the federation is going through challenging times at the moment, they had to let some people go because of the coronavirus financial crisis and the rogers cup is not going to be held this year, so revenue generation might be a problem. Let's hope this crisis is overcome soon and then we can look ahead to a bright future. 
&nbsp;

Former Canadian tennis ace and a legend of the game with 12 Grand Slam Doubles titles, an Olympic Gold medal to his name, Daniel Nestor, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about life in lockdown, tennis calendar, merger between ATP and WTA, partnership with Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna, Bryan brothers, and much more… Digvijay Singh Deo: Daniel Nestor,thank you for joining me, what have these last couple of months been like for you?

Former Canadian tennis ace and a legend of the game with 12 Grand Slam Doubles titles, an Olympic Gold medal to his name, Daniel Nestor, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about life in lockdown, tennis calendar, merger between ATP and WTA, partnership with Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna, Bryan brothers, and much more… Digvijay Singh Deo: Daniel Nestor,thank you for joining me, what have these last couple of months been like for you? Have you had a lot of restrictions to deal with? Daniel Nestor: The restrictions here in Toronto haven't been quite as strict as the ones you see in India. There have been a few cases that have been reported, but now the situation is improving and things are slowly starting to open up. Hopefully we will continue to move in that direction and return to some sort of normalcy. DSD: How have you been spending your time in these circumstances? Have you taken up a hobby or something? Daniel Nestor: I have been trying to keep in shape, so I go for regular runs in the neighbourhood. Fortunately, we have some friends in our area so there is some amount of social interaction. Our dog also keeps us busy. Overall, our lifestyle has certainly changed in the last two months. DSD: The number of coronavirus cases in Canada has risen to over 85,000 now, but importantly the death toll isn't that high in comparison to neighbours USA, what is it in your opinion that the health authorities have done well... Daniel Nestor: We have been fortunate, but there has been a slight rise in cases after the relaxation of certain restrictions. It is too early right now to give a verdict on how Canada has handled the crisis, hopefully, we will be able to contain the virus to a considerable extent in the near future. DSD: A lot of praise also coming for the Canadian government, for the economic support they have provided the citizens during the crisis. Daniel Nestor: Yes, the government has provided some sort of stimulus to those who are in need. However, unemployment has increased and a number of small businesses have suffered. Hopefully, those affected will be able to weather the storm and get their livelihoods back soon. DSD: You retired only a couple of years ago after a remarkably long career - 28 years, 91 titles, a ridiculous amount of travel. Are you happy to not have to think about all that anymore? Or do you miss it sometimes? Daniel Nestor: During a crisis like this, I think I am fortunate to be with my family. Back when I was playing, I did enjoy the 'jet-setting' aspect of our profession. I appreciated the fact that we could travel the world while competing at the highest level. But other things, I did not enjoy as much, it was always difficult to say goodbye to the family and I was a bit of a nervous flyer as well. So I'm just grateful to be home right now. It hasn't been a huge adjustment for me during this lockdown period because I am a homebody. I'm glad I can spend some time with my kids, they have certainly enjoyed being at home and not going to school. DSD: I mentioned the travel and globetrotting for a reason.we know that the tennis calendar for this season has been decimated by the virus pandemic...It's a massive loss for the sport, isn't it? From usually having tournaments every single week all over the world to none at all till at least august as things stand. Daniel Nestor: Tennis is such a global sport, events take place all over the world during the season and that is precisely why I don't see the sport resuming anytime soon. With the prevailing circumstances and quarantine protocols, I don't see how international travel will be possible during the crisis. The NBA and NFL are in discussions to hold their seasons at just one venue, with all the teams staying in one city, but I don't see how that is going to be possible in tennis. I think the US Open organisers are also trying to figure out a solution for the event. New york city has been devastated by the crisis, so the tournament could be held at the national tennis centre in Orlando. It would be great for the game of tennis to have a major tournament, but I understand that there are a lot of other factors that need to be considered. DSD: The Tours remain suspended, but we're beginning to get a sense of what tennis might look like as we continue to deal with the pandemic.there have been some exhibition events in Europe, in the US and a big one planned in Canada next week as well featuring Bianca Andreescu among others. This is with all social distancing rules in place. I'm curious to know if you have seen any of them and what did you make of it - both as a former pro and as a fan watching the sport you love. Daniel Nestor: From a player's perspective, it is definitely going to be strange playing in an empty stadium. Even practising social distancing at the venue and locker rooms is going to be hard, given the number of people present at a venue during a tournament. The fans at home will still be able to enjoy the game on tv, so at least they will get to see some action. Obviously the atmosphere will not be the same in an empty stadium, but that I think is the new norm for every sport. Watching the German Bundesliga has been a strange experience because we are not used to watching athletes compete without spectators. Hopefully, this will change soon and sport as we know it will return. DSD: Roger Federer said earlier this week that he is really not keen on playing events if at least one-third to half of the stadium is not full. Players like Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have said that they are often driven by the atmosphere that is created at the arenas, we know that tennis stars play training matches against each other quite often - but would it be a huge difference to have to do it in a tournament setting? Daniel Nestor: I feel these are compromises that the sport will have to make. I know Leander Paes feeds off the crowd and he does like to mix things up during a match. He might have to get under the skin of his opponent to get motivated. I'm sure Leander, being a veteran, will find a way to keep himself going. Every sport has to adapt. Players have different approaches to the game and this change is probably going to affect some more so than others. I think the top players will make the necessary changes and find a way to maintain their levels, adaptability is the key. DSD: How do you think this break in tennis will impact the sport once it restarts.how much practice do you think the players will need before returning for a proper tournament - let us say the French Open which is on the cards in September-October... And especially the men, who have to play best-of-five sets... Daniel Nestor: It's hard to imagine that a grand slam - the US Open- will be the first tournament after the coronavirus break. If that is the case then the scoring format would have to be modified. It is almost cruel to expect men's players to play the best of a five-set match without some preparation. There is the heat factor as well, temperatures are going to be soaring in new york city and even in Orlando, which is the alternative venue. Ideally, there should be a couple of tournaments before the US Open, but if it is the first tournament to be held after the break, then scoring changes will have to be made. I think there should an at least a month's notice for the players on the dates of these tournaments. I feel it is inevitable that there will be a lot of injuries when tennis resumes, but we have to try and limit that as much as possible. DSD: Who do you expect to be able to handle this break better and hit the ground running? Is it the younger stars who are probably fitter and raring to go all the time - or the seasoned pros who have a lot of experience to fall back on and presumably a better understanding of their own bodies... Daniel Nestor: You would expect the younger guys to be better equipped, but I'm not sure if that will be the case. Tennis has become more physically demanding over the years and the fitness levels of players have improved, you would hence expect the younger and fitter athletes to dominate the sport, but that obviously hasn't happened. I think the experienced players will be better prepared mentally, while the younger players will be in better physical shape, so it's going to be very interesting to see what happens when the sport resumes. If the US Open is the first tournament to be held and it is the best of a five-sets affair, then I believe the youngsters will have an edge. It is going to be very challenging to play long matches in those boiling conditions. DSD: And just to follow up from that - there has been a lot of discussion about what this gap might mean for greats like Serena Williams or Roger Federer - who as we know are not getting any younger. Do you think an added year makes it tougher for them to win a slam title again - or the opposite - that they might actually benefit from a long period of rest and come back hungry and full of energy once tennis resumes. Daniel Nestor: I'm not really sure how it is going to affect their respective careers, but it is definitely going to be a major challenge for them once things get up and running. I think both of them will find it tough at the US Open if it is the first tournament after the hiatus. Players, especially the older ones, need a few tournaments under their belt before the majors. DSD: Now, the big-three are all gunning for that grand slam titles record. Novak Djokovic, who just turned 33 recently, threw down the gauntlet this week - saying that he was confident that he would pass Federer and also break the record for the longest number 1 streak in singles history... With any other player, you might think - wait a minute, that's a big, bold prediction, but with how dominant Djokovic has shown he can be - it is hard to bet against him, isn't it? Daniel Nestor: It is incredible what he's accomplished over the last decade. His record against Nadal and Federer is also remarkable. Djokovic is also the youngest and fittest of the big three, which will work to his advantage. Nadal used to be incredibly fit, but his knees have given him some problems recently. So you can't really doubt Djokovic's claims here. A lot also depends on Nadal's health, if he is able to keep fit then he could be able to win a couple of more french open titles. The Wimbledon cancellation was a huge setback for Federer, he is coming close to the age of 40 and there will come a time when he will need to make a decision on his career. I think it will take time for Djokovic to find the same level of form that he was showing earlier in the year, so it will be a challenge for him once the tour resumes. DSD: We are still waiting for word on whether the US Open will go ahead. There are many reasons why we hope that tournament goes ahead - among them is because it is to be a farewell for a doubles team that you fought many memorable battles with over your career - the Bryan brothers. A career like theirs deserves that sort of home slam farewell, doesn't it? Daniel Nestor: Yes, it would definitely be a fitting farewell for them both. I won't be surprised if they come back for the tournament next year if this year's event is cancelled. I'm not sure if they will have enough fuel in the tank to come back, but there is no doubt that the Bryan brothers have had amazing careers and they deserve a home slam farewell. DSD: What was your relationship like with the Bryans and some of the other top men's teams of your playing time...Were you a competitive person, keeping your distance from rival players in a sense - a bit like Maria Sharapova - or was it a case of everyone being mates in the locker room? Daniel Nestor: When I was younger, I definitely saw them more as rivals and opponents. But as I became a more experienced player, I learned to appreciate all aspects of the sport, including my rivals. They have my respect and my relationship with them has been a positive one. I had a lot of battles against them in my career, 59 to be exact. They are up 30-29, so they'll always have that edge over me. Like the Bryan brothers, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have also been great champions of the sport. It'll be great to see Leander have one more crack at a major tournament. DSD: You are of course very well known to Indian audiences as well - having partnered both Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna over your career and almost Mahesh Bhupathi as well at one point. Leander had announced this season as his last on the Tour...Are you surprised that he's managed to outdo even you in terms of longevity? Daniel Nestor: Leander is very athletic and he's managed to outlast me. I was slowing down quite a bit towards the end of my career and that is bound to happen with age, so it's incredible to see him still playing. He's such a great champion and charismatic figure for the sport. He has always been a very entertaining player to watch and the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 will be a fitting end to his career. Even though we didn't play together very long, I thoroughly enjoyed my partnership with him. We should have probably teamed up earlier in our careers. Similarly, I loved playing with Rohan Bopanna, he's a very dynamic player and great shot-maker. Unfortunately, Mahesh and I were both left-sided specialists, so my partnership with him didn't work out, but he's obviously a great champion. I can see a bunch of talented players coming up in India and the sport has a bright future in the country. DSD: Another topic I want to pick your brains on is this suggestion of a merger between the ATP and WTA tours. Many players have welcomed the idea, some notably haven't.tennis is a very lucrative, quite global sport already as things stand - would such a merger down the road be beneficial to both sets of players? Daniel Nestor: I think there is talk of a merger between the WTA and the ATP tours, which will be great for the cities that will host the events, but that means that a lot of venues on the tour will lose out on tournaments. It is also going to be very difficult for the players on the Challenger Tour because those events will lose funding in terms of sponsorship and revenue. It is undoubtedly going to be a very challenging time for tennis, but it is going to be the same for everyone else in the world. We have to look at things in perspective. I think there are people who are suffering more in the world than professional athletes right now. I understand that players are desperate to get back out there, but they will still have the opportunity to compete at some point and the best will rise to the top, as they always have. I think the need of the hour is patience and perseverance. DSD: One final question Daniel - the other day I saw all the top Canadian players get together for a group chat. Pospisil, Raonic, Shapovalov, Auger-Aliasime and the women too - Andreescu, Gabriella Dabrowski. You must be absolutely delighted with the depth of talent coming out of your country right now... Daniel Nestor: Yes, it is definitely a great period for tennis in Canada. Who would have ever thought that we would be such a strong tennis nation, in both men's and women's events? I think Milos Raonic was a catalyst, his consistent singles performances on the ATP circuit instilled a sense of belief in youngsters across the country. Before Raonic, we never really had a top 20 or 30 player perform at that level. He and Vasek Pospisil kind of led the way for the younger generation. The younger crop of players, Shapovalov, Auger Aliassime and Andreescu have shown great promise and hopefully, they will continue to grow as professionals. They also have 10-15 years ahead of them and the sky is the limit. The Canadian Tennis Federation also played a great role in their development .they hired international coaches, upgraded the facilities and provided players with whatever support they needed. However the federation is going through challenging times at the moment, they had to let some people go because of the coronavirus financial crisis and the rogers cup is not going to be held this year, so revenue generation might be a problem. Let's hope this crisis is overcome soon and then we can look ahead to a bright future.

Nestor: Break, heat and best of 5 sets will suit younger players at US Open

The recipient of Padma Shri and Indian tennis great, Vijay Amritraj, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a variety of things ranging from cancellation of Wimbledon, fate of US Open, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, sporting word post-lockdown, the rivalry between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, some of the iconic moments in his career, future of tennis in India and much more.

The recipient of Padma Shri and Indian tennis great, Vijay Amritraj, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke on a variety of things ranging from cancellation of Wimbledon, fate of US Open, postponement of Tokyo Olympics, sporting word post-lockdown, the rivalry between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, some of the iconic moments in his career, future of tennis in India and much more... Digvijay Singh Deo: Vijay Amritraj, we have managed to negotiate a 12 and a half-hour time zone difference for this interview. Many thanks for your time. Vijay Amritraj: Thanks for having me, Digvijay. This a first for me as well. Looking forward to covering a range of issues with you over the course of the interview. I would just like to say that my thoughts go out to all those who have lost their loved ones due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hopefully, we can keep the number of cases down to the minimum in India and overcome this crisis very soon. DSD: You are on the West Coast of America and that area has been a major COVID -19 hotspot. How difficult has it been for you all over there? Vijay Amritraj: Yes, it has been very difficult for us over here. In the US, it has spread rapidly over the last couple of months. The epicentre in the country was New York and because of the density of population in that area, it has been very difficult to contain the virus. Most people also use public transport in New York, which has been a major cause for the outbreak. Other parts of the country are not as densely populated and there is less contact between two individuals on an average. DSD: The question everyone seems to be asking is how did America get this so wrong? One-third of the cases worldwide have been from the US... Vijay Amritraj: Yes, the US does have to deal with natural disasters on a regular basis. There have been hurricanes and cyclones, but nothing on the scale of the coronavirus. The virus is so dangerous that it is really difficult to prepare for anything like this. The unprecedented nature of the crisis also makes it tough for the American Center for Disease Control or CDC to contain it in an appropriate manner. The last pandemic that caused so many deaths around the world was the Spanish flu back in 1918. We have had disasters since then, but they have been one-off events. We sometimes forget that the influenza virus kills over 36,000 people in the US every year, that is a huge number which gets overlooked, even though there is a vaccine present for influenza. So, I think it is essential to be prepared as a society for certain things that are likely to happen because we don't live in a local economy any more, we live in a truly global world. DSD: You go back in history and real leadership shines through in times of real crisis. Has this tragedy shown up a lot of leaders around the world? Vijay Amritraj: It's like that saying we use so often in sport, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. That I feel holds true for every walk of life. The strength and character of individuals or governments are tested during times of strife. The real test for us as a global community is how we will be able to overcome this crisis together while being alone or isolated. Only a few days ago, it was the 75th anniversary of the victory of Britain and its allies in World War II. It takes me back to Winston Churchill's victory speech, which was really poignant and he was able to capture the spirit of the nation. That sort of strong leadership is what we need right now. The way our world leaders conduct themselves during this crisis is what they will be remembered for. I can only hope and pray that our world leaders can step up and rise to the expectations that we have of them. DSD: Okay, let's move away from politics. Wimbledon has been cancelled for the year but we have the US Open up next. As things stand it may go ahead but could be in your part of the world at Indian Wells that's the current buzz. Vijay Amritraj: There are a lot of rumours floating around, but nothing obviously has been confirmed. The last information I received was that the US Open organisers were waiting till June 1 to make a decision on the event. At the moment, the National Tennis Centre in New York is still a makeshift hospital with about 500 beds. The situation in New York is still very serious and because of that, I think the state machinery needs the facilities at Flushing Meadows. There are two choices available to the US Open organisers at the moment, the first is to play the tournament without any fans and the second would be to shift the event to Indian Wells on the West coast. But the difficulty in holding a Grand Slam event is that we have players coming in from all parts of the world. With the travel restrictions at present, it is going to be extremely difficult to co-ordinate the arrangements of all the players. Then there is the question of the frequency of testing. Even without fans, 4,000-5,000 people would be needed to run the event, who would have to practice social distancing. Professional tennis has actually returned, a tournament is being held in Orlando, Florida without any fans, but it is being broadcast on television and the internet. The event features four players among the top 60 players in the world and is being held without any ball-boys. During the match, only the two players and the umpire are on the court. It's the first sporting event that will be shown live in the last two months, so it will be a great test event for other tournaments. DSD: The thing with sports like tennis and golf is, that players need to travel from all over the world,...Many countries don't even have flights operating yet, so will it be fair to hold tournaments when certain players won't be able to participate because of travel restrictions or quarantine regulations. Vijay Amritraj: Yes, that is a valid point. The UK has already introduced a two-week quarantine period for international travellers when they enter the country. That is probably going to be the case with other countries as well because they will have to watch their borders. I think travel restrictions are going to be present for the next few months, which makes it all the more difficult to hold a major international event like the US Open. DSD: The real dilemma perhaps is for the players.some of them really need the money now as the ecosystem of the sport has taken a hit. But then travelling from one country to another will also entail quarantine regulations. It is a complete journey into the unknown at the moment not just for tennis but for all professional sport. The situation is so bad that the Olympics got postponed. Vijay Amritraj: The Olympics had to be postponed, there was no way the event could have been held in the current crisis. There are still question marks over the 2021 Games as well because no one really knows when the situation will get better. The second most widely played sport in the world after football, is tennis and players travel all over the world on a weekly basis for tournaments. The various European football leagues take place domestically and it is possible to hold matches without the hassles of international travel. The media rights for the football leagues also generate a lot of revenue for the clubs. In tennis events in North America and Europe, there are mainly three sources of income - media and broadcasting rights, sponsorship and hospitality and ticket sales. Now if we telecast live events on the television and the internet, enough income can be brought in through sponsorship to sustain the sport over the next few months. In India, the major source of income for most sports events is sponsorship. Media and broadcasting rights don't amount for a substantial amount of money, except in the case of the IPL and other major cricket events. Ticket sales also contribute very little to the bottom line. So, I think live tennis can happen in India with domestic players taking part. DSD: How will sport react when all this finally opens up? Till a vaccine is found social distancing will remain the norm,..but in sports like tennis, golf there have to be repeated tests of the professionals because of the close proximity the players share with each other... Vijay Amritraj: In the case of golf, it is possible to maintain social distancing. The golfer can maintain a certain amount of distance with his or her caddie. Golf courses have opened up in California and it is possible to have staggered tee times for players, that way the golfer can travel through a course on a cart and not come in contact with any other person. So, it is possible to hold tournaments in golf in the current climate. Basketball is a contact sport, but since there are only ten players on the court, each one of them can be tested before a particular game. However, there might be logistical issues in testing. Holding events without fans might end up being the immediate new normal for sporting events. The NBA might even consider getting all the teams in one city in isolation camps so that they are able to play out the season. DSD: How do you look at the big 3 of men’s tennis bouncing back from this? Roger Federer had surgery and the last we saw him was hitting balls on a wall, Rafael Nadal hasn’t held a racket since Indian Wells and Novak Djokovic got into trouble for hitting the tennis courts in Spain. Vijay Amritraj: The big 3 are not even chasing history, they are just chasing each other. Roger Federer is now 38, so every 6-month window makes a huge difference to his career. He will certainly be looking to stay ahead of both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in that grand slam race. Nadal would have been the favourite for the French Open in May, he would have tied Federer's tally of 20 majors if he had won the tournament. Djokovic is also not far away from these two with 17 majors. If Federer had taken those two match points at Wimbledon last year, he would have built up a considerable lead on the Serb, but now Djokovic is hot on the heels of the Swiss maestro. The big 3 are not chasing history or money or fame. These three have made history in their own right and they continue to push each other to greater heights. The only question is how long will they be able to continue doing that. As for the chasing pack- Dominic Thiem Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas- these three are losing a year and that might prove to be a blow to them because they have a long way to go in catching up with the big 3. The non-elite players are losing momentum and will see this as a missed opportunity. The only thing common for all tennis players on both tours is that none of them has touched a tennis racket during the lockdown. DSD: It’s a remarkable rivalry isn't it Vijay, how the three have pushed each other. Today Federer is just one ahead of Nadal and Djokovic is breathing down both their necks and the younger and hungrier man. Vijay Amritraj: I have said this before on many occasions, I think that these three players are the best to have ever played the game of tennis. The incredible thing is that all of them are playing at the same time, which very rarely happens. These three have also been ruling the game for a long period of time, which is even more astounding. So if each of them had played in different generations, all three of them could have been considered the 'GOATs'. So we have been blessed to witness these three compete against each other at the highest level in the same era. The quality of tennis on the show by these men has been nothing short of extraordinary. That's what makes the rivalry so special. DSD: Think of it Vijay a decade ago Federer's claims to be the GOAT would have been uncontested. Today we have a major battle on. In your book do titles only decide ultimately who will be the greatest of all time? Vijay Amritraj: Those debates are best left for days when you are sitting with your friends over a bottle of wine. As to who among the men and women has the right to call themselves the greatest of all time, since the Open era, we have been fortunate enough to have witnessed a number of great champions in the sport. I have also been lucky to play against some of them in my career. The 2019 Wimbledon was the 50th consecutive year that I was involved with the event in some form. When you look back, Rod Laver is the only player to achieve a Grand Slam (winning all the majors in a year) twice in his career. That record has stood the test of time since 1969. It has been 50 years since anyone has won a calendar slam. When you see the big 3 playing, you could argue that all of them have a case for being the greatest of all time. In the women's game as well we have seen legendary players, be it Margaret Court or Billie Jean King, who has 20 Wimbledon titles to her name. Steffi Graff is the only player to complete a Golden Slam, which she did in 1988. Serena Williams is on the brink of history with her 23 grand slam single's titles and Martina Navratilova won so many grand slams that she has to be considered as well. We have seen great champions in this sport, but we can never compare different generations. DSD: You, of course, played across two or three really competitive eras yourself, when you started out you still had Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and John Newcombe active, how do those three compare to the current big 3? Vijay Amritraj: My claim to fame was beating Rod Laver at the US Open in 1973. In those days it was mandatory to have a good serve and volley game to be successful on most courts, that's what the Australians of the late 60s and 70s thrived on. If you look at the game today, it has completely changed. At Wimbledon these days, the baseline after the match is completely chewed up, whereas the net is in pristine condition. So the change in the style of play has led to the success of the Europeans, from a time when the sport was dominated by the Australians and Americans. DSD: That generation was fading and then Borg, Jimmy Connors and later John McEnroe made a memorable rivalry... Vijay Amritraj: Every generation seems to throw up these great champions and Bjorn borg, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe were certainly the greatest players of my generation in the 70s and 80s. I actually beat all three of them and there were a bunch of players, including myself, who were right on their heels. But there was no doubting the quality of Borg and co. Borg won six French Open titles and five Wimbledon crowns which is an incredible achievement as Wimbledon was the only grass event he played. The difference between the grass clay courts in those days was immense, which make borg's accomplishments even more impressive. Since then the courts have also completely changed. I predicted that Nadal would win Wimbledon before Federer would win the French Open and that's exactly how it turned out. The only occasion Federer won the french open was when Nadal lost to Robin Soderling. There were some great players in the late 80s and early 90s as well. Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg had an intense rivalry and that led into the Pete Sampras- Andre Agassi era, the American duo played out some spectacular matches. However, what stands out about the current big 3 is their consistency and longevity. DSD: You, of course, beat all of them and there aren't many Indian tennis players who can say I beat the best in the world when they were at their peak. Vijay Amritraj: I take great pride in the fact that I was able to beat the best in the world and play for my country at the highest level. I still feel I am representing my country in some capacity. When I played back in the day, the tricolour was hoisted because I was playing, so that filled me with a great sense of pride. As you got to the later round of the tournaments, the Indians would come out and support me in great numbers no matter where I was competing. That is something that motivated me to give my absolute all on the tour. When I beat the best players of my era, it was so special to me because it was so special to the people of my country. DSD: When you look back on your career Vijay, of course, you were equally adept at singles and doubles but there were 2 Davis Cup finals as well for India. 1974 where we didn’t play and then 1987. Akhtar Ali once told me that not playing the 1974 final was heartbreaking for you. Is that the biggest regret of your career? Vijay Amritraj: From an athlete's perspective, you cannot win it unless you're in it. So if you look at it from that perspective, it was certainly a missed opportunity. We were not given the chance to put India's name on the Davis Cup. In 1974, neither Australia nor the USA, who were the best two teams in the world at the time, were in the final. So I felt that we had a good chance of winning the Davis Cup. Whereas in 1987, we were massive underdogs and we lost comprehensively to Sweden, but it was a great effort from our side to reach the final, beating Australia in the semis. I was captain at the time and there was great camaraderie within the squad. Looking back at my career, I can proudly say that I was part of the Indian side that reached two Davis Cup finals. DSD: So where did Indian tennis go wrong, Vijay? We had icons like Ramanathan Krishnan, then you then came Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and then Sania Mirza. Yet the cupboard today is bare. A singles grand slam champion is a long way off. Vijay Amritraj: Yes, I agree with your assessment. Something has gone wrong along the way. When I played the game, it took me a long time to be able to convince people in India that tennis could be a profession. In fact, my whole career I made an attempt to make it possible for people in India to pursue tennis as a career. However, in India, that mindset never existed and it takes time for it to change. There is no greater risk in your professional career than choosing to pursue a sport. So, usually, people in India are scared to take major risks when it comes to sport. You have to look at sport in India as a start-up, people have to be ready to invest their time and money in a wide array of talent, only then will we reap the benefits. DSD: We will have to rebuild, a bit like rebuilding India. You do a lot of work here with your foundation Vijay and we have a long road ahead don’t we to get the economy back on track? Vijay Amritraj: Livelihoods have been adversely affected. This crisis is a worldwide phenomenon. It is not restricted to just India or the USA. We now have to be resilient as a society to get through tough times like these. Our leaders have to inspire millions and lead us to the light at the end of the tunnel. We have to be able to lean on each other for support and be compassionate. We must show unity while being away from each other. This is a truly unprecedented crisis, only those who lived through world war two could have gone through something remotely like the situation we find ourselves in. Today, we as a species have to come together more than ever before. DSD: Another famous son of Chennai, Viswanathan Anand told me some time back that the word was too fast and the virus took advantage. What are the lessons we all have to take on board from this unprecedented tragedy... Vijay Amritraj: I think we must learn to serve those around us, whether it be our family, friends or community. Our attitude towards life must change and we must be more magnanimous. Our strength lies in our unity and health, so we must first take care of ourselves ad then try to help out as many people as we can. This pandemic also shows us how truly global the world is. The virus doesn't see nationality, financial status, caste or creed. Everyone is equally susceptible to the disease. We must stand together as one human race in the face of the virus.

Exclusive: 'Travel restrictions make things difficult for US Open organisers' - Vijay Amritraj on tennis post-lockdown and more

Tennis world has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with plenty of events postponed including the historic decision of cancelling the Wimbledon. Tokyo Olympics, too, have been pushed back to 2021 amid the pandemic. There are discussions that players below the ranking of 100 are struggling financially due to the lockdown phase. Swiss maestro Roger Federer had even proposed a merger between ATP and WTA in a bid to come out stronger post the lockdown period.&nbsp;

Indian tennis star, Divij Sharan, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about life in lockdown, proposal of a merger between ATP and WTA, financial struggles of tennis players, postponement of Tokyo Olympics and much more…

Digvijay Singh Deo: Divij, been a rough time for the UK through this crisis, how have you been managing through all of this?

Divij Sharan: These are obviously tough times for everybody and things in the UK aren't looking very good at the moment. I am pretty much in my own cocoon and only step out to get essentials. So just like most people in the world, I'm trying to stay safe indoors.

DSD: So was it a conscious decision to base yourself in the UK or were you caught bang in the middle of the shutdown?

Divij Sharan: The last tournament I was involved in was India's Davis Cup tie in Croatia in March. After the tie, I returned to Delhi for a few days. I thought I would travel to England to prepare for the clay-court swing. I was scheduled to play a tournament in Morocco and was supposed to train for three weeks in England. A few days after I arrived in England, tournaments started getting cancelled because of the health crisis. India closed its borders and so did the UK subsequently. All these announcements were made in a short span of time and I have been stuck here since then. But it would have been tougher to deal with the situation if I was alone, but I am with my wife, Samantha Murray, who is British and it is nice to be able to spend some quality time with her.

DSD: I think if anyone wants to understand the meaning of staying fit during this period then they should scroll through your Twitter feed. You have made ample use of the back garden.

Divij Sharan: It is great that my wife is also a tennis player because it means I have a training partner during the lockdown. We are trying our best to keep fit, we have a back garden and we use it to do various tennis drills. We try to be as innovative as we can with the drills so that we can keep ourselves active and also enjoy our sessions.

DSD: The first few weeks may have been tough but now seeing more and more videos of players finding novel ways of training. Rohan Bopanna was hitting those forehands and you have found a way to play both forehand and backhand...

Divij Sharan: It is actually a very strange situation, especially for us tennis players. For 10 months of the year, we are on tour and follow an extremely busy schedule. We have a very short offseason, so we have never had a such a long break away from tennis. There is so much uncertainty that we don't know when the season will resume, so there's no goal we can work towards. There is nothing we as players can prepare for. Most of the players don't have access to a tennis court or a gym, so the skill level of players will also suffer. We are trying to stay fit with whatever resources we have access to. It is a very precarious situation.

<img alt="Exclusive | Divij Sharan in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2f23bf97-ff40-4aa9-8ac3-9fa570720fab" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1BZ6MA.jpg" />

DSD: How tough is this period for an active player Divij, we can still manage to work from home but the tour professional can't make a career playing e-tennis...

Divij Sharan: Yes, certainly. That holds true for all professions, not just tennis. I feel everyone is in the same boat as the crisis. As sportspersons and tennis players, our career span is very short, so we need to continue to make our living. In terms of my career as well, this break throws my future up in the air. I am 34 and I'm not sure how long I will be able to continue playing. There is no drastic improvement in the situation and no one knows when the next tournament will take place. Initially, I felt the break would be a welcome one for me to recharge my batteries and return to the game, but now there seems to be no restart date for the season. It is possible that the tour is suspended even further than July. As a sportsperson, this is how we earn our livelihood and there is no substitute for competitive action.

DSD: Is waiting or not knowing when the tour will start the toughest part?

Divij Sharan: Yes it is especially tough because I would want to be competing at tour events at this stage of my career. I spent many years in the challenger circuit, I had to work my way up to get the opportunity to play at the big-ticket events. So ideally this is when I would want to play as many tournaments as I can and get higher in the rankings.

DSD: Already there has been a sort of announcement from the tennis bodies that there will be a player relief package coming up. How dire is the situation for professionals below the ranking of 100?

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Yes, I feel the top 100 players will be able to deal with the shutdown without any financial problems. But as you move down the rankings, players ranked 400 or 500 are not even breaking even when the tour is on, so they are really struggling during the shutdown. In popular team sports like cricket and football, non-elite players are still able to make a decent living, but that is not the case with tennis players.so not just for the coronavirus crisis, the sport would anyway definitely benefit from a fund for lower-ranked players in the long-term/

DSD: What many do not realise Divij is the actual costs of being a travelling professional. We see the cool photos on social media and think this guy has a sorted life. What we don’t see is the nomadic life, paying bills a shuttling from city to city on the tour.what are the expenses like?

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Yes it's not easy at all. As a doubles player, the prize money for us is nowhere near as much as in the singles competitions. In team sports, there is a backroom and management staff who are there to handle travel arrangements and finances, but tennis players have to manage everything on our own. A player wants to play in as many tournaments as possible, so booking flights and making hotel reservations can get very expensive. If your coach or physio travels with you, then obviously the cost will be doubled. So only players at the top level are able to comfortably manage these expenses.

<img alt="Exclusive | Divij Sharan in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="020608f3-4eb0-424e-902e-1a39521e0b0a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1CY2J2.jpg" />

DSD: Also many others are coming together like Patrick Mouratoglou and Stefanos Tsitsipas to get together a fund for those ranked below 100….Andy Roddick is selling a tennis experience at US Open…

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Many people who are in a privileged position are trying to help out financially. Even in India, Somdev Devvarman is involved with an initiative which is helping out not just the players, but also the support staff whose livelihoods depend on tennis. I've tried to chip in myself and spread awareness on the matter. Any kind of assistance makes a difference. Hopefully, tennis and other sports will be able to overcome this crisis and return soon.

DSD: Through this crisis, we have seen the top players get involved, be it entertaining fans on social media or donating to a cause. Roger Federer made a suggestion calling for the WTA &amp; ATP tours to be merged. Is it time now?

Divij Sharan: Yes, that would be interesting if the two tours merge. Very few tournaments have both men's and women's competitions. Most of the events are either just for men or just for women, apart from the Grand Slams. I think it would be great for tennis and personally, for me, it would be ideal because my wife is also a professional player and we would get to spend more time with each other. It will definitely need a lot of planning and deliberation from all stakeholders.

DSD: Tell us from a players point of you how this will work, obviously there are many tournaments where the men and women play alongside each other outside of the grand slams. Can this be done?

Divij Sharan: From a player's point of view, if the merger does go through, then venues would need to be ready with the necessary infrastructure to be able to hold both men's and women's competitions simultaneously. So the venues will need to have a substantial number of show courts because we want spectators to attend these matches. So the logistical demands might not make the merger possible for every tournament. But even if it can be done for a few events on the tour, then it would be great for the sport.

DSD: What it will also do is open up the possibility of mixed doubles perhaps becoming a regular tour event and not just something we see only at slams and major games.

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Right now the mixed doubles event is only part of grand slams, the Olympics and continental competitions like the Asian Games. If it does become a regular occurrence on the calendar, then things would change drastically. The idea is a little ambitious because of the logistical demands of having a combined event, but if it is possible then I am all for it.

DSD: Talking of the games, the Olympics were pushed back and you were on course for making a first appearance at the games. Indian tennis has done well at multi-discipline games and you won the Asiad gold with bops so how do you look at this postponement.

Divij Sharan:&nbsp;Every athlete looks forward to the Olympics since it comes once in four years. Under the circumstances, it is extremely unfortunate that the games were postponed, but there was no other option. Health has to be our top priority and we must overcome this crisis before thinking about preparing for the Olympics next year. All of us want the Olympics to be held in all its glory and in the right spirit.

<img alt="Exclusive | Divij Sharan in conversation with WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="15ce11c2-9c81-404c-82fc-f8e231b18557" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1CY2EC.jpg" />

DSD: Japan PM Shinzo Abe says it will be impossible to hold the Olympics until the virus is contained. So the possibility exists that Tokyo Olympics may never happen. How disturbing is that thought for someone like you who has waited for a chance for so long to make the cut for the Olympics?

Divij Sharan: Yes, it is absolutely devastating. But if the Olympics are not held, then it would probably mean that the tennis season won't start as well, which would also be a huge blow for me. If I get the chance to compete at the Olympics, it would a real honour and the biggest opportunity of my professional career. But I feel it is also important for the regular tennis season to get up and running for other major events to be held.

DSD: Before this lockdown was imposed had you and Rohan Bopanna planned on a run together heading into Tokyo and is that something you will revisit next year.

Divij Sharan: Yes, we had a plan in mind for the 2020 July Olympics. Rohan and I were scheduled to play three clay-court tournaments before the french open. The qualifying period was supposed to end just after Roland Garros. We would have probably played the grass-court swing together as well leading up to the games. But now since the games are going to be held in 2021, we will re-assess our plans once we have more clarity on the situation. Hopefully, we will be able to qualify and get a medal for India at the 2021 Olympics.

DSD: What will be the new normal once it does. Clearly no handshakes but even for a &nbsp;doubles player, there is another person on a court with you so doubles bonding may have to be redefined in the coming days.

Divij Sharan: Yes, our daily life will change considerably in the post-virus world. The way we travel, communicate and plan our lives will not be the same. We might not be able to interact with the fans in the stadium, but I don't think our on-court conduct with our partners will change. A doubles pair spends a lot of time together away from the court as well, so I don't think a fist-bump or a high five will be a health danger. The on-court relationship between partners should not change. But there are bound to be drastic changes away from the court and it will be interesting to see what's in store.

DSD: I always like to end these interviews on an optimistic note so what will Divij do when the lockdown is lifted and the world gets back to normality...

Divij Sharan: I actually miss travelling, so it would be good to get back into my normal routine of going for tournaments. Obviously I would love to be back out on the court. I also haven't been able to meet my family in a while, so I hope I get the opportunity to fly back to Delhi soon. I like travelling by air and keep checking on my 'frequent flyer benefits' with airlines. Strangely I miss being in hotels as well since I'm so used to my nomadic life as a tennis player. Hopefully, I will be able to do all that soon. 
&nbsp;

<o:p></o:p>

Tennis world has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with plenty of events postponed including the historic decision of cancelling the Wimbledon. Tokyo Olympics, too, have been pushed back to 2021 amid the pandemic.

Tennis world has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with plenty of events postponed including the historic decision of cancelling the Wimbledon. Tokyo Olympics, too, have been pushed back to 2021 amid the pandemic. There are discussions that players below the ranking of 100 are struggling financially due to the lockdown phase. Swiss maestro Roger Federer had even proposed a merger between ATP and WTA in a bid to come out stronger post the lockdown period. Indian tennis star, Divij Sharan, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up about life in lockdown, proposal of a merger between ATP and WTA, financial struggles of tennis players, postponement of Tokyo Olympics and much more… Digvijay Singh Deo: Divij, been a rough time for the UK through this crisis, how have you been managing through all of this? Divij Sharan: These are obviously tough times for everybody and things in the UK aren't looking very good at the moment. I am pretty much in my own cocoon and only step out to get essentials. So just like most people in the world, I'm trying to stay safe indoors. DSD: So was it a conscious decision to base yourself in the UK or were you caught bang in the middle of the shutdown? Divij Sharan: The last tournament I was involved in was India's Davis Cup tie in Croatia in March. After the tie, I returned to Delhi for a few days. I thought I would travel to England to prepare for the clay-court swing. I was scheduled to play a tournament in Morocco and was supposed to train for three weeks in England. A few days after I arrived in England, tournaments started getting cancelled because of the health crisis. India closed its borders and so did the UK subsequently. All these announcements were made in a short span of time and I have been stuck here since then. But it would have been tougher to deal with the situation if I was alone, but I am with my wife, Samantha Murray, who is British and it is nice to be able to spend some quality time with her. DSD: I think if anyone wants to understand the meaning of staying fit during this period then they should scroll through your Twitter feed. You have made ample use of the back garden. Divij Sharan: It is great that my wife is also a tennis player because it means I have a training partner during the lockdown. We are trying our best to keep fit, we have a back garden and we use it to do various tennis drills. We try to be as innovative as we can with the drills so that we can keep ourselves active and also enjoy our sessions. DSD: The first few weeks may have been tough but now seeing more and more videos of players finding novel ways of training. Rohan Bopanna was hitting those forehands and you have found a way to play both forehand and backhand... Divij Sharan: It is actually a very strange situation, especially for us tennis players. For 10 months of the year, we are on tour and follow an extremely busy schedule. We have a very short offseason, so we have never had a such a long break away from tennis. There is so much uncertainty that we don't know when the season will resume, so there's no goal we can work towards. There is nothing we as players can prepare for. Most of the players don't have access to a tennis court or a gym, so the skill level of players will also suffer. We are trying to stay fit with whatever resources we have access to. It is a very precarious situation. DSD: How tough is this period for an active player Divij, we can still manage to work from home but the tour professional can't make a career playing e-tennis... Divij Sharan: Yes, certainly. That holds true for all professions, not just tennis. I feel everyone is in the same boat as the crisis. As sportspersons and tennis players, our career span is very short, so we need to continue to make our living. In terms of my career as well, this break throws my future up in the air. I am 34 and I'm not sure how long I will be able to continue playing. There is no drastic improvement in the situation and no one knows when the next tournament will take place. Initially, I felt the break would be a welcome one for me to recharge my batteries and return to the game, but now there seems to be no restart date for the season. It is possible that the tour is suspended even further than July. As a sportsperson, this is how we earn our livelihood and there is no substitute for competitive action. DSD: Is waiting or not knowing when the tour will start the toughest part? Divij Sharan: Yes it is especially tough because I would want to be competing at tour events at this stage of my career. I spent many years in the challenger circuit, I had to work my way up to get the opportunity to play at the big-ticket events. So ideally this is when I would want to play as many tournaments as I can and get higher in the rankings. DSD: Already there has been a sort of announcement from the tennis bodies that there will be a player relief package coming up. How dire is the situation for professionals below the ranking of 100? Divij Sharan: Yes, I feel the top 100 players will be able to deal with the shutdown without any financial problems. But as you move down the rankings, players ranked 400 or 500 are not even breaking even when the tour is on, so they are really struggling during the shutdown. In popular team sports like cricket and football, non-elite players are still able to make a decent living, but that is not the case with tennis players.so not just for the coronavirus crisis, the sport would anyway definitely benefit from a fund for lower-ranked players in the long-term/ DSD: What many do not realise Divij is the actual costs of being a travelling professional. We see the cool photos on social media and think this guy has a sorted life. What we don’t see is the nomadic life, paying bills a shuttling from city to city on the tour.what are the expenses like? Divij Sharan: Yes it's not easy at all. As a doubles player, the prize money for us is nowhere near as much as in the singles competitions. In team sports, there is a backroom and management staff who are there to handle travel arrangements and finances, but tennis players have to manage everything on our own. A player wants to play in as many tournaments as possible, so booking flights and making hotel reservations can get very expensive. If your coach or physio travels with you, then obviously the cost will be doubled. So only players at the top level are able to comfortably manage these expenses. DSD: Also many others are coming together like Patrick Mouratoglou and Stefanos Tsitsipas to get together a fund for those ranked below 100….Andy Roddick is selling a tennis experience at US Open… Divij Sharan: Many people who are in a privileged position are trying to help out financially. Even in India, Somdev Devvarman is involved with an initiative which is helping out not just the players, but also the support staff whose livelihoods depend on tennis. I've tried to chip in myself and spread awareness on the matter. Any kind of assistance makes a difference. Hopefully, tennis and other sports will be able to overcome this crisis and return soon. DSD: Through this crisis, we have seen the top players get involved, be it entertaining fans on social media or donating to a cause. Roger Federer made a suggestion calling for the WTA & ATP tours to be merged. Is it time now? Divij Sharan: Yes, that would be interesting if the two tours merge. Very few tournaments have both men's and women's competitions. Most of the events are either just for men or just for women, apart from the Grand Slams. I think it would be great for tennis and personally, for me, it would be ideal because my wife is also a professional player and we would get to spend more time with each other. It will definitely need a lot of planning and deliberation from all stakeholders. DSD: Tell us from a players point of you how this will work, obviously there are many tournaments where the men and women play alongside each other outside of the grand slams. Can this be done? Divij Sharan: From a player's point of view, if the merger does go through, then venues would need to be ready with the necessary infrastructure to be able to hold both men's and women's competitions simultaneously. So the venues will need to have a substantial number of show courts because we want spectators to attend these matches. So the logistical demands might not make the merger possible for every tournament. But even if it can be done for a few events on the tour, then it would be great for the sport. DSD: What it will also do is open up the possibility of mixed doubles perhaps becoming a regular tour event and not just something we see only at slams and major games. Divij Sharan: Right now the mixed doubles event is only part of grand slams, the Olympics and continental competitions like the Asian Games. If it does become a regular occurrence on the calendar, then things would change drastically. The idea is a little ambitious because of the logistical demands of having a combined event, but if it is possible then I am all for it. DSD: Talking of the games, the Olympics were pushed back and you were on course for making a first appearance at the games. Indian tennis has done well at multi-discipline games and you won the Asiad gold with bops so how do you look at this postponement. Divij Sharan: Every athlete looks forward to the Olympics since it comes once in four years. Under the circumstances, it is extremely unfortunate that the games were postponed, but there was no other option. Health has to be our top priority and we must overcome this crisis before thinking about preparing for the Olympics next year. All of us want the Olympics to be held in all its glory and in the right spirit. DSD: Japan PM Shinzo Abe says it will be impossible to hold the Olympics until the virus is contained. So the possibility exists that Tokyo Olympics may never happen. How disturbing is that thought for someone like you who has waited for a chance for so long to make the cut for the Olympics? Divij Sharan: Yes, it is absolutely devastating. But if the Olympics are not held, then it would probably mean that the tennis season won't start as well, which would also be a huge blow for me. If I get the chance to compete at the Olympics, it would a real honour and the biggest opportunity of my professional career. But I feel it is also important for the regular tennis season to get up and running for other major events to be held. DSD: Before this lockdown was imposed had you and Rohan Bopanna planned on a run together heading into Tokyo and is that something you will revisit next year. Divij Sharan: Yes, we had a plan in mind for the 2020 July Olympics. Rohan and I were scheduled to play three clay-court tournaments before the french open. The qualifying period was supposed to end just after Roland Garros. We would have probably played the grass-court swing together as well leading up to the games. But now since the games are going to be held in 2021, we will re-assess our plans once we have more clarity on the situation. Hopefully, we will be able to qualify and get a medal for India at the 2021 Olympics. DSD: What will be the new normal once it does. Clearly no handshakes but even for a doubles player, there is another person on a court with you so doubles bonding may have to be redefined in the coming days. Divij Sharan: Yes, our daily life will change considerably in the post-virus world. The way we travel, communicate and plan our lives will not be the same. We might not be able to interact with the fans in the stadium, but I don't think our on-court conduct with our partners will change. A doubles pair spends a lot of time together away from the court as well, so I don't think a fist-bump or a high five will be a health danger. The on-court relationship between partners should not change. But there are bound to be drastic changes away from the court and it will be interesting to see what's in store. DSD: I always like to end these interviews on an optimistic note so what will Divij do when the lockdown is lifted and the world gets back to normality... Divij Sharan: I actually miss travelling, so it would be good to get back into my normal routine of going for tournaments. Obviously I would love to be back out on the court. I also haven't been able to meet my family in a while, so I hope I get the opportunity to fly back to Delhi soon. I like travelling by air and keep checking on my 'frequent flyer benefits' with airlines. Strangely I miss being in hotels as well since I'm so used to my nomadic life as a tennis player. Hopefully, I will be able to do all that soon.

Exclusive: ATP-WTA merger would be great for tennis - Divij Sharan opens up about Roger Federer's proposal, impact of COVID-19 in world of sports and more

With sporting calendar ripped into pieces due to COVID-19 pandemic, athletes have been restricted to train indoors amid the ongoing lockdown to curb the spread of the deadly virus. While the ongoing crisis has led to the cancellation or postponement of many high-profile tournaments, tennis is one of the sports to be hampered most by the dreaded virus. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 has been shifted to 2021 as well.

As sportspersons continue to find new ways to keep themselves in top shape and busy, Grand Slam champion, an Olympic semi-finalist, recipient of Arjuna Award and the reigning Asian Games gold medalist in men’s doubles, Rohan Bopanna, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo spoke about how he is spending his time at his ancestral place in Coorg, how tough is to maintain peak fitness without being able to train outdoors, how's his partnership with Sania Mirza is shaping up again, decision to postpone Tokyo Olympics and much more...&nbsp;

Digvijay Singh Deo: Rohan, it is fate isn’t it? Here we are locked up and there you are in your ancestral place...

Rohan Bopanna: Thanks very much Digvijay for having me on this special broadcast. Yes, I am in Coorg at my grandparents' place. I must say I’m fortunate to be in this part of the country during the lockdown.

We have our coffee plantation here, so I go for a run in the morning around the area. Just to be able to walk around this lovely estate is a pleasure. Coffee blossoms are in full swing so its a beautiful site. I don't often get the chance to be here that often, so it's really nice to be here and spend time with the family.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-we-are-all-in-it-together-mary-kom-opens-up-on-covid-19-pandemic-olympic-gold-dream-life-in-lockdown-and-more-290909" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'We are all in it together' - Mary Kom opens up on COVID-19 pandemic, Olympic gold dream, life in lockdown and more</a>

DSD: Coffee is something which is your passion these days so is that how you are spending your time in Coorg, figuring out new blends?

Rohan: Yes actually I have been exploring new types of coffees. One of my colleagues has come out with a new cold brew series. So I thought I’ll try it out as well because it is very simple to execute. My mother also likes to experiment with coffee liqueur, so she had dried some apricots three months ago, so I put it in the cold brew and it gave the coffee a real good taste. So it's a good time to try something different and explore new things. My sister was also here and I tried my hand at cooking some dishes with her, so overall it's been really fun.

<img alt="Rohan Bopanna" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="126d58d5-0952-438e-9b58-382b6871b2a9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1IE4GI.jpg" />

DSD:&nbsp;Now when the lockdown started in various parts of the world you were on India duty weren’t you returning from Croatia after the Davis Cup tie. You had a harrowing time getting back home. The virus doesn’t differentiate between fit sportspersons like you and unfit journalists like me. It is like a reset button has been hit around the world...

Rohan: I think you're one of the few fit sports journalists out there. But on a serious note, when I was leaving Croatia, I was actually going to Los Angeles via Doha. However, just an hour or so before our flight to la from Doha, we found out that the Indian wells tournament had been cancelled. We landed in Doha at about 11:30 pm on the 8th of march and our flight to LA was in the morning.

Even though we had a transit hotel booked, we couldn't leave the airport because the immigration authorities announced that citizens of certain countries- including India- would not be allowed to leave the airport premises. So obviously when we found out the Indian wells cancellation, we booked our flights to India, but our flight was at 8 pm on the next day. So we were stranded at the airport for almost 20 hours. But fortunately, the airport had a gym and a pool, so we used that and tried to keep ourselves busy.

But looking back, I’m glad that I found out about the Indian wells cancellation before our 16-hour flight to la, because it would have been a bigger problem if had reached the USA and then got to know about the suspension.

DSD: I was speaking to Mahesh Bhupathi last week and he was telling us how difficult it is to maintain peak fitness during a period like this. How are you managing? Do you have a tennis court there in Coorg?

Rohan: I think Mahesh has made a valid point, but another problem for us players is that we don't know when the tour will resume, it is very tough to prepare for the season when there is so much uncertainty around the restart. You can practice at home as much as you can, it's difficult to reach that peak fitness. There is a tennis court very close to my house in a club, but that is closed due to the lockdown so I can't use it.

I practice in my front yard with my niece and nephew for about an hour every day, giving them some lessons, they also play` at my academy in Bangalore. But coming back to the schedule, I think health and safety is everyone's number one priority at the moment. Once the global situation improves, then we can speak about the scheduling of the season and I think we will have enough time to prepare.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-virus-rewriting-history-books-in-tennis-mahesh-bhupathi-opens-up-on-wimbledon-cancellation-life-in-lockdown-and-more-290212" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more</a>

<img alt="Rohan Bopanna" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="655ea556-3c46-4eed-b979-1efd42bfa51c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1NL7PA.jpg" />

DSD: Do you have any indication as to when the tennis season can resume with clay and the grass-court season is now gone?

Rohan: It is definitely hard that we're missing all these tournaments. I personally enjoy playing on grass, so I was devastated to hear about the Wimbledon cancellation. But as athletes we cannot control any of these things, they are not in our hands. So we have to understand the situation and adapt to it. Health and safety is the priority at the moment and we have to follow the government's guidelines. This is not just a problem for tennis, it is a global crisis. So once the circumstances improve, then we will see things return to normalcy and things are no different for tennis. So think we need to be a little patient and hope for the best. Every person in the world has been affected by the COVID-19 virus.

DSD: Has this sudden break given you a new perspective about your career, considering how volatile things are? Have you drawn up a list of want to do before I retire?

Rohan: When an athlete is still playing, the thought process behind retirement is different. You take that decision when you are mentally prepared. Overnight when such a thing happens, it is difficult to reflect on your career. Yes, there is a new perspective because you're constantly thinking about something or the other. As the proverb goes, an idle mind is a devil's workshop. But the good things is that my wife and I were blessed with a beautiful baby daughter 10 months ago and we are fortunate that we are getting this time to spend with her.

DSD: Now the Olympics too have been postponed Rohan, you and Sania Mirza reached the medal round last time in Rio. Sania has just returned to the courts and now with some extra time do you think this will play into your hands?

Rohan: Yes we definitely have more time to prepare for the Olympics, but that time would only have been useful if we were playing. As you said, Sania has made her comeback, but she has not been able to really work on her game for the past month or so and same is the case with me. 
So the preparation all depends on when the tour starts, and I think we're going to lose at least another few months before it can resume. So the time would have helped if we were competing, but given the current situation, I don't think it makes much of a difference.

<img alt="Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b21435de-494a-4b90-9cc1-a78153a7c528" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV986388.jpg" />

DSD: Rio was your second games after London and both Olympics have been rather tumultuous in the buildup. But what do the Olympics mean for a sportsperson who competes in it?

Rohan: Firstly, I think it was the right decision to postpone the games, it was tough on some of the athletes who had already secured their spot for the games. But at this juncture, no other option was available.

Representing your country at the Olympics is the pinnacle of any sportsperson's career. It is a proud moment to be playing for your country at any event, let alone the Olympics. An athlete works so hard to reach that level and to be able to compete at that stage is something special. Even though I have participated in two games, I am so excited for the Tokyo Olympics and hopefully, I will be part of it. It just doesn't get bigger for an athlete than representing your country at the Olympics.

DSD: There is talk of the ATP and WTA tours coming up with some sort of relief package. The British Tennis Association has already announced something for players in the UK. What are you expecting from the tours, Rohan?

Rohan: It is very tough for every tennis player out there. It is like losing a job overnight. Some players might have been better prepared for this situation financially than others, that is obvious.

So far the ATP has no concrete plan in place to provide relief packages for the players. As players, there has been no communication from the ATP on the matter. But to be fair to the ATP as well, this is a completely unprecedented situation. Not just the financial aspect of it, they also have to decide on what to do with the rankings system. &nbsp;I think the ATP will come up with the right solution, it will definitely take some time, but they will certainly try to help the players as much as they can.

DSD: Mahesh was telling me that some of the Indian players will struggle if the tour does not resume. How dire is the situation across the world as you all earn a livelihood through the sport?

Rohan: Absolutely it is very difficult for the Indian players. At the moment I think it is best for the players to not overthink it too much, just settle into a routine take every day as it comes. But then again, they can't control these things, so hopefully, this phase will pass and things will get sorted out quickly.

<img alt="Rohan Bopanna" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84f28a9c-0a36-42db-908a-d416a606f650" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_PD4CU.jpg" />

DSD: A possibility exists of playing behind closed doors. Do you agree with that suggestion, as some money could flow into the player's pockets?

Rohan: I definitely am against the idea of playing behind closed doors. Events in tennis are not held in one country or one city, the tour takes place all around the world. So a lot more preparation goes in, the rules and regulations of each country also have to be kept in mind. In most countries, people will have to be quarantined once they reach. So due to the uncertainty surrounding all events at this time, I think it will be the wrong decision to allow tennis to be held behind closed doors.

The health and safety of each and every individual has to come first and we cannot endanger anyone in the world.

DSD: You were part of the video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days ago. What role can sportspersons play during times of crisis like this?

Rohan: First of all, it was inspiring for all the sportspersons who got a chance to speak to the prime minister. I am grateful for him to reach out to us during these times and ensure that our voices were heard. The Indian athletes have inspired so many people in the country, and getting all of them on board really sends the right message to the people.

Even if we can spread awareness to say 1 or 2 % of the population, then that is a good start. So it was a great initiative by the prime minister and the sports minister and it was special to share the platform with them and 50 other sportspersons. I'm glad that I could be part of such a cause. 
&nbsp;

With sporting calendar ripped into pieces due to COVID-19 pandemic, athletes have been restricted to train indoors amid the ongoing lockdown to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

With sporting calendar ripped into pieces due to COVID-19 pandemic, athletes have been restricted to train indoors amid the ongoing lockdown to curb the spread of the deadly virus. While the ongoing crisis has led to the cancellation or postponement of many high-profile tournaments, tennis is one of the sports to be hampered most by the dreaded virus. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 has been shifted to 2021 as well. As sportspersons continue to find new ways to keep themselves in top shape and busy, Grand Slam champion, an Olympic semi-finalist, recipient of Arjuna Award and the reigning Asian Games gold medalist in men’s doubles, Rohan Bopanna, in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo spoke about how he is spending his time at his ancestral place in Coorg, how tough is to maintain peak fitness without being able to train outdoors, how's his partnership with Sania Mirza is shaping up again, decision to postpone Tokyo Olympics and much more... Digvijay Singh Deo: Rohan, it is fate isn’t it? Here we are locked up and there you are in your ancestral place... Rohan Bopanna: Thanks very much Digvijay for having me on this special broadcast. Yes, I am in Coorg at my grandparents' place. I must say I’m fortunate to be in this part of the country during the lockdown. We have our coffee plantation here, so I go for a run in the morning around the area. Just to be able to walk around this lovely estate is a pleasure. Coffee blossoms are in full swing so its a beautiful site. I don't often get the chance to be here that often, so it's really nice to be here and spend time with the family. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'We are all in it together' - Mary Kom opens up on COVID-19 pandemic, Olympic gold dream, life in lockdown and more DSD: Coffee is something which is your passion these days so is that how you are spending your time in Coorg, figuring out new blends? Rohan: Yes actually I have been exploring new types of coffees. One of my colleagues has come out with a new cold brew series. So I thought I’ll try it out as well because it is very simple to execute. My mother also likes to experiment with coffee liqueur, so she had dried some apricots three months ago, so I put it in the cold brew and it gave the coffee a real good taste. So it's a good time to try something different and explore new things. My sister was also here and I tried my hand at cooking some dishes with her, so overall it's been really fun. DSD: Now when the lockdown started in various parts of the world you were on India duty weren’t you returning from Croatia after the Davis Cup tie. You had a harrowing time getting back home. The virus doesn’t differentiate between fit sportspersons like you and unfit journalists like me. It is like a reset button has been hit around the world... Rohan: I think you're one of the few fit sports journalists out there. But on a serious note, when I was leaving Croatia, I was actually going to Los Angeles via Doha. However, just an hour or so before our flight to la from Doha, we found out that the Indian wells tournament had been cancelled. We landed in Doha at about 11:30 pm on the 8th of march and our flight to LA was in the morning. Even though we had a transit hotel booked, we couldn't leave the airport because the immigration authorities announced that citizens of certain countries- including India- would not be allowed to leave the airport premises. So obviously when we found out the Indian wells cancellation, we booked our flights to India, but our flight was at 8 pm on the next day. So we were stranded at the airport for almost 20 hours. But fortunately, the airport had a gym and a pool, so we used that and tried to keep ourselves busy. But looking back, I’m glad that I found out about the Indian wells cancellation before our 16-hour flight to la, because it would have been a bigger problem if had reached the USA and then got to know about the suspension. DSD: I was speaking to Mahesh Bhupathi last week and he was telling us how difficult it is to maintain peak fitness during a period like this. How are you managing? Do you have a tennis court there in Coorg? Rohan: I think Mahesh has made a valid point, but another problem for us players is that we don't know when the tour will resume, it is very tough to prepare for the season when there is so much uncertainty around the restart. You can practice at home as much as you can, it's difficult to reach that peak fitness. There is a tennis court very close to my house in a club, but that is closed due to the lockdown so I can't use it. I practice in my front yard with my niece and nephew for about an hour every day, giving them some lessons, they also play` at my academy in Bangalore. But coming back to the schedule, I think health and safety is everyone's number one priority at the moment. Once the global situation improves, then we can speak about the scheduling of the season and I think we will have enough time to prepare. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more DSD: Do you have any indication as to when the tennis season can resume with clay and the grass-court season is now gone? Rohan: It is definitely hard that we're missing all these tournaments. I personally enjoy playing on grass, so I was devastated to hear about the Wimbledon cancellation. But as athletes we cannot control any of these things, they are not in our hands. So we have to understand the situation and adapt to it. Health and safety is the priority at the moment and we have to follow the government's guidelines. This is not just a problem for tennis, it is a global crisis. So once the circumstances improve, then we will see things return to normalcy and things are no different for tennis. So think we need to be a little patient and hope for the best. Every person in the world has been affected by the COVID-19 virus. DSD: Has this sudden break given you a new perspective about your career, considering how volatile things are? Have you drawn up a list of want to do before I retire? Rohan: When an athlete is still playing, the thought process behind retirement is different. You take that decision when you are mentally prepared. Overnight when such a thing happens, it is difficult to reflect on your career. Yes, there is a new perspective because you're constantly thinking about something or the other. As the proverb goes, an idle mind is a devil's workshop. But the good things is that my wife and I were blessed with a beautiful baby daughter 10 months ago and we are fortunate that we are getting this time to spend with her. DSD: Now the Olympics too have been postponed Rohan, you and Sania Mirza reached the medal round last time in Rio. Sania has just returned to the courts and now with some extra time do you think this will play into your hands? Rohan: Yes we definitely have more time to prepare for the Olympics, but that time would only have been useful if we were playing. As you said, Sania has made her comeback, but she has not been able to really work on her game for the past month or so and same is the case with me. So the preparation all depends on when the tour starts, and I think we're going to lose at least another few months before it can resume. So the time would have helped if we were competing, but given the current situation, I don't think it makes much of a difference. DSD: Rio was your second games after London and both Olympics have been rather tumultuous in the buildup. But what do the Olympics mean for a sportsperson who competes in it? Rohan: Firstly, I think it was the right decision to postpone the games, it was tough on some of the athletes who had already secured their spot for the games. But at this juncture, no other option was available. Representing your country at the Olympics is the pinnacle of any sportsperson's career. It is a proud moment to be playing for your country at any event, let alone the Olympics. An athlete works so hard to reach that level and to be able to compete at that stage is something special. Even though I have participated in two games, I am so excited for the Tokyo Olympics and hopefully, I will be part of it. It just doesn't get bigger for an athlete than representing your country at the Olympics. DSD: There is talk of the ATP and WTA tours coming up with some sort of relief package. The British Tennis Association has already announced something for players in the UK. What are you expecting from the tours, Rohan? Rohan: It is very tough for every tennis player out there. It is like losing a job overnight. Some players might have been better prepared for this situation financially than others, that is obvious. So far the ATP has no concrete plan in place to provide relief packages for the players. As players, there has been no communication from the ATP on the matter. But to be fair to the ATP as well, this is a completely unprecedented situation. Not just the financial aspect of it, they also have to decide on what to do with the rankings system. I think the ATP will come up with the right solution, it will definitely take some time, but they will certainly try to help the players as much as they can. DSD: Mahesh was telling me that some of the Indian players will struggle if the tour does not resume. How dire is the situation across the world as you all earn a livelihood through the sport? Rohan: Absolutely it is very difficult for the Indian players. At the moment I think it is best for the players to not overthink it too much, just settle into a routine take every day as it comes. But then again, they can't control these things, so hopefully, this phase will pass and things will get sorted out quickly. DSD: A possibility exists of playing behind closed doors. Do you agree with that suggestion, as some money could flow into the player's pockets? Rohan: I definitely am against the idea of playing behind closed doors. Events in tennis are not held in one country or one city, the tour takes place all around the world. So a lot more preparation goes in, the rules and regulations of each country also have to be kept in mind. In most countries, people will have to be quarantined once they reach. So due to the uncertainty surrounding all events at this time, I think it will be the wrong decision to allow tennis to be held behind closed doors. The health and safety of each and every individual has to come first and we cannot endanger anyone in the world. DSD: You were part of the video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days ago. What role can sportspersons play during times of crisis like this? Rohan: First of all, it was inspiring for all the sportspersons who got a chance to speak to the prime minister. I am grateful for him to reach out to us during these times and ensure that our voices were heard. The Indian athletes have inspired so many people in the country, and getting all of them on board really sends the right message to the people. Even if we can spread awareness to say 1 or 2 % of the population, then that is a good start. So it was a great initiative by the prime minister and the sports minister and it was special to share the platform with them and 50 other sportspersons. I'm glad that I could be part of such a cause.

Exclusive: 'Was devastated to hear about Wimbledon cancellation' - Rohan Bopanna opens up on fate of tennis season, relief package for players and more

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the entire sporting calendar shattered and tennis is one of the sports to be most affected by the dreaded virus. The AELTC on Wednesday announced that Wimbledon stands cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the dreaded virus and the 134th edition of the Championships will be staged from June 28, 2021, to July 11, 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the entire sporting calendar shattered and tennis is one of the sports to be most affected by the dreaded virus. The AELTC on Wednesday announced that Wimbledon stands cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the dreaded virus and the 134th edition of the Championships will be staged from June 28, 2021, to July 11, 2021. Earlier, the Rolland-Garros was postponed and will now be played from September 20 to October 4, 2020. While tennis players are bound to be a bit disappointed with the Wimbledon getting cancelled, but with the entire world facing an unprecedented scenario with the COVID-19 pandemic, this comes as a welcome move given the health concerns of everyone associated with the tournament. Ace Indian tennis player, Mahesh Bhupathi, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, gave his reactions to the cancellation of Wimbledon and opened up about a lot of things ranging from the idea of playing behind closed doors, the future of Roger Federer, tennis after COVID-19 pandemic, how he is spending his time during lockdown and much more. × Digvijay Singh Deo: Joined by one of the stalwarts of Indian sport and a three-time Wimbledon champion Mahesh Bhupathi. First reactions Mahesh, are you sad at the cancellation or was it inevitable? MB: As a tennis fan, I am heartbroken. Wimbledon has always been the epicenter of our sport. Even since I retired, I have spent every summer in London watching matches at sw19. But as sad as I am, the decision was expected given how serious the COVID-19 virus is, but hopefully, the situation will improve in the coming months and the sport will return soon. DSD: I’m going to play devils advocate here, Is it not too early to make that call, we are in early April? Wimbledon was scheduled for the end of June-almost three months away. The likes of Boris Becker were saying wait for some more time. MB: No I don't think so. A tournament of the magnitude of Wimbledon, within the time frame that it takes place in, generates a lot of revenue and involves a lot of planning. So all relevant stakeholders were consulted before the decision was taken. I know a lot of people in London who have contracted the virus and think the situation is only going to get worse, so I think the right decision was taken. A lot of factors have to be considered a lot of preparation goes into an event like this- for example, ball boys are trained from all over the world. So Wimbledon is always meticulous in their planning, and they felt like they wouldn't be able to do justice to the event. DSD: There also existed the option of playing behind closed doors, probably not the spectacle we would have wanted but across the world sporting bodies are waking up to that reality. Even England’s cricket world cup winning captain, Eoin Morgan offered the same solution to sports administrators on Wednesday. Do you think they should have been open to that idea? MB: I don't think playing without spectators is fair on the athletes, part of the experience is competing in front of packed houses which create the atmosphere and make the game more competitive. That's the setting in which an athlete thrives don't think it’s right to protect the fans and not the players or those people involved in the event. The players, umpires, ball boys and some staff will be present on the ground even if the tournament is held behind closed doors. So is it fair to put their health at risk to generate some TV revenue? DSD: There have been lots of reactions coming in across the board and predictably lots of disappointments. Why is Wimbledon so special to the players? MB: Wimbledon has always been and will continue to be the mecca of tennis. That is where the tennis world congregates once a year. Every grand slam winner and all the sport's big guns-past and present- are at the tournament. It's a celebration of the sport and that's something that the players will obviously miss. But at this time the health of the players and their families comes first. DSD: What you can’t control is father time and two of the most quoted reactions when it comes to the cancellation of Wimbledon are those of Roger Federer and Serena Williams, for both Wimbledon seemed to be a logical shot at winning another slam MB: The effect of the virus is going to be fairly significant when it comes to rewriting the history of the sport. This year's Wimbledon was probably Federer’s best opportunity to distance himself from his great rivals Rafael Nadal and Djokovic, in terms of the number of majors won. Serena Williams as well would have seen the tournament as a great opportunity to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slam singles titles. I hope both of them are back for the tournament in 2021, but I think maybe 10 years down the line when we look back at this period, this break could be a significant chapter in the history of the sport. DSD: This current lockdown could work out well for Federer, he took a break to have surgery and now he isn’t losing any ranking points with the Olympics now shifted by a year, you get the feeling that 2021 will be his goodbye year. MB: I’ve learnt the hard way over the last few years that you must not write off Roger Federer. Even four years ago, many were saying that Wimbledon could be his last slam, but that obviously wasn't the case. He has the incredible ability to play only 10 or 12 tournaments in a year, but play them at the highest level, which is partly god gifted. I wouldn't be surprised if Federer continues to play for another 2-3 years. But all the tennis players are getting a bit restless, not being able to play is something they have not known, so it is very frustrating for them. Devastated https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 1, 2020 × DSD: There are some who feel the entire tennis season is under threat, you need immense fitness in this sport, the confines of the home and gyms aren’t going to get you match fit. MB: when you are unable to train, you lose your cardio conditioning and getting that back doesn't happen overnight. I'm not sure if the entire season is finished, as the virus subsides, tournaments will come thick and fast. I think the offseason will definitely be cancelled. The ATP & WTA will try and organise as many events as they can at the end of the year. DSD: There is also the question of player livelihoods. The top fifty probably have the capacity to withstand the tours shutting down but there is a serious problem down the rung. MB: Some tennis players get paid a lot of money, but anyone below the ranking of 50 are not getting any income, their coaches aren't getting any money. The whole ecosystem of the sport is at a standstill, and I think the ATP & the WTA have to quickly figure things out for the near future. DSD: When you then look at that situation globally there are so many players who play on the Challenger Tour, the ITF Circuit, some for as much as 3000 dollars winning cheques. All of them have been essentially furloughed too and don’t have any government programs to bank upon. And how are the Indian players managing during these tough times? MB: These are tough times for not just the players who are ranked in the 200s, but even for the players ranked outside the top 50, they have absolutely no income. India's Sumit Nagal is currently in an academy in Germany and I’m sure he's struggling every week because there's no money to be made. I don't know what the exact solution to the problem is, but I’m sure the ATP & WTA working on something. There have been significant contributions the tours have made to the pension plans over the last few years, so I think if they declare 'force majeure', they can get some money in the players' hands, which is crucial. DSD: Do you think the ITF, the ATP tour and the WTA tour and other bodies have the capacity to come up with a sort of relief package for players? Yes, tournaments also are facing the brunt but most have insurance… MB: Yes, it's a pretty bad situation for the players, for example, if you're working for a company or play professionally for a team, most of the organisations are standing by their employees in these times by guaranteeing their jobs, even if there is a pay cut involved. But where tennis is concerned, it's an individual sport, so you're not employed by anyone and you're not getting a paycheque. So unless the tours are able to figure things out quickly, there will be more than just frustration from the players' side in a few months. DSD: The French Open has been unilaterally pushed back to September - same dates as Federer’s Laver Cup. How is that clash going to pan out in your opinion, it is unheard of players skipping grand slam in this era? MB: I think once the season resumes, if and when it does, events like the French open and Laver Cup, which are clashing will have to come to a compromise. I do not see any top players skipping the French Open, it's another slam to be won and none of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer would want the other to get ahead in the race. But if anyone skips it, it might be Federer because of his involvement with the Laver Cup. But apart from that, there has to be a compromise. Everyone is renegotiating what they committed to for the long term. That is the only way forward at this point in time. DSD: For you personally what’s the schedule like during the lockdown, getting back to fitness is something I can see on your social media profiles. MB: I try to exercise once a day at least and of course I have an eight-year-old daughter at home, so we have to keep her entertained the whole day, which is not an easy task. She's dying to get back to school, luckily for us she has online classes from Monday, so half the day is taken care of. But other than that just killing time and trying to catch up with as many friends as possible, making sure they're fine. View this post on Instagram No Gyms, No problem!! Work at home , build strength , build immunity , fight the virus !!! man behind the scene @yeshu_hardcore #familyworkout @larabhupathi @healthifyme A post shared by Mahesh Bhupathi (@mbhupathi) on Mar 14, 2020 at 12:06am PDT × DSD: You once had an e-mail id called Mahesh no 1, this was to do with the Govinda films of the nineties and not your world ranking at the time in doubles. Lots of movie watching for you at this time or you have already binge-watched most of what is available online? MB: Yes, I’m mostly watching re-runs of shows. But luckily new seasons of various series keep coming up, so there's something to binge on most of the time. Recently I saw 'Student of the Year' and 'Tanhaji' with my daughter. She enjoys watching the classics and I love giving her company.

Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more

Roland Garros chiefs insisted on Wednesday the French Open, delayed until September due to the coronavirus pandemic, will have fans attending even if they still have to abide by social distancing rules.

The claycourt Grand Slam, which should now have been into its first week under its traditional schedule, was pushed back by four months because of the outbreak.

However, tickets bought for the event in its May-June slot were reimbursed rather than transferred, prompting fears the tournament, now due to start on September 20, would be played behind closed doors.

"In the autumn, we will play Roland Garros with an optimum spectator capacity which allows fans to respect social distancing," Jean-Francois Vilotte, the director-general of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), told AFP.

A working group has already been created consisting of the ministries of sports and foreign affairs as well as Roland Garros officials and health bodies.

"The aim is that there will be spectators but we will have the capacity to organise Roland Garros whatever the option decided, including behind closed doors."

For the players, "the prize money is very important" as is the eco-system of tennis in France for which Roland Garros accounts for 80% of revenue.

If fans are to be welcome at the rescheduled tournament, then tickets would have to go on resale.

"We have set ourselves a deadline (for resale) ... but you will not know it," added Vilotte.&nbsp;

"It will be an exceptional tournament anyway," he said, adding the organisation was working on holding a "postponed tournament" and not a "downgraded" version.

<h2>- 'Roof baptised' -</h2>

In other words, juniors, singles, doubles and wheelchair tennis events will still be staged.

International tennis has been suspended globally since mid-March while Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II.

The US Open in New York, due to start on August 24, is still under a cloud with organisers due to decide its fate in mid-June.

Officials in Paris have played down hosting a Grand Slam outdoors in a European autumn.

They point to Roland Garros having eight floodlit courts, including all three showpiece arenas -- Philippe Chatrier, Suzanne Lenglen and Simonne Mathieu.

"The point is not to schedule matches late at night but to finish the matches started," said Vilotte, pointing out that night sessions will not start until the 2021 edition when the tournament slips back into its usual May-June home.

The risk of rain is greater in the autumn in Paris.&nbsp;

However, the Philippe Chatrier court at Roland Garros now has a roof, bringing the tournament into line with the other three majors.

"From the start, the objective was to respect the outdoor nature of the tournament," said Vilotte.

"It is not a closed court, contrary to what exists at Wimbledon, at the Australian Open and even at the US Open where the roofs hermetically seal the stadiums to air condition them."&nbsp;

The new roof on Chatrier has 11 metal and canvas sections, weighing 350 tons each for a total area of 10,000 square metres.

It can cover the sport's most famous clay court in 15 minutes, while allowing air to pass through the sides.&nbsp;

The efficiency of the roof, which cost 55 million euros ($60.45 million), was tested during torrential rains that lashed Paris a few weeks ago.&nbsp;

"It was baptised," said Vilotte. "The roof was absolutely not affected by these rains and the water drainage channels worked without any of them overflowing."

The Suzanne Lenglen court will also have a roof installed in time for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Roland Garros chiefs insisted on Wednesday the French Open, delayed until September due to the coronavirus pandemic, will have fans attending even if they still have to abide by social distancing rules.

Roland Garros chiefs insisted on Wednesday the French Open, delayed until September due to the coronavirus pandemic, will have fans attending even if they still have to abide by social distancing rules. The claycourt Grand Slam, which should now have been into its first week under its traditional schedule, was pushed back by four months because of the outbreak. However, tickets bought for the event in its May-June slot were reimbursed rather than transferred, prompting fears the tournament, now due to start on September 20, would be played behind closed doors. "In the autumn, we will play Roland Garros with an optimum spectator capacity which allows fans to respect social distancing," Jean-Francois Vilotte, the director-general of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), told AFP. A working group has already been created consisting of the ministries of sports and foreign affairs as well as Roland Garros officials and health bodies. "The aim is that there will be spectators but we will have the capacity to organise Roland Garros whatever the option decided, including behind closed doors." For the players, "the prize money is very important" as is the eco-system of tennis in France for which Roland Garros accounts for 80% of revenue. If fans are to be welcome at the rescheduled tournament, then tickets would have to go on resale. "We have set ourselves a deadline (for resale) ... but you will not know it," added Vilotte. "It will be an exceptional tournament anyway," he said, adding the organisation was working on holding a "postponed tournament" and not a "downgraded" version. - 'Roof baptised' - In other words, juniors, singles, doubles and wheelchair tennis events will still be staged. International tennis has been suspended globally since mid-March while Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II. The US Open in New York, due to start on August 24, is still under a cloud with organisers due to decide its fate in mid-June. Officials in Paris have played down hosting a Grand Slam outdoors in a European autumn. They point to Roland Garros having eight floodlit courts, including all three showpiece arenas -- Philippe Chatrier, Suzanne Lenglen and Simonne Mathieu. "The point is not to schedule matches late at night but to finish the matches started," said Vilotte, pointing out that night sessions will not start until the 2021 edition when the tournament slips back into its usual May-June home. The risk of rain is greater in the autumn in Paris. However, the Philippe Chatrier court at Roland Garros now has a roof, bringing the tournament into line with the other three majors. "From the start, the objective was to respect the outdoor nature of the tournament," said Vilotte. "It is not a closed court, contrary to what exists at Wimbledon, at the Australian Open and even at the US Open where the roofs hermetically seal the stadiums to air condition them." The new roof on Chatrier has 11 metal and canvas sections, weighing 350 tons each for a total area of 10,000 square metres. It can cover the sport's most famous clay court in 15 minutes, while allowing air to pass through the sides. The efficiency of the roof, which cost 55 million euros ($60.45 million), was tested during torrential rains that lashed Paris a few weeks ago. "It was baptised," said Vilotte. "The roof was absolutely not affected by these rains and the water drainage channels worked without any of them overflowing." The Suzanne Lenglen court will also have a roof installed in time for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Roland Garros planning for fans not empty seats

This year's tennis has faced massive setback after being on halt for almost all season due to coronavirus pandemic. But according to tennis legend Boris Becker, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the worst-affected due to the halt in games.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-possible-after-monsoons-can-live-without-spectators-before-normalcy-bcci-ceo-rahul-johri-300136" hreflang="en">IPL 2020 possible after monsoons:BCCI CEO Rahul Johri</a>

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the biggest icons in the tennis. Swiss ace Federer leads the men's list by winning 20 grand slams, whereas, Spaniard Rafael Nadal stands second and has won 19 grand slams.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/2021-last-option-for-tokyo-games-says-olympics-chief-300125" hreflang="en">2021 'last option' for Tokyo Games, says Olympics chief</a>

Becker feels that these icons have faced a heavy impact due to the cancellation of the games. He said: “The jury is out on which of the top tennis stars will suffer most from what could become a lost year."

“Nadal has won the French 12 times. He had a chance to equal Roger Federer there and that's something everybody probably thought would be possible, but now that's not happening,” Becker said.

38-year-old Federer will turn 39 in August, he is currently nursing a knee injury. But his age could make the matters worst.&nbsp;

“We know Roger Federer defies the odds, but he will be reaching 40 next year and he won't get any younger,” Becker added.

This year's tennis has faced massive setback after being on halt for almost all season due to coronavirus pandemic. But according to tennis legend Boris Becker, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the worst-affected due to the halt in games.

This year's tennis has faced massive setback after being on halt for almost all season due to coronavirus pandemic. But according to tennis legend Boris Becker, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the worst-affected due to the halt in games. Also read: IPL 2020 possible after monsoons:BCCI CEO Rahul Johri Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the biggest icons in the tennis. Swiss ace Federer leads the men's list by winning 20 grand slams, whereas, Spaniard Rafael Nadal stands second and has won 19 grand slams. Also read: 2021 'last option' for Tokyo Games, says Olympics chief Becker feels that these icons have faced a heavy impact due to the cancellation of the games. He said: “The jury is out on which of the top tennis stars will suffer most from what could become a lost year." “Nadal has won the French 12 times. He had a chance to equal Roger Federer there and that's something everybody probably thought would be possible, but now that's not happening,” Becker said. 38-year-old Federer will turn 39 in August, he is currently nursing a knee injury. But his age could make the matters worst. “We know Roger Federer defies the odds, but he will be reaching 40 next year and he won't get any younger,” Becker added.

Nadal and Federer to lose the most during the pandemic shutdown: Boris Becker

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has paired up with Sporting Chance and Headspace to help players and its staff deal with mental health problems and health issues during the times of coronavirus.

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has paired up with Sporting Chance and Headspace to help players and its staff deal with mental health problems and health issues during the times of coronavirus. This tennis season had come to halt since March due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be set to remain suspended till July. Due to the shutdown, players at the lower level have faced difficulties as they solely depended on tournament winnings of the chance to earn a living. The uncertainty over the resumption of the sport has left many players anxious. ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi released a statement on the website which read: "Being mentally strong is just as important as physical strength in tennis and looking after the mental health of our players and staff is a key priority for us." "Everyone has been adapting to periods of self-isolation and decreased physical activity during the pandemic, but this can have a particularly detrimental effect on professional athletes who are used to particular training structure and playing day in day out." Sporting Chance was founded by former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams which helps with emotional welfare and addictive disorders, it also gives players access to therapists experienced in working with elite athletes. He said: "The challenges that all sports and sports professionals are experiencing in the light of this pandemic will be affecting all of us in different ways." "Holding out our hand to those in need at this time is important to me and working with organisations like the ATP is a pleasure – well done Tennis!" The other partner Headspace will provide free subscriptions to ATP players and employees, giving them access to all 1200+ hours of meditation and mindfulness content. (With inputs from agency)

Tennis: ATP pairs up with Sporting Chance and Headspace to help players with mental health

US superstar Serena Williams says she's ready to play "real tennis" after the enforced rest of coronavirus quarantine.

"I really look forward to getting back on the court," the 23-time Grand Slam champion said in a chat with elder sister Venus during an Instagram live workout on Tuesday.

"It's what I do best. I absolutely love playing."

Tennis is on hiatus until at least mid-July thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the French Open postponed until autumn and Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II.

Serena said she'd come to see the break as "a necessary evil.

"I felt like my body needed it, even though I didn't want it," said the 38-year-old, who last won a Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open. "And now I'm feeling better than ever. I'm feeling more relaxed, more fit. Now I can go out and play real tennis."

Elder sister Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, began posting workouts on Instagram eight weeks ago and this week she invited Serena, "the greatest tennis player to ever exist -- my little sister" to share a yoga-inspired stretching session.

Serena said the exercises, which took about half an hour, served as a warm-up for her, even though they were "a little intense."

"Do not injure yourself doing this," she admonished during one lunge, while advising at another point:&nbsp; "If you have bad knees, like me, use a pad."

US superstar Serena Williams says she's ready to play "real tennis" after the enforced rest of coronavirus quarantine. "I really look forward to getting back on the court," the 23-time Grand Slam champion said in a chat with elder sister Venus during an Instagram live workout on Tuesday.

US superstar Serena Williams says she's ready to play "real tennis" after the enforced rest of coronavirus quarantine. "I really look forward to getting back on the court," the 23-time Grand Slam champion said in a chat with elder sister Venus during an Instagram live workout on Tuesday. "It's what I do best. I absolutely love playing." Tennis is on hiatus until at least mid-July thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the French Open postponed until autumn and Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II. Serena said she'd come to see the break as "a necessary evil. "I felt like my body needed it, even though I didn't want it," said the 38-year-old, who last won a Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open. "And now I'm feeling better than ever. I'm feeling more relaxed, more fit. Now I can go out and play real tennis." Elder sister Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, began posting workouts on Instagram eight weeks ago and this week she invited Serena, "the greatest tennis player to ever exist -- my little sister" to share a yoga-inspired stretching session. Serena said the exercises, which took about half an hour, served as a warm-up for her, even though they were "a little intense." "Do not injure yourself doing this," she admonished during one lunge, while advising at another point: "If you have bad knees, like me, use a pad."

Serena eager to return after lockdown break

Tennis Australia conceded Thursday that January's Australian Open faces cancellation under a worst-case scenario, but said it was looking at a range of options in hope the COVID-19 crisis eases.

This year's tennis calendar has been suspended until at least July 13 and, with global borders closed, there is uncertainty about when the international circuit can resume.

The season-opening Grand Slam is scheduled to take place in Melbourne from January 18-31, more than eight months away, and Tennis Australia said it would abide by whatever restrictions were in place at that time.

"We've certainly made no secret about the number of scenarios that we're looking at," a spokeswoman told AFP.

"We're hoping for the best but planning for everything."

Possibilities range from cancellation to imposing quarantine on overseas players and allowing only Australian fans into the event.

"We have to look at all the angles because a lot of the decisions will be beyond our control and related to government guidelines and restrictions," she said.&nbsp;

"We do need to have all the protocols in place to ensure everyone's safety."

This year's Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since World War II and the French Open postponed until the end of September.

The United States Tennis Association will decide in mid-June whether or not the US Open will be able to begin on schedule in New York in August.

Australia has banned all travel into the island nation for non-residents.

While talks have begun on opening up borders to neighbouring New Zealand, which like Australia has successfully controlled the epidemic, officials have said it could be many months before other international arrivals will be allowed.&nbsp;

Tennis Australia conceded Thursday that January's Australian Open faces cancellation under a worst-case scenario, but said it was looking at a range of options in hope the COVID-19 crisis eases.

Tennis Australia conceded Thursday that January's Australian Open faces cancellation under a worst-case scenario, but said it was looking at a range of options in hope the COVID-19 crisis eases. This year's tennis calendar has been suspended until at least July 13 and, with global borders closed, there is uncertainty about when the international circuit can resume. The season-opening Grand Slam is scheduled to take place in Melbourne from January 18-31, more than eight months away, and Tennis Australia said it would abide by whatever restrictions were in place at that time. "We've certainly made no secret about the number of scenarios that we're looking at," a spokeswoman told AFP. "We're hoping for the best but planning for everything." Possibilities range from cancellation to imposing quarantine on overseas players and allowing only Australian fans into the event. "We have to look at all the angles because a lot of the decisions will be beyond our control and related to government guidelines and restrictions," she said. "We do need to have all the protocols in place to ensure everyone's safety." This year's Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since World War II and the French Open postponed until the end of September. The United States Tennis Association will decide in mid-June whether or not the US Open will be able to begin on schedule in New York in August. Australia has banned all travel into the island nation for non-residents. While talks have begun on opening up borders to neighbouring New Zealand, which like Australia has successfully controlled the epidemic, officials have said it could be many months before other international arrivals will be allowed.

Australian Open organisers admit cancellation possible

A relief fund set up by the international governing bodies of tennis to assist players hit by the coronavirus pandemic has raised more than $6 million, the ATP Tour said Tuesday.

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The ATP, WTA, four Grand Slam tournaments and the International Tennis Federation had all joined forces to create the fund, the ATP Tour said in a statement.

The fund was created with world tennis at a standstill since the beginning of March because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nadal-i-see-2020-as-practically-lost-for-tennis-296843" hreflang="en">Nadal: 'I see 2020 as practically lost' for tennis</a>

Funds from the programme will be distributed by the ATP and WTA and will target roughly 800 singles and doubles players from both tours.

Eligibility for cash from the funds will be determined by ranking and previous prize money earnings, the ATP said.

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc with international tennis, forcing the cancellation or postponement of dozens of tournaments, notably the Wimbledon Championships and the French Open at Roland Garros.

According to reports in the US, each of the four Grand Slam events -- US Open, Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon -- chipped in $1 million each to the fund.

The WTA and ATP Tours were also reported to have added $1 million each.

The fund is designed to benefit men's and women's players ranked outside of the top 200 in the world in singles.

A relief fund set up by the international governing bodies of tennis to assist players hit by the coronavirus pandemic has raised more than $6 million, the ATP Tour said Tuesday.

A relief fund set up by the international governing bodies of tennis to assist players hit by the coronavirus pandemic has raised more than $6 million, the ATP Tour said Tuesday. Also read: Bullish market in Nike’s Michael Jordan sneakers after the blockbuster series release online The ATP, WTA, four Grand Slam tournaments and the International Tennis Federation had all joined forces to create the fund, the ATP Tour said in a statement. The fund was created with world tennis at a standstill since the beginning of March because of the COVID-19 crisis. Also read: Nadal: 'I see 2020 as practically lost' for tennis Funds from the programme will be distributed by the ATP and WTA and will target roughly 800 singles and doubles players from both tours. Eligibility for cash from the funds will be determined by ranking and previous prize money earnings, the ATP said. The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc with international tennis, forcing the cancellation or postponement of dozens of tournaments, notably the Wimbledon Championships and the French Open at Roland Garros. According to reports in the US, each of the four Grand Slam events -- US Open, Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon -- chipped in $1 million each to the fund. The WTA and ATP Tours were also reported to have added $1 million each. The fund is designed to benefit men's and women's players ranked outside of the top 200 in the world in singles.

Coronavirus: Tennis relief fund raises $6 million

Rafael Nadal has said he views the rest of this year as "practically lost" for tennis and would even be relieved if the sport returned as normal at the start of 2021.

The men's and women's tours have been stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II and the French Open postponed until the end of September.&nbsp;

But Nadal, who has won 12 of his 19 grand slam titles at Roland Garros, believes the chances of tennis restarting before the end of this year are slim.&nbsp;

"I hope to play as soon as possible but if I think about it logically, we travel every week from one place to another, we are in contact with hotels, airports, all in different places," Nadal said in an interview with Spanish newspaper ABC on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"If you gave me the ability to guarantee that in January 2021, a normal season like before will begin, I would sign for that now with my eyes closed."

In a separate interview with El Pais, Nadal said: "I'm more looking to the Australian Open than what happens later this year. I see 2020 as practically lost."&nbsp;

Nadal at 33 is in the latter stages of his illustrious career and the hiatus came just as he looked to be closing in on the 20 major titles won by the 38-year-old Roger Federer.&nbsp;

If tennis returns this summer, Nadal could choose to skip the US Open and save himself for the French, given there would be just a week between the two.&nbsp;

"It's all hypothetical because I don't think it will be like that," said Nadal to ABC. "My feeling, and I say it with sadness and I won't lie to you, is that we are losing a year of our lives.&nbsp;

"And at 33 or 34 years old that is much more valuable than at 20 when you have many more years ahead, even if it's still a year.&nbsp;

"Frankly, I think that will not happen. From the US Open to Roland Garros with a week in between, I just don't think we can play."&nbsp;

Rafael Nadal has said he views the rest of this year as "practically lost" for tennis and would even be relieved if the sport returned as normal at the start of 2021.

Rafael Nadal has said he views the rest of this year as "practically lost" for tennis and would even be relieved if the sport returned as normal at the start of 2021. The men's and women's tours have been stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II and the French Open postponed until the end of September. But Nadal, who has won 12 of his 19 grand slam titles at Roland Garros, believes the chances of tennis restarting before the end of this year are slim. "I hope to play as soon as possible but if I think about it logically, we travel every week from one place to another, we are in contact with hotels, airports, all in different places," Nadal said in an interview with Spanish newspaper ABC on Tuesday. "If you gave me the ability to guarantee that in January 2021, a normal season like before will begin, I would sign for that now with my eyes closed." In a separate interview with El Pais, Nadal said: "I'm more looking to the Australian Open than what happens later this year. I see 2020 as practically lost." Nadal at 33 is in the latter stages of his illustrious career and the hiatus came just as he looked to be closing in on the 20 major titles won by the 38-year-old Roger Federer. If tennis returns this summer, Nadal could choose to skip the US Open and save himself for the French, given there would be just a week between the two. "It's all hypothetical because I don't think it will be like that," said Nadal to ABC. "My feeling, and I say it with sadness and I won't lie to you, is that we are losing a year of our lives. "And at 33 or 34 years old that is much more valuable than at 20 when you have many more years ahead, even if it's still a year. "Frankly, I think that will not happen. From the US Open to Roland Garros with a week in between, I just don't think we can play."

Nadal: 'I see 2020 as practically lost' for tennis

Australian tennis maverick Nick Kyrgios invited Rafael Nadal to take part in a cosy video chat on Sunday despite their stormy on-court relationship.

As the coronavirus has sent the tennis season into hibernation until July 13 at the earliest, a host of players have recently taken to social media for face-to-face exchanges.

So, on Sunday, after the BBC had asked for suggestions as to the most sought-after facetimes, Kyrgios was quick to respond.

"Rafa lets do Instagram live together.&nbsp;I am down with it. Rafael Nadal let's do it," wrote the Australian on Instagram.

Kyrgios and Nadal have endured a bitter relationship on court.

Last year, the 19-time Grand Slam winner accused the Australian of "lacking respect" after Kyrgios won a stormy encounter in Mexico.

Kyrgios responded by claiming the Spanish world number two was "super-salty".

They met again at Wimbledon last summer when Nadal won but fumed after the Australian appeared to spear a ball directly at him.

Australian tennis maverick Nick Kyrgios invited Rafael Nadal to take part in a cosy video chat on Sunday despite their stormy on-court relationship. As the coronavirus has sent the tennis season into hibernation until July 13 at the earliest, a host of players have recently taken to social media for face-to-face exchanges.

Australian tennis maverick Nick Kyrgios invited Rafael Nadal to take part in a cosy video chat on Sunday despite their stormy on-court relationship. As the coronavirus has sent the tennis season into hibernation until July 13 at the earliest, a host of players have recently taken to social media for face-to-face exchanges. So, on Sunday, after the BBC had asked for suggestions as to the most sought-after facetimes, Kyrgios was quick to respond. "Rafa lets do Instagram live together. I am down with it. Rafael Nadal let's do it," wrote the Australian on Instagram. Kyrgios and Nadal have endured a bitter relationship on court. Last year, the 19-time Grand Slam winner accused the Australian of "lacking respect" after Kyrgios won a stormy encounter in Mexico. Kyrgios responded by claiming the Spanish world number two was "super-salty". They met again at Wimbledon last summer when Nadal won but fumed after the Australian appeared to spear a ball directly at him.

Kyrgios tells bitter rival Nadal: 'Let's do Insta'

Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, all the sporting events have come to a halt. Tennis has been on a pause since early March due to the infectious virus. But the authorities have come down to a date when the sport could return and that date is July 13.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-ace-novak-djokovic-refuses-to-get-vaccinated-for-covid-19-to-return-to-game-293575">Tennis Ace Novak Djokovic refuses to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to return to game</a>

However, there are no guarantees regarding the date yet. The game could still be on a halt for the whole of 2020 if the vaccine is not available for the pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kobe-university-professor-very-pessimistic-about-olympics-being-held-in-2021-293566" hreflang="en">Kobe University professor 'very pessimistic' about Olympics being held in 2021</a>

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic during a live session with Fabio Fognini on Instagram has said that the game could restart at the regional level with no rank points. He said: “I think there will be more regional prize money tournaments. I think this is what’s going to happen very soon.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen with quarantine. Spain, Italy, and all the other countries in the world will probably have different models (to come out of it).”

“It will be difficult to start the tour because our tour is every week in different countries.

“So I think there will be regional prize money tournaments, but probably not (rankings) points at the moment because it’s very complicated,” Novak added.&nbsp;

The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12.

Djokovic made a flying start to the 2020 season, winning the Aussie Open in January for his 17th grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 matches before the pandemic brought sports events across the world to a halt.&nbsp;

Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic had earlier opposed if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, all the sporting events have come to a halt. Tennis has been on a pause since early March due to the infectious virus. But the authorities have come down to a date when the sport could return and that date is July 13.

Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, all the sporting events have come to a halt. Tennis has been on a pause since early March due to the infectious virus. But the authorities have come down to a date when the sport could return and that date is July 13. Also read: Tennis Ace Novak Djokovic refuses to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to return to game However, there are no guarantees regarding the date yet. The game could still be on a halt for the whole of 2020 if the vaccine is not available for the pandemic. Also read: Kobe University professor 'very pessimistic' about Olympics being held in 2021 World No. 1 Novak Djokovic during a live session with Fabio Fognini on Instagram has said that the game could restart at the regional level with no rank points. He said: “I think there will be more regional prize money tournaments. I think this is what’s going to happen very soon.” “I don’t know what’s going to happen with quarantine. Spain, Italy, and all the other countries in the world will probably have different models (to come out of it).” “It will be difficult to start the tour because our tour is every week in different countries. “So I think there will be regional prize money tournaments, but probably not (rankings) points at the moment because it’s very complicated,” Novak added. The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12. Djokovic made a flying start to the 2020 season, winning the Aussie Open in January for his 17th grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 matches before the pandemic brought sports events across the world to a halt. Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic had earlier opposed if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tennis will resume on regional level with no ranking points, predicts Novak Djokovic

Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic has opposed if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world number one said.

Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic has opposed if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world number one said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kobe-university-professor-very-pessimistic-about-olympics-being-held-in-2021-293566" hreflang="en">Kobe University professor 'very pessimistic' about Olympics being held in 2021</a>

“Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” Djokovic said in a live Facebook chat with several fellow Serbian athletes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/resumption-of-champions-league-in-august-postponement-of-202021-ucl-season-likely-reports-293535" hreflang="en">Resumption of Champions League in August; postponement of 2020/21 UCL season likely: Reports</a>

"But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.

"Hypothetically, if the season was to resume in July, August or September, though unlikely, I understand that a vaccine will become a requirement straight after we are out of strict quarantine and there is no vaccine yet."

Medical experts have said that vaccines against the respiratory virus would not be available until next year, raising concerns&nbsp;whether any further tennis tournaments can be contested this year.

Wimbledon was cancelled on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, the first time since World War II that the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament won't be played.

The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12.

Djokovic made a flying start to the 2020 season, winning the Aussie Open in January for his 17th grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 matches before the pandemic brought sports events across the world to a halt.&nbsp;

“Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” Djokovic said in a live Facebook chat with several fellow Serbian athletes.

“But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.

“Hypothetically, if the season was to resume in July, August or September, though unlikely, I understand that a vaccine will become a requirement straight after we are out of strict quarantine and there is no vaccine yet."

Medical experts have said that vaccines against the respiratory virus would not be available until next year, raising doubts whether any further tennis tournaments can be contested this year.

Wimbledon was cancelled on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, the first time since World War II that the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament won't be played.

The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12.

Djokovic made a dream&nbsp;start to the 2020 season, winning the Aussie Open in January for his 17th grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 matches before the pandemic brought sports events across the world to a halt.&nbsp;

Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic has opposed if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world number one said.

Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic has opposed if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world number one said. Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic has opposed if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world number one said. Also read: Kobe University professor 'very pessimistic' about Olympics being held in 2021 “Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” Djokovic said in a live Facebook chat with several fellow Serbian athletes. Also read: Resumption of Champions League in August; postponement of 2020/21 UCL season likely: Reports "But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know. "Hypothetically, if the season was to resume in July, August or September, though unlikely, I understand that a vaccine will become a requirement straight after we are out of strict quarantine and there is no vaccine yet." Medical experts have said that vaccines against the respiratory virus would not be available until next year, raising concerns whether any further tennis tournaments can be contested this year. Wimbledon was cancelled on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, the first time since World War II that the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament won't be played. The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12. Djokovic made a flying start to the 2020 season, winning the Aussie Open in January for his 17th grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 matches before the pandemic brought sports events across the world to a halt. “Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” Djokovic said in a live Facebook chat with several fellow Serbian athletes. “But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know. “Hypothetically, if the season was to resume in July, August or September, though unlikely, I understand that a vaccine will become a requirement straight after we are out of strict quarantine and there is no vaccine yet." Medical experts have said that vaccines against the respiratory virus would not be available until next year, raising doubts whether any further tennis tournaments can be contested this year. Wimbledon was cancelled on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, the first time since World War II that the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament won't be played. The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12. Djokovic made a dream start to the 2020 season, winning the Aussie Open in January for his 17th grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 matches before the pandemic brought sports events across the world to a halt.

Tennis Ace Novak Djokovic refuses to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to return to game

Rafael Nadal thinks the global nature of tennis means there is little chance tournaments will go ahead any time soon as sport continues to be paralysed by the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Novak Djokovic also anticipates a lengthy delay before tennis can be played even behind closed doors, with the world number one expecting players to have to wait a "few months".&nbsp;

The French Open, which Nadal has won a record 12 times, has been postponed until September, shortly after the US Open, while Wimbledon was cancelled earlier this month for the first time since World War II.&nbsp;

But the prospect of either grand slams at Roland Garros or Flushing Meadows being played with fans appears increasingly remote.&nbsp;

"Tennis is a global sport," Nadal told Spanish radio station Onda Cero on Wednesday night. "We go from country to country and a lot of people have to move around.&nbsp;

"It seems difficult to me for any big tournament to be played in the short or medium term."&nbsp;

Football's major leagues are preparing to play behind closed doors for several weeks to complete their seasons and avoid losing considerable sums of money from broadcasting contracts.&nbsp;

But tennis tournaments are more reliant on fans for their income, making it more complicated to stage competitions in empty stadiums.

"It is not an easy decision," Djokovic told the same programme. "I am ready but I think we have to wait a few months."&nbsp;

"If you could play behind closed doors, I would be delighted but I think it's very difficult," added Nadal.&nbsp;

Rafael Nadal thinks the global nature of tennis means there is little chance tournaments will go ahead any time soon as sport continues to be paralysed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Rafael Nadal thinks the global nature of tennis means there is little chance tournaments will go ahead any time soon as sport continues to be paralysed by the coronavirus pandemic. Novak Djokovic also anticipates a lengthy delay before tennis can be played even behind closed doors, with the world number one expecting players to have to wait a "few months". The French Open, which Nadal has won a record 12 times, has been postponed until September, shortly after the US Open, while Wimbledon was cancelled earlier this month for the first time since World War II. But the prospect of either grand slams at Roland Garros or Flushing Meadows being played with fans appears increasingly remote. "Tennis is a global sport," Nadal told Spanish radio station Onda Cero on Wednesday night. "We go from country to country and a lot of people have to move around. "It seems difficult to me for any big tournament to be played in the short or medium term." Football's major leagues are preparing to play behind closed doors for several weeks to complete their seasons and avoid losing considerable sums of money from broadcasting contracts. But tennis tournaments are more reliant on fans for their income, making it more complicated to stage competitions in empty stadiums. "It is not an easy decision," Djokovic told the same programme. "I am ready but I think we have to wait a few months." "If you could play behind closed doors, I would be delighted but I think it's very difficult," added Nadal.

Rafael Nadal expecting lengthy wait before tennis returns

American teenager Coco Gauff on Thursday revealed that she struggled with depression, for around a year, amid the extreme hype surrounding her and the mental pressure brought on by her rapid rise in the world of tennis. Gauff said that she had to rediscover herself and her love for the game after suffering from depression for almost a year.

The 16-year-old has taken the tennis world by storm due to her talent and sheer athleticism on the court. Gauff had enjoyed a splendid run since July 2019 when she qualified to the fourth round of Wimbledon in what was her first-ever major championship appearance.&nbsp;

Continuing her blistering rise in the tennis world, Gauff also reached the fourth round of Australian Open, on her debut, while breaking into the top 50 in the WTA rankings as she became the first 15-year-old old to achieve the feat in 15 years.&nbsp;

“Throughout my life, I was always the youngest to do things, which added hype that I didn’t want,” Gauff wrote in a post for Behind The Racquet.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-australia-to-stand-down-all-but-skeleton-staff-from-april-27-until-end-of-the-financial-year-amid-covid-19-pandemic-292852" hreflang="en">Cricket Australia to stand down all but skeleton staff, from April 27 until end of the financial year amid COVID-19 pandemic</a>

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B--kAqng-fo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Repost from @behindtheracquet “Throughout my life, I was always the youngest to do things, which added hype that I didn’t want. It added this pressure that I needed to do well fast. Once I let that all go, I started to have the results I wanted. Right before Wimbledon, going back to around 2017/18, I was struggling to figure out if this was really what I wanted. I always had the results so that wasn’t the issue, I just found myself not enjoying what I loved. I realized I needed to start playing for myself and not other people. For about a year I was really depressed. That was the toughest year for me so far. Even though I had, it felt like there weren’t many friends there for me. When you are in that dark mindset you don’t look on the bright side of things too often, which is the hardest part. I don’t think it had much to do with tennis, maybe just about juggling it all. I knew that I wanted to play tennis but didn’t know how I wanted to go about it. It went so far that I was thinking about possibly taking a year off to just focus on life. Choosing not to obviously was the right choice but I was close to not going in that direction. I was just lost. I was confused and overthinking if this was what I wanted or what others did. It took many moments sitting, thinking and crying. I came out of it stronger and knowing myself better than ever. Everyone asks me how I stay calm on court and I think it’s because I accepted who I am after overcoming low points in my life. Now, when I’m on court, I am just really thankful to be out there. Personally for me, I like playing for more than myself. One of the biggest things is to continue breaking barriers. At the same time I don’t like being compared to Serena or Venus. First, I am not at their level yet. I always feel like it’s not fair to the Williams sisters to be compared to someone who is just coming up. It just doesn’t feel right yet, I still look at them as my idols. With all their accolades I shouldn’t be put in the same group yet. Of course I hope to get to where they are but they are the two women that set the pathway for myself, which is why I can never be them.” @cocogauff Go to behindtheracquet.com for extended</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cocogauff/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Coco Gauff</a> (@cocogauff) on <time datetime="2020-04-14T22:10:15+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 14, 2020 at 3:10pm PDT</time>
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“It added this pressure that I needed to do well fast.

“Right before Wimbledon, going back to around 2017/18, I was struggling to figure out if this was really what I wanted. I always had the results so that wasn’t the issue, I just found myself not enjoying what I loved.

“I realised I needed to start playing for myself and not other people. For about a year I was really depressed. That was the toughest year for me so far.”

“Choosing not to obviously was the right choice but I was close to not going in that direction. I was just lost,” she said. “I was confused and overthinking if this was what I wanted or what others did.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-might-be-a-good-idea-to-look-at-quarantine-facility-for-olympic-hopefuls-pullela-gopichand-opens-up-on-postponed-games-and-more-292727" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Might be a good idea to look at quarantine facility for Olympic hopefuls' - Pullela Gopichand opens up on postponed Games and more</a>

“It took many moments sitting, thinking and crying. I came out of it stronger and knowing myself better than ever.”

Gauff has been hailed as a long-term successor to legend Serena Williams. Gauff stated that while she is getting used to being a role model for people, she doesn’t like being compared to Serena or her sister Venus.

Gauff said it is not fair to compare her with the Williams sister as she still looks at them as her idols.&nbsp;

“First, I am not at their level yet. I always feel like it’s not fair to the Williams sisters to be compared to someone who is just coming up,” she added.

“It just doesn’t feel right yet, I still look at them as my idols.

“Of course I hope to get to where they are but they are the two women that set the pathway for myself, which is why I can never be them.

“I would never have even thought about joining tennis, without them a part of it, since there were very few African Americans in the sport.”

American teenager Coco Gauff on Thursday revealed that she struggled with depression, for around a year, amid the extreme hype surrounding her and the mental pressure brought on by her rapid rise in the world of tennis.

American teenager Coco Gauff on Thursday revealed that she struggled with depression, for around a year, amid the extreme hype surrounding her and the mental pressure brought on by her rapid rise in the world of tennis. Gauff said that she had to rediscover herself and her love for the game after suffering from depression for almost a year. The 16-year-old has taken the tennis world by storm due to her talent and sheer athleticism on the court. Gauff had enjoyed a splendid run since July 2019 when she qualified to the fourth round of Wimbledon in what was her first-ever major championship appearance. Continuing her blistering rise in the tennis world, Gauff also reached the fourth round of Australian Open, on her debut, while breaking into the top 50 in the WTA rankings as she became the first 15-year-old old to achieve the feat in 15 years. “Throughout my life, I was always the youngest to do things, which added hype that I didn’t want,” Gauff wrote in a post for Behind The Racquet. ALSO READ: Cricket Australia to stand down all but skeleton staff, from April 27 until end of the financial year amid COVID-19 pandemic View this post on Instagram Repost from @behindtheracquet “Throughout my life, I was always the youngest to do things, which added hype that I didn’t want. It added this pressure that I needed to do well fast. Once I let that all go, I started to have the results I wanted. Right before Wimbledon, going back to around 2017/18, I was struggling to figure out if this was really what I wanted. I always had the results so that wasn’t the issue, I just found myself not enjoying what I loved. I realized I needed to start playing for myself and not other people. For about a year I was really depressed. That was the toughest year for me so far. Even though I had, it felt like there weren’t many friends there for me. When you are in that dark mindset you don’t look on the bright side of things too often, which is the hardest part. I don’t think it had much to do with tennis, maybe just about juggling it all. I knew that I wanted to play tennis but didn’t know how I wanted to go about it. It went so far that I was thinking about possibly taking a year off to just focus on life. Choosing not to obviously was the right choice but I was close to not going in that direction. I was just lost. I was confused and overthinking if this was what I wanted or what others did. It took many moments sitting, thinking and crying. I came out of it stronger and knowing myself better than ever. Everyone asks me how I stay calm on court and I think it’s because I accepted who I am after overcoming low points in my life. Now, when I’m on court, I am just really thankful to be out there. Personally for me, I like playing for more than myself. One of the biggest things is to continue breaking barriers. At the same time I don’t like being compared to Serena or Venus. First, I am not at their level yet. I always feel like it’s not fair to the Williams sisters to be compared to someone who is just coming up. It just doesn’t feel right yet, I still look at them as my idols. With all their accolades I shouldn’t be put in the same group yet. Of course I hope to get to where they are but they are the two women that set the pathway for myself, which is why I can never be them.” @cocogauff Go to behindtheracquet.com for extended A post shared by Coco Gauff (@cocogauff) on Apr 14, 2020 at 3:10pm PDT × “It added this pressure that I needed to do well fast. “Right before Wimbledon, going back to around 2017/18, I was struggling to figure out if this was really what I wanted. I always had the results so that wasn’t the issue, I just found myself not enjoying what I loved. “I realised I needed to start playing for myself and not other people. For about a year I was really depressed. That was the toughest year for me so far.” “Choosing not to obviously was the right choice but I was close to not going in that direction. I was just lost,” she said. “I was confused and overthinking if this was what I wanted or what others did. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Might be a good idea to look at quarantine facility for Olympic hopefuls' - Pullela Gopichand opens up on postponed Games and more “It took many moments sitting, thinking and crying. I came out of it stronger and knowing myself better than ever.” Gauff has been hailed as a long-term successor to legend Serena Williams. Gauff stated that while she is getting used to being a role model for people, she doesn’t like being compared to Serena or her sister Venus. Gauff said it is not fair to compare her with the Williams sister as she still looks at them as her idols. “First, I am not at their level yet. I always feel like it’s not fair to the Williams sisters to be compared to someone who is just coming up,” she added. “It just doesn’t feel right yet, I still look at them as my idols. “Of course I hope to get to where they are but they are the two women that set the pathway for myself, which is why I can never be them. “I would never have even thought about joining tennis, without them a part of it, since there were very few African Americans in the sport.”

'It took many moments sitting, thinking and crying': Coco Gauff reveals struggle with depression and extreme pressure

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced sportspersons to train indoors while either cancelling or postponing major sporting events such as the Olympics, Wimbledon, EURO, among other major tournaments. Swiss tennis wizard Roger Federer has been pretty active on social media platforms as he continues to keep his fans and followers engaged by posting videos of him training in his backyard.

Federer on Tuesday took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to post another video of him doing a solo drill in a bid to keep himself active during these tough times. Federer asked his fans to reply to him with their videos while adding that he will give them some tips to train alone. The Swiss maestro then went on to tag some of the biggest names in the world of sports, movies and music.

“Here’s a helpful solo drill. Let’s see what you got! Reply back with a video and I’ll provide some tips. Choose your hat wisely #tennisathome,” Federer tweeted.

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Here’s a helpful solo drill. Let’s see what you got! Reply back with a video and I’ll provide some tips. Choose your hat wisely <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tennisathome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tennisathome</a> <a href="https://t.co/05lliIqh1h">pic.twitter.com/05lliIqh1h</a>
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1247511322067185665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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However, the 20-time Grand Slam winner, in another tweet, tagged many major sportspersons, actors and musicians. The likes of Virat Kohli, Toni Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Hugh Jackman, Stephen Curry, Dwayne Johnson, Cold Play, among others were tagged by Federer as the tennis legend asked them how they are #TrainingFromHome.&nbsp;

“How else are you guys #TrainingFromHome @tonikroos @gianluigibuffon @imVkohli @tombrady @trevornoah @luka7doncic @billgates @swish41 @cristiano @alexzverev @cocogauff @kensingtonroyal @realhughjackman @rafaelnadal @stephencurry30 @therock @beargrylls @coldplay,” Federer wrote.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
How else are you guys <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrainingFromHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TrainingFromHome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ToniKroos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tonikroos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gianluigibuffon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gianluigibuffon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TomBrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tombrady</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Trevornoah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@trevornoah</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/luka7doncic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@luka7doncic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BillGates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@billgates</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/swish41?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@swish41</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cristiano</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexZverev?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alexzverev</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CocoGauff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cocogauff</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kensingtonroyal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RealHughJackman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realhughjackman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rafaelnadal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stephencurry30</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@therock</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BearGrylls?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@beargrylls</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coldplay</a> <a href="https://t.co/N8BHl4v0HR">https://t.co/N8BHl4v0HR</a>
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1247511957214769156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to wreak havoc, it is unclear as to when the sporting action will resume. There are some major tournaments scheduled to be played later in the year 2020 and if the situation doesn’t improve in coming weeks, then it is unlikely that fans will witness any sort of sporting action in the coming months. 
&nbsp;

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced sportspersons to train indoors while either cancelling or postponing major sporting events such as the Olympics, Wimbledon, EURO, among other major tournaments.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced sportspersons to train indoors while either cancelling or postponing major sporting events such as the Olympics, Wimbledon, EURO, among other major tournaments. Swiss tennis wizard Roger Federer has been pretty active on social media platforms as he continues to keep his fans and followers engaged by posting videos of him training in his backyard. Federer on Tuesday took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to post another video of him doing a solo drill in a bid to keep himself active during these tough times. Federer asked his fans to reply to him with their videos while adding that he will give them some tips to train alone. The Swiss maestro then went on to tag some of the biggest names in the world of sports, movies and music. “Here’s a helpful solo drill. Let’s see what you got! Reply back with a video and I’ll provide some tips. Choose your hat wisely #tennisathome,” Federer tweeted. Here’s a helpful solo drill. Let’s see what you got! Reply back with a video and I’ll provide some tips. Choose your hat wisely #tennisathome pic.twitter.com/05lliIqh1h — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 7, 2020 × However, the 20-time Grand Slam winner, in another tweet, tagged many major sportspersons, actors and musicians. The likes of Virat Kohli, Toni Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Hugh Jackman, Stephen Curry, Dwayne Johnson, Cold Play, among others were tagged by Federer as the tennis legend asked them how they are #TrainingFromHome. “How else are you guys #TrainingFromHome @tonikroos @gianluigibuffon @imVkohli @tombrady @trevornoah @luka7doncic @billgates @swish41 @cristiano @alexzverev @cocogauff @kensingtonroyal @realhughjackman @rafaelnadal @stephencurry30 @therock @beargrylls @coldplay,” Federer wrote. How else are you guys #TrainingFromHome @tonikroos @gianluigibuffon @imVkohli @tombrady @trevornoah @luka7doncic @billgates @swish41 @cristiano @alexzverev @cocogauff @kensingtonroyal @realhughjackman @rafaelnadal @stephencurry30 @therock @beargrylls @coldplay https://t.co/N8BHl4v0HR — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 7, 2020 × Meanwhile, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to wreak havoc, it is unclear as to when the sporting action will resume. There are some major tournaments scheduled to be played later in the year 2020 and if the situation doesn’t improve in coming weeks, then it is unlikely that fans will witness any sort of sporting action in the coming months.

WATCH: Roger Federer nominates Virat Kohli, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, The Rock and others for 'training for home' challenge

Controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios has offered to deliver food to people finding themselves hungry during the coronavirus lockdown, his latest charitable effort after spearheading sporting donations to help Australia's bushfire crisis.

The Canberra-based Kyrgios, infamously outspoken and known for his fiery on-court antics, said he would personally drop food on doorsteps after COVID-19 restrictions closed down entire industries, forcing huge numbers of people out of work across Australia.&nbsp;

"Please don't go to sleep with an empty stomach," Kyrgios, the world number 40, posted on Instagram late Monday.&nbsp;

"Don't be afraid or embarrassed to send me a private message. I will be more than happy to share whatever I have.

"Even just for a box of noodles, a loaf of bread or milk. I will drop it off at your doorstep, no questions asked!" he said in a post which has already attracted more than 90,000 likes.

People queueing for welfare payments around the country have been likened to scenes from the Great Depression, as all non-essential business and travel are banned to contain the virus.

In January, Kyrgios led a bushfire relief campaign which raised millions of dollars.&nbsp;

The 24-year-old contributed Aus$200 (US$125) for every ace he hit across his home tennis summer, which ran until the end of the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open.

Players and Australian Open organisers also contributed to relief for the deadly fires, but it was Kyrgios who was seen as driving sport's fundraising efforts, gaining him new respect.

Kyrgios cited the crisis for changing his outlook on life in the wake of being handed a 16-week suspended ban in September 2019 for a series of outbursts.

"I guess it's just a perspective thing, isn't it?" he said. "Why am I really getting mad on the tennis court with everything going on?"

Since then, the year's next two Grand Slams have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic with the French Open postponed and Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II.

There will be no professional tennis anywhere in the world until at least July 13 after the governing bodies ITF, ATP and WTA suspended all tournaments with coronavirus causing an almost complete shutdown of the global sporting calendar.

Controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios has offered to deliver food to people finding themselves hungry during the coronavirus lockdown, his latest charitable effort after spearheading sporting donations to help Australia's bushfire crisis.

Controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios has offered to deliver food to people finding themselves hungry during the coronavirus lockdown, his latest charitable effort after spearheading sporting donations to help Australia's bushfire crisis. The Canberra-based Kyrgios, infamously outspoken and known for his fiery on-court antics, said he would personally drop food on doorsteps after COVID-19 restrictions closed down entire industries, forcing huge numbers of people out of work across Australia. "Please don't go to sleep with an empty stomach," Kyrgios, the world number 40, posted on Instagram late Monday. "Don't be afraid or embarrassed to send me a private message. I will be more than happy to share whatever I have. "Even just for a box of noodles, a loaf of bread or milk. I will drop it off at your doorstep, no questions asked!" he said in a post which has already attracted more than 90,000 likes. People queueing for welfare payments around the country have been likened to scenes from the Great Depression, as all non-essential business and travel are banned to contain the virus. In January, Kyrgios led a bushfire relief campaign which raised millions of dollars. The 24-year-old contributed Aus$200 (US$125) for every ace he hit across his home tennis summer, which ran until the end of the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open. Players and Australian Open organisers also contributed to relief for the deadly fires, but it was Kyrgios who was seen as driving sport's fundraising efforts, gaining him new respect. Kyrgios cited the crisis for changing his outlook on life in the wake of being handed a 16-week suspended ban in September 2019 for a series of outbursts. "I guess it's just a perspective thing, isn't it?" he said. "Why am I really getting mad on the tennis court with everything going on?" Since then, the year's next two Grand Slams have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic with the French Open postponed and Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II. There will be no professional tennis anywhere in the world until at least July 13 after the governing bodies ITF, ATP and WTA suspended all tournaments with coronavirus causing an almost complete shutdown of the global sporting calendar.

Nick Kyrgios offers to drop off food to hungry people during lockdown

Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II and no resumption of the ATP and WTA Tours until July 13 at the earliest as the coronavirus continues to cause havoc.

AFP Sport looks at what happens next for tennis in 2020.

<h2>Djokovic, biggest winner or loser?</h2>

-- Before the season went into cold storage, Novak Djokovic had captured an eighth Australian Open and was on an 18-0 winning streak since the turn of the year.

Talk was of Djokovic, now a 17-time Grand Slam title winner, going on to match his 2011 and 2015 seasons.

In 2011, he built a 41-match win streak before ending the year with a 70-6 record and 10 titles, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open crowns.

In 2015, Djokovic won the same three Slams again out of 11 titles in a win-loss record of 82-6.

After taking the 79th title of his career in Dubai on the last day of February this year, the 32-year-old proclaimed: "One of the targets is to go unbeaten the whole season. I'm not kidding."

However, with the French Open, which he has won once, and Wimbledon, where he was the defending champion, respectively postponed and scrapped, has his bubble burst?

"The big loser is Djokovic," former world number one and seven-time major winner Mats Wilander told L'Equipe.

"He hasn't lost this year yet, but this virus has stopped him in his tracks."

<h2>Will there be any more tennis at all in 2020?</h2>

-- After Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time in 75 years on Wednesday, All England Club chief Richard Lewis was hoping for the best but fearing the worst.

"I don't think it's unrealistic to say that there may be no more tennis this year," he said.

"But I would like to think that things will settle down so that tournaments can be played sooner rather than later. Who knows what will happen?"

The clay-court and grass-court seasons have already been binned.

In all, 21 tournaments on both tours have been affected.

The rescheduled French Open has been shoehorned into September-October, starting just a week after the US Open final in New York.

Two different continents; two radically different surfaces.

Also, a rebooted Roland Garros now clashes with six ATP and WTA events, some of which form part of the lucrative and high-profile Asian hard-court swing.

The Laver Cup in Boston, where Roger Federer is likely to feature, is another direct rival to the Paris showpiece.

Furthermore, there are no guarantees that the spread of the deadly coronavirus will have stalled by the summer.

"I think that we are going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season," tweeted former world number one and two-time major winner Amelie Mauresmo.

"The international circuit = male and female players of all nationalities including their coaching staff, spectators and people from all over the world who bring these events to life.

"No vaccine = no tennis."

<h2>End of the road for low-paid?</h2>

-- The likes of Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal have all banked over $100 million in prize money in their careers.

However, the world rankings stretch beyond the 1,200 mark where an army of under-achieving and low-paid players barely make ends meet.

Currently at 1,283 in the world is 27-year-old Ksenia Kolesnikova of Russia - in 2020, she has officially made just $68.

"Players lower ranked than 250 will not be able to buy food in two-three weeks' time," warned Georgia's world number 371 Sofia Shapatava.

She has organised a petition calling on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to provide a financial safety net for the hundreds who toil in second and third-tier events.

But she is not optimistic the ITF will look favourably on her plea.

"I honestly don't think so," she told AFP.

"They replied that their plate is full and they will come back to me as soon as they can. But after that email they did not reply with anything."

Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II and no resumption of the ATP and WTA Tours until July 13 at the earliest as the coronavirus continues to cause havoc.

Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II and no resumption of the ATP and WTA Tours until July 13 at the earliest as the coronavirus continues to cause havoc. AFP Sport looks at what happens next for tennis in 2020. Djokovic, biggest winner or loser? -- Before the season went into cold storage, Novak Djokovic had captured an eighth Australian Open and was on an 18-0 winning streak since the turn of the year. Talk was of Djokovic, now a 17-time Grand Slam title winner, going on to match his 2011 and 2015 seasons. In 2011, he built a 41-match win streak before ending the year with a 70-6 record and 10 titles, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open crowns. In 2015, Djokovic won the same three Slams again out of 11 titles in a win-loss record of 82-6. After taking the 79th title of his career in Dubai on the last day of February this year, the 32-year-old proclaimed: "One of the targets is to go unbeaten the whole season. I'm not kidding." However, with the French Open, which he has won once, and Wimbledon, where he was the defending champion, respectively postponed and scrapped, has his bubble burst? "The big loser is Djokovic," former world number one and seven-time major winner Mats Wilander told L'Equipe. "He hasn't lost this year yet, but this virus has stopped him in his tracks." Will there be any more tennis at all in 2020? -- After Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time in 75 years on Wednesday, All England Club chief Richard Lewis was hoping for the best but fearing the worst. "I don't think it's unrealistic to say that there may be no more tennis this year," he said. "But I would like to think that things will settle down so that tournaments can be played sooner rather than later. Who knows what will happen?" The clay-court and grass-court seasons have already been binned. In all, 21 tournaments on both tours have been affected. The rescheduled French Open has been shoehorned into September-October, starting just a week after the US Open final in New York. Two different continents; two radically different surfaces. Also, a rebooted Roland Garros now clashes with six ATP and WTA events, some of which form part of the lucrative and high-profile Asian hard-court swing. The Laver Cup in Boston, where Roger Federer is likely to feature, is another direct rival to the Paris showpiece. Furthermore, there are no guarantees that the spread of the deadly coronavirus will have stalled by the summer. "I think that we are going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season," tweeted former world number one and two-time major winner Amelie Mauresmo. "The international circuit = male and female players of all nationalities including their coaching staff, spectators and people from all over the world who bring these events to life. "No vaccine = no tennis." End of the road for low-paid? -- The likes of Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal have all banked over $100 million in prize money in their careers. However, the world rankings stretch beyond the 1,200 mark where an army of under-achieving and low-paid players barely make ends meet. Currently at 1,283 in the world is 27-year-old Ksenia Kolesnikova of Russia - in 2020, she has officially made just $68. "Players lower ranked than 250 will not be able to buy food in two-three weeks' time," warned Georgia's world number 371 Sofia Shapatava. She has organised a petition calling on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to provide a financial safety net for the hundreds who toil in second and third-tier events. But she is not optimistic the ITF will look favourably on her plea. "I honestly don't think so," she told AFP. "They replied that their plate is full and they will come back to me as soon as they can. But after that email they did not reply with anything."

What now for tennis in 2020?

The entire sporting calendar has come to a screeching halt with almost all the major tournaments and events getting either postponed or completely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest major event to get cancelled was Wimbledon 2020 and that has left the entire tennis fraternity heartbroken.<o:p></o:p>

While almost every one&nbsp;of them is under lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, players have resorted to practising at their respective residences. Swiss wizard Roger Federer on Wednesday took to social media platform Twitter to post a video of him practising in his house, near his garage.<o:p></o:p>

“Another glimpse into the stay at home practice routine. I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Stay positive. Keep active. Support one another. We will get through this together #stayhome,” Federer captioned the video.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-virus-rewriting-history-books-in-tennis-mahesh-bhupathi-opens-up-on-wimbledon-cancellation-life-in-lockdown-and-more-290212" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more</a>

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Another glimpse into the stay at home practice routine 
I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Stay positive. Keep active. Support one another. We will get through this together <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stayhome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stayhome</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZVqMZ2ZpXc">pic.twitter.com/ZVqMZ2ZpXc</a>
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1245700603407478784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, the AELTC on Tuesday announced that the Wimbledon has been cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus pandemic while adding the 134th edition of Championships will be staged from June 23, 2021, to July 11, 2021.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Those who have paid for a ticket will receive have a refund while having the choice to purchase a pair of tickets in the Wimbledon 2021 for the same day and court.<o:p></o:p>

Earlier this year, Federer had undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;He made a public statement on Twitter and revealed that he will be missing the Dubai Open, Indian Wells tournament and the French Open. "My right knee has been bothering me for a little while, I hoped it would go away, but after an examination and discussion with my team, I decided to have arthroscopic surgery in Switzerland yesterday," Federer wrote on Twitter."<o:p></o:p>

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, French Open has been postponed to September now, and this may see, Federer, playing the tournament.<o:p></o:p>

The entire sporting calendar has come to a screeching halt with almost all the major tournaments and events getting either postponed or completely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The entire sporting calendar has come to a screeching halt with almost all the major tournaments and events getting either postponed or completely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest major event to get cancelled was Wimbledon 2020 and that has left the entire tennis fraternity heartbroken. While almost every one of them is under lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, players have resorted to practising at their respective residences. Swiss wizard Roger Federer on Wednesday took to social media platform Twitter to post a video of him practising in his house, near his garage. “Another glimpse into the stay at home practice routine. I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Stay positive. Keep active. Support one another. We will get through this together #stayhome,” Federer captioned the video. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Virus rewriting history books in tennis' - Mahesh Bhupathi opens up on Wimbledon cancellation, life in lockdown and more Another glimpse into the stay at home practice routine I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Stay positive. Keep active. Support one another. We will get through this together #stayhome pic.twitter.com/ZVqMZ2ZpXc — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 2, 2020 × Meanwhile, the AELTC on Tuesday announced that the Wimbledon has been cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus pandemic while adding the 134th edition of Championships will be staged from June 23, 2021, to July 11, 2021. Those who have paid for a ticket will receive have a refund while having the choice to purchase a pair of tickets in the Wimbledon 2021 for the same day and court. Earlier this year, Federer had undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He made a public statement on Twitter and revealed that he will be missing the Dubai Open, Indian Wells tournament and the French Open. "My right knee has been bothering me for a little while, I hoped it would go away, but after an examination and discussion with my team, I decided to have arthroscopic surgery in Switzerland yesterday," Federer wrote on Twitter." However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, French Open has been postponed to September now, and this may see, Federer, playing the tournament.

WATCH: Roger Federer gives 'another glimpse' of home practice in the backyard

Sporting events across the globe have come to a halt as the accelerated coronavirus outbreak continues. Its new victim is the Wimbledon Championship, the tennis Grand Slam is cancelled for the first time since World War II.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-canceled-for-1st-time-since-wwii-because-of-covid-19-pandemic-289951" hreflang="en">Wimbledon canceled for 1st time since WWII because of COVID-19 pandemic</a>

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer took to Twitter to share his feelings after learning about the cancellation of London tournament.&nbsp;

The tennis maestro was "devastated" after the news, as the 38-year-old is running out of options as his prolific career is on its later stages.&nbsp;

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Devastated <a href="https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY">https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY</a> <a href="https://t.co/cm1wE2VwIp">pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp</a>
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1245373248210178048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12.

Instead, the next edition of the tournament will be June 28 to July 11, 2021. The tournament was first held in 1877 and has been contested every year since, except two stretches: from 1915-18 because of World War I, and from 1940-45 because of World War II.

The world number 4 will be expected to be in the tournament next year.&nbsp; Many tennis tournaments such as the ATP tour and the French Open have been postponed.&nbsp;

Earlier, Roger Federer took to Twitter on Wednesday saying that he and his wife Mika have donated one million Swiss Francs to help the helpless families in Switzerland amid coronavirus pandemic. &nbsp;

One million Swiss Francs sums up to nearly Rs 7 crores, Federer donated this amount because "nobody should be left behind" during the crisis the world is facing

Sporting events across the globe have come to a halt as the accelerated coronavirus outbreak continues. Its new victim is the Wimbledon Championship, the tennis Grand Slam is cancelled for the first time since World War II.

Sporting events across the globe have come to a halt as the accelerated coronavirus outbreak continues. Its new victim is the Wimbledon Championship, the tennis Grand Slam is cancelled for the first time since World War II. Also read: Wimbledon canceled for 1st time since WWII because of COVID-19 pandemic Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer took to Twitter to share his feelings after learning about the cancellation of London tournament. The tennis maestro was "devastated" after the news, as the 38-year-old is running out of options as his prolific career is on its later stages. Devastated https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 1, 2020 × The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12. Instead, the next edition of the tournament will be June 28 to July 11, 2021. The tournament was first held in 1877 and has been contested every year since, except two stretches: from 1915-18 because of World War I, and from 1940-45 because of World War II. The world number 4 will be expected to be in the tournament next year. Many tennis tournaments such as the ATP tour and the French Open have been postponed. Earlier, Roger Federer took to Twitter on Wednesday saying that he and his wife Mika have donated one million Swiss Francs to help the helpless families in Switzerland amid coronavirus pandemic. One million Swiss Francs sums up to nearly Rs 7 crores, Federer donated this amount because "nobody should be left behind" during the crisis the world is facing

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer 'devasted' after Wimbledon cancellation

Wimbledon looks certain to be scrapped for the first time since World War II by tournament chiefs on Wednesday as the coronavirus wreaks further havoc on the global sporting calendar.

The cancellation of the only grasscourt Grand Slam tournament at the All England Club would leave the tennis season in disarray after the French Open was controversially moved and all events cancelled until June 7.

Wimbledon, in leafy southwest London, is due to run for two weeks from June 29, with Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep set to defend their singles titles.

A decision to scrap the tournament is widely expected, with the world struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 840,000 people worldwide and killed over 40,000.

Lead-up tournaments in the short grasscourt season are also likely to be scrapped following talks on Tuesday, understood to have involved Wimbledon chiefs and the game's governing bodies.

Organisers had earlier ruled out playing the Grand Slam behind closed doors and postponing the event would also create its own problems.

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker on Tuesday pleaded for tournament chiefs to wait longer before making a decision.

"I really hope Wimbledon will wait until the end of April for decision!" he tweeted. "The tourney is first week of July... patience is a virtue."

But former women's world number one Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Wimbledon champion, said the 2020 season would probably need to be scrapped.

"I think that we are going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season," she tweeted.

The cancellation of Wimbledon could mean multiple champions Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Venus Williams have played at the All England Club for the final time.

Federer and Serena will be nearly 40 by the time of the 2021 championships and Venus will be 41.

Serena, beaten in last year's final by Halep, is stuck on 23 Grand Slam singles titles -- agonisingly one away from equalling Margaret Court's record.

The conditions required to play on grass in England mean a postponement is impractical and a date later in the summer or early autumn would mean much shorter evenings.

"Each week that passes, you get less and less light to play the tournament," doubles specialist Jamie Murray told the BBC.

American giant John Isner, who won the longest-ever tennis match over three days at Wimbledon in 2010, said the scrapping of the tournament would be a "tough pill to swallow".

"We may have to come to grips with the fact that we may not be playing Wimbledon this year," he told ESPN on Tuesday.

"Wimbledon sort of has to be played this (same) time of year," Isner said.

"With that surface, the event, it seems, has to be played this time and there's a good chance it won't be."

The French Tennis Federation provoked widespread anger with its unilateral decision to move the French Open from its original May 24 start date to begin on September 20.

That puts the start only one week after the planned date of the US Open men's final.

Wimbledon looks certain to be scrapped for the first time since World War II by tournament chiefs on Wednesday as the coronavirus wreaks further havoc on the global sporting calendar.

Wimbledon looks certain to be scrapped for the first time since World War II by tournament chiefs on Wednesday as the coronavirus wreaks further havoc on the global sporting calendar. The cancellation of the only grasscourt Grand Slam tournament at the All England Club would leave the tennis season in disarray after the French Open was controversially moved and all events cancelled until June 7. Wimbledon, in leafy southwest London, is due to run for two weeks from June 29, with Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep set to defend their singles titles. A decision to scrap the tournament is widely expected, with the world struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 840,000 people worldwide and killed over 40,000. Lead-up tournaments in the short grasscourt season are also likely to be scrapped following talks on Tuesday, understood to have involved Wimbledon chiefs and the game's governing bodies. Organisers had earlier ruled out playing the Grand Slam behind closed doors and postponing the event would also create its own problems. Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker on Tuesday pleaded for tournament chiefs to wait longer before making a decision. "I really hope Wimbledon will wait until the end of April for decision!" he tweeted. "The tourney is first week of July... patience is a virtue." But former women's world number one Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Wimbledon champion, said the 2020 season would probably need to be scrapped. "I think that we are going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season," she tweeted. The cancellation of Wimbledon could mean multiple champions Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Venus Williams have played at the All England Club for the final time. Federer and Serena will be nearly 40 by the time of the 2021 championships and Venus will be 41. Serena, beaten in last year's final by Halep, is stuck on 23 Grand Slam singles titles -- agonisingly one away from equalling Margaret Court's record. The conditions required to play on grass in England mean a postponement is impractical and a date later in the summer or early autumn would mean much shorter evenings. "Each week that passes, you get less and less light to play the tournament," doubles specialist Jamie Murray told the BBC. American giant John Isner, who won the longest-ever tennis match over three days at Wimbledon in 2010, said the scrapping of the tournament would be a "tough pill to swallow". "We may have to come to grips with the fact that we may not be playing Wimbledon this year," he told ESPN on Tuesday. "Wimbledon sort of has to be played this (same) time of year," Isner said. "With that surface, the event, it seems, has to be played this time and there's a good chance it won't be." The French Tennis Federation provoked widespread anger with its unilateral decision to move the French Open from its original May 24 start date to begin on September 20. That puts the start only one week after the planned date of the US Open men's final.

Wimbledon set to be cancelled for first time since WWII

With the sporting world coming to a grinding halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons have taken to social media platforms to interact with their fans, followers and friends as almost the entire world continues to remain in lockdown to fight against the deadly virus.&nbsp;

Tennis star Venus Williams was joined by her sister Serena, and stand-up comedian and actress Amy Schumer on photo-blogging platform Instagram as the troika held a live session on Friday for a workout consisting of lifting bottles of alcohol as weights.

“I do this anyway,” Schumer cracked as she squatted with some alcohol bottles. “When we go low, the champagne goes high,” she continued as thousands watched the trio have fun in a bid to keep themselves fit.

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/english-football-chiefs-set-for-difficult-coronavirus-decisions-289090">English football chiefs set for 'difficult' coronavirus decisions</a>

Schumer also joked that tequila is “good for calf raises,” and tilted a bottle of wine toward her mouth, saying, “Practice for what you do at night. It’s how I keep myself in mediocre shape.”

The Instagram live session was held on Friday and witnessed epic banter between the trio. While everyone continues to remain in lockdown while self-isolating themselves to curb the spread of COVID-19, Schumer, when asked about wellness tips said: “Hopefully you have some edibles. And that’s kind of the best we can hope for.”

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-struggled-to-breathe-dybala-reveals-coronavirus-nightmare-289089">'I struggled to breathe:' Dybala reveals coronavirus nightmare</a>

Serena’s daughter, Alexis Olympia, and Schumer’s baby son, Gene, made cameos.

Meanwhile, all the sporting tournaments and events have been either cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the biggest among them being the Tokyo Olympics 2020 which was shifted to 2021. 
&nbsp;

With the sporting world coming to a grinding halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons have taken to social media platforms to interact with their fans, followers and friends as almost the entire world continues to remain in lockdown to fight against the deadly virus.

With the sporting world coming to a grinding halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sportspersons have taken to social media platforms to interact with their fans, followers and friends as almost the entire world continues to remain in lockdown to fight against the deadly virus. Tennis star Venus Williams was joined by her sister Serena, and stand-up comedian and actress Amy Schumer on photo-blogging platform Instagram as the troika held a live session on Friday for a workout consisting of lifting bottles of alcohol as weights. “I do this anyway,” Schumer cracked as she squatted with some alcohol bottles. “When we go low, the champagne goes high,” she continued as thousands watched the trio have fun in a bid to keep themselves fit. ALSO READ: English football chiefs set for 'difficult' coronavirus decisions Schumer also joked that tequila is “good for calf raises,” and tilted a bottle of wine toward her mouth, saying, “Practice for what you do at night. It’s how I keep myself in mediocre shape.” The Instagram live session was held on Friday and witnessed epic banter between the trio. While everyone continues to remain in lockdown while self-isolating themselves to curb the spread of COVID-19, Schumer, when asked about wellness tips said: “Hopefully you have some edibles. And that’s kind of the best we can hope for.” ALSO READ: 'I struggled to breathe:' Dybala reveals coronavirus nightmare Serena’s daughter, Alexis Olympia, and Schumer’s baby son, Gene, made cameos. Meanwhile, all the sporting tournaments and events have been either cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the biggest among them being the Tokyo Olympics 2020 which was shifted to 2021.

Venus Williams hosts exercise session with alcohol bottles on Instagram during quarantine; Serena Williams, Amy Schumer join

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer took to Twitter on Wednesday saying that he and his wife Mika have donated one million Swiss Francs to help the helpless families in Switzerland amid coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/coronavirus-pep-guardiola-donates-one-million-euros-to-medical-college-in-spain-288334">Coronavirus: Pep Guardiola donates one million euros to medical college in Spain</a>

One million Swiss Francs sums up to nearly Rs 7 crores, Federer donated this amount because "nobody should be left behind" during the crisis the world is facing.

Roger Federer wrote on social media, "These are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind. Mirka and I have personally decided to donate one million Swiss Francs to the most vulnerable families in Switzerland."&nbsp;

"Our contribution is just a start. We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need. Together we can overcome this crisis. Stay healthy."

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<a href="https://t.co/l0bnPPKEQe">pic.twitter.com/l0bnPPKEQe</a>
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1242782285222612994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Many sports icon such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi have donated huge amounts to fight the global pandemic. Cristiano Ronaldo and football agent Jorge Mendes on Tuesday will provide lifesaving equipment to Portuguese hospitals struggling to treat patients with coronavirus.

The two will be donating equipment for two wards at Lisbon's Santa Maria hospital. According to the hospital's statement, they will provide the wards with 10 beds each, ventilators, heart monitors, infusion pumps and syringes.

Pep Guardiola earlier donated one million euros to a medical college in Barcelona to combat the novel coronavirus.&nbsp;

Lionel Messi split his one million euro donation into two halves, one half went to a hospital in Spain, whereas the other half went to his native country Argentina.&nbsp;

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer took to Twitter on Wednesday saying that he and his wife Mika have donated one million Swiss Francs to help the helpless families in Switzerland amid coronavirus pandemic.

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer took to Twitter on Wednesday saying that he and his wife Mika have donated one million Swiss Francs to help the helpless families in Switzerland amid coronavirus pandemic. Also read: Coronavirus: Pep Guardiola donates one million euros to medical college in Spain One million Swiss Francs sums up to nearly Rs 7 crores, Federer donated this amount because "nobody should be left behind" during the crisis the world is facing. Roger Federer wrote on social media, "These are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind. Mirka and I have personally decided to donate one million Swiss Francs to the most vulnerable families in Switzerland." "Our contribution is just a start. We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need. Together we can overcome this crisis. Stay healthy." pic.twitter.com/l0bnPPKEQe — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) March 25, 2020 × Many sports icon such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi have donated huge amounts to fight the global pandemic. Cristiano Ronaldo and football agent Jorge Mendes on Tuesday will provide lifesaving equipment to Portuguese hospitals struggling to treat patients with coronavirus. The two will be donating equipment for two wards at Lisbon's Santa Maria hospital. According to the hospital's statement, they will provide the wards with 10 beds each, ventilators, heart monitors, infusion pumps and syringes. Pep Guardiola earlier donated one million euros to a medical college in Barcelona to combat the novel coronavirus. Lionel Messi split his one million euro donation into two halves, one half went to a hospital in Spain, whereas the other half went to his native country Argentina.

'Together we can overcome this crisis', Roger Federer donates one million Swiss Franc to helpless families amid COVID-19

The French Open 2020, which was scheduled to be held from May 24 to June 7, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and will now take place from September 20 to October 4. The organisers of the French Open 2019 said that given the current confinement measures, it is impossible to hold the Grand Slam event as per the original schedule while adding that they have decided to postpone the tournament to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in organising the tournament.

The new dates of the Rolland-Garros, i.e, September 20 to October 4, means the event will kickstart just a week after the US Open. However, it is highly likely that the US Open 2020 will also get postponed given the current situation surrounding the novel coronavirus.&nbsp;

<h2>Roland-Garros to start in September&nbsp;2020</h2>

"The whole world is affected by the public health crisis connected with COVID-19. In order to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in organising the tournament, the French Tennis Federation has made the decision to hold the 2020 edition of Roland-Garros from 20th September to 4th October 2020," read a statement.

"In order to act responsibly and protect the health of its employees, service providers, and suppliers during the organisation period, the FFT has chosen the only option that will allow them to maintain the 2020 edition of the tournament while joining the fight against COVID-19."

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already declared Europe as the epicenter of the COVID-19, European countries on Tuesday moved into an almost total lockdown in a bid to put a break to the spread of the deadly virus.

"We have made a difficult yet brave decision in this unprecedented 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," FFT president Bernard Giudicelli said.

The biggest issue for Roland-Garros will be the availability of star players. The French Open 2020 will collide with a number of tournaments including the Laver Cup where Roger Federer has already committed his presence.

The French Open 2020, which was scheduled to be held from May 24 to June 7, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and will now take place from September 20 to October 4.

The French Open 2020, which was scheduled to be held from May 24 to June 7, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and will now take place from September 20 to October 4. The organisers of the French Open 2019 said that given the current confinement measures, it is impossible to hold the Grand Slam event as per the original schedule while adding that they have decided to postpone the tournament to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in organising the tournament. The new dates of the Rolland-Garros, i.e, September 20 to October 4, means the event will kickstart just a week after the US Open. However, it is highly likely that the US Open 2020 will also get postponed given the current situation surrounding the novel coronavirus. Roland-Garros to start in September 2020 "The whole world is affected by the public health crisis connected with COVID-19. In order to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in organising the tournament, the French Tennis Federation has made the decision to hold the 2020 edition of Roland-Garros from 20th September to 4th October 2020," read a statement. "In order to act responsibly and protect the health of its employees, service providers, and suppliers during the organisation period, the FFT has chosen the only option that will allow them to maintain the 2020 edition of the tournament while joining the fight against COVID-19." While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already declared Europe as the epicenter of the COVID-19, European countries on Tuesday moved into an almost total lockdown in a bid to put a break to the spread of the deadly virus. "We have made a difficult yet brave decision in this unprecedented 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," FFT president Bernard Giudicelli said. The biggest issue for Roland-Garros will be the availability of star players. The French Open 2020 will collide with a number of tournaments including the Laver Cup where Roger Federer has already committed his presence.

French Open 2020 postponed to September due to coronavirus pandemic

Maria Sharapova bids adieu to tennis, here's her career in pictures

Roger&nbsp;Federer&nbsp;has undergone surgery to resolve a longstanding knee problem and said Thursday he would be out of action until after the French Open while his rivals backed the 38-year-old to return as strong as ever.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../tennis-federer-nadal-play-to-record-crowd-in- cape-town-279367">Tennis: Federer, Nadal play to record crowd in Cape Town</a>

The 20-times Grand Slam winner revealed on his Facebook account that he underwent surgery in Switzerland on Wednesday and would miss a string of tournaments including the May 24-June 7 French Open.

"As a result, I will miss Dubai, Indian Wells, Bogota, Miami and the French Open," he said.

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— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1230436935832940546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Federer, who has amassed 103 career titles, explained that he had intended to avoid surgery if possible but the problem in his right knee refused to go away.

He will now target a return for the grass-court season and an assault on a ninth Wimbledon title after reaching the final in 2019 where he had two championship points before losing an epic final to Novak Djokovic.

"My right knee has been bothering me for a little while," added the world number three who reached the Roland Garros semi-finals last year.

"I hoped it would go away, but after an examination and discussion with my team, I decided to have arthroscopic surgery in Switzerland yesterday."

"After the surgery, the doctors confirmed that it was the right thing to have done and are very confident of a full recovery.

"I can't wait to be back playing again soon -- see you on the grass."

Federer, French Open champion back in 2009, will miss Roland Garros for the fourth time in five seasons.

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🤹‍♂️🥁🚀🏟 
Speechless 😶 <a href="https://t.co/oI3YSR7eLd">pic.twitter.com/oI3YSR7eLd</a>
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1225686182681444353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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His absence from Paris means his great rival Rafael Nadal, the 12-time champion, can draw level with the Swiss on 20 majors.

Federer&nbsp;also underwent surgery on his left knee in February 2016 which allowed him just seven tournaments that season.

However, that surgery-enforced absence eventually paid dividends with another Australian Open title and then Wimbledon six months later.

He has only played one tournament in 2020, making the semi-finals of the Australian Open where he was defeated again by eventual champion Djokovic.

His last appearance on a court was an exhibition event in Cape Town earlier this month where his charity match with Nadal was played in front of 50,000 spectators, a world record for a tennis event.

This year's Wimbledon runs from June 29-July 12 with the Tokyo Olympics tennis event following from July 25-August 2.

Federer&nbsp;has yet to win a singles gold medal at the Games.

He was a silver medallist in London 2012 while, four years earlier in Beijing, he won the doubles title with Swiss teammate Stan Wawrinka.

Federer's decision to skip the French Open was met with understanding by organisers.

"We are disappointed not to see&nbsp;Roger&nbsp;again," tournament director Guy Forget told France Info.&nbsp;

"If he had taken this decision, then it was the wisest."

Russian world number five Daniil Medvedev said it was sad to see&nbsp;Federer&nbsp;forced to sit out the US hardcourt and European clay-court seasons.

"The news shocked me. I didn't know he was going to have an operation," &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; said Medvedev who is the top seed at the ongoing Marseille ATP event this week.

"It's a little sad for him in the sense that he misses tournaments when he is still playing well. I'm sure he's going to come back well at the grass-court season.

Fellow veteran Gilles Simon, who played&nbsp;Federer&nbsp;for the first time 12 years ago, said the great Swiss will be a serious contender on his return.

"The last time it was hard but he still won the Australian Open in his stride after not playing for nine months!" said the 35-year-old Simon.&nbsp;

"There's nothing else to say. We'll wait and see."

Roger Federer has undergone surgery to resolve a longstanding knee problem and said Thursday he would be out of action until after the French Open while his rivals backed the 38-year-old to return as strong as ever.

Roger Federer has undergone surgery to resolve a longstanding knee problem and said Thursday he would be out of action until after the French Open while his rivals backed the 38-year-old to return as strong as ever. Also read: Tennis: Federer, Nadal play to record crowd in Cape Town The 20-times Grand Slam winner revealed on his Facebook account that he underwent surgery in Switzerland on Wednesday and would miss a string of tournaments including the May 24-June 7 French Open. "As a result, I will miss Dubai, Indian Wells, Bogota, Miami and the French Open," he said. pic.twitter.com/VVGI1o8XYZ — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) February 20, 2020 × Federer, who has amassed 103 career titles, explained that he had intended to avoid surgery if possible but the problem in his right knee refused to go away. He will now target a return for the grass-court season and an assault on a ninth Wimbledon title after reaching the final in 2019 where he had two championship points before losing an epic final to Novak Djokovic. "My right knee has been bothering me for a little while," added the world number three who reached the Roland Garros semi-finals last year. "I hoped it would go away, but after an examination and discussion with my team, I decided to have arthroscopic surgery in Switzerland yesterday." "After the surgery, the doctors confirmed that it was the right thing to have done and are very confident of a full recovery. "I can't wait to be back playing again soon -- see you on the grass." Federer, French Open champion back in 2009, will miss Roland Garros for the fourth time in five seasons. 🤹‍♂️🥁🚀🏟 Speechless 😶 pic.twitter.com/oI3YSR7eLd — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) February 7, 2020 × His absence from Paris means his great rival Rafael Nadal, the 12-time champion, can draw level with the Swiss on 20 majors. Federer also underwent surgery on his left knee in February 2016 which allowed him just seven tournaments that season. However, that surgery-enforced absence eventually paid dividends with another Australian Open title and then Wimbledon six months later. He has only played one tournament in 2020, making the semi-finals of the Australian Open where he was defeated again by eventual champion Djokovic. His last appearance on a court was an exhibition event in Cape Town earlier this month where his charity match with Nadal was played in front of 50,000 spectators, a world record for a tennis event. This year's Wimbledon runs from June 29-July 12 with the Tokyo Olympics tennis event following from July 25-August 2. Federer has yet to win a singles gold medal at the Games. He was a silver medallist in London 2012 while, four years earlier in Beijing, he won the doubles title with Swiss teammate Stan Wawrinka. Federer's decision to skip the French Open was met with understanding by organisers. "We are disappointed not to see Roger again," tournament director Guy Forget told France Info. "If he had taken this decision, then it was the wisest." Russian world number five Daniil Medvedev said it was sad to see Federer forced to sit out the US hardcourt and European clay-court seasons. "The news shocked me. I didn't know he was going to have an operation," said Medvedev who is the top seed at the ongoing Marseille ATP event this week. "It's a little sad for him in the sense that he misses tournaments when he is still playing well. I'm sure he's going to come back well at the grass-court season. Fellow veteran Gilles Simon, who played Federer for the first time 12 years ago, said the great Swiss will be a serious contender on his return. "The last time it was hard but he still won the Australian Open in his stride after not playing for nine months!" said the 35-year-old Simon. "There's nothing else to say. We'll wait and see."

Roger Federer targets Wimbledon after knee surgery blow

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal attracted what organisers said was a world record crowd for a tennis match when they played an exhibition event in the Cape Town Stadium on Friday.

The organisers said an audited attendance of 51,954 beat the 42,517 who watched Federer play Alexander Zverev of Germany in Mexico City last November.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5PBsE8FGOK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">An absolute magical evening in Mexico City, Gracias to all 42’517 people that came to set a new world record. This one is for you, Viva Mexico ❤️❤️❤️❤️</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rogerfederer/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Roger Federer</a> (@rogerfederer) on <time datetime="2019-11-24T04:29:04+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 23, 2019 at 8:29pm PST</time>
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They also announced that the 'Match in Africa' raised $3.5-million for the Roger Federer Foundation, which supports educational and athletic programmes for children in Africa.

"To have 51,954 people in attendance at a tennis match, I never thought I'd be apart of something like that," said Federer. "It's not something you dream about.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8SG1hjFgCs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Thank you @rafaelnadal , @trevornoah , and @thisisbillgates for you support of this incredible event. It was always a dream of mine to play in South Africa for my foundation. I am so proud to say we raised over $3 million this evening🙌🇿🇦✅ #worldrecord #southafrica</a>

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&nbsp;

Federer, who was accompanied by his South African mother, Lynette, said his first appearance in South Africa was a special occasion.

"The first time here in Cape Town, in South Africa, means so much more than just tennis," he said.

Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-3 in a match in which the players had to contend with cool, windy conditions in the stadium that was built for the 2010 football World Cup.

The arena was packed with eager fans who sang, clapped and did the wave throughout the match.

"It's an amazing crowd, an amazing stadium," said Nadal, who was making his first appearance in South Africa since playing in the country as a junior.

"It's an unforgettable evening. We will probably never play again in an atmosphere such as this one," said Nadal. "I can't thank enough the people here in Cape Town. They came here and created an unforgettable atmosphere."

Earlier in the day, Federer and his doubles partner billionaire Bill Gates beat Nadal and South-African born comedian &nbsp;Trevor Noah in a match with more flexible rules.

The ceremonial coin toss was performed by World Cup-winning Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi, who presented Federer with a Springbok jersey. The coin used was a commemorative 20 Swiss Francs piece minted with Federer's face. He gave it to Kolisi.

Other high-profile South African sports stars in attendance included former Springbok captains John Smit and Jean de Villiers as well as Olympic swimmer Ryk Neethling.

The match is the sixth edition of the event organised by the Roger Federer Foundation and is the first to take place in Africa.

"There's so much anticipation that goes into it that the match itself almost gets forgotten," said Federer before the match.

He said he spent childhood holidays in South Africa.

"The time spent here as a kid was amazing," Federer said. "You would go on the road and you never come back for some reason because you've gotta chase that little tennis ball and you've gotta chase your dreams."

Tens of thousands of fans showed up early and were ecstatic when Nadal and Federer hit practice balls into the stands.

One fan said she brought a wedding ring for Federer to propose to her. "I want to marry Roger," she shouted.

Earlier in the afternoon, Federer and Nadal played tennis with children from townships in Hout Bay.

The children are part of an afterschool activity program with Zip Zap Circus which develops gross and fine motor skills.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal attracted what organisers said was a world record crowd for a tennis match when they played an exhibition event in the Cape Town Stadium on Friday.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal attracted what organisers said was a world record crowd for a tennis match when they played an exhibition event in the Cape Town Stadium on Friday. The organisers said an audited attendance of 51,954 beat the 42,517 who watched Federer play Alexander Zverev of Germany in Mexico City last November. View this post on Instagram An absolute magical evening in Mexico City, Gracias to all 42’517 people that came to set a new world record. This one is for you, Viva Mexico ❤️❤️❤️❤️ A post shared by Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) on Nov 23, 2019 at 8:29pm PST × They also announced that the 'Match in Africa' raised $3.5-million for the Roger Federer Foundation, which supports educational and athletic programmes for children in Africa. "To have 51,954 people in attendance at a tennis match, I never thought I'd be apart of something like that," said Federer. "It's not something you dream about. View this post on Instagram Thank you @rafaelnadal , @trevornoah , and @thisisbillgates for you support of this incredible event. It was always a dream of mine to play in South Africa for my foundation. I am so proud to say we raised over $3 million this evening🙌🇿🇦✅ #worldrecord #southafrica A post shared by Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) on Feb 7, 2020 at 2:45pm PST × Federer, who was accompanied by his South African mother, Lynette, said his first appearance in South Africa was a special occasion. "The first time here in Cape Town, in South Africa, means so much more than just tennis," he said. Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-3 in a match in which the players had to contend with cool, windy conditions in the stadium that was built for the 2010 football World Cup. The arena was packed with eager fans who sang, clapped and did the wave throughout the match. "It's an amazing crowd, an amazing stadium," said Nadal, who was making his first appearance in South Africa since playing in the country as a junior. "It's an unforgettable evening. We will probably never play again in an atmosphere such as this one," said Nadal. "I can't thank enough the people here in Cape Town. They came here and created an unforgettable atmosphere." Earlier in the day, Federer and his doubles partner billionaire Bill Gates beat Nadal and South-African born comedian Trevor Noah in a match with more flexible rules. The ceremonial coin toss was performed by World Cup-winning Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi, who presented Federer with a Springbok jersey. The coin used was a commemorative 20 Swiss Francs piece minted with Federer's face. He gave it to Kolisi. Other high-profile South African sports stars in attendance included former Springbok captains John Smit and Jean de Villiers as well as Olympic swimmer Ryk Neethling. The match is the sixth edition of the event organised by the Roger Federer Foundation and is the first to take place in Africa. "There's so much anticipation that goes into it that the match itself almost gets forgotten," said Federer before the match. He said he spent childhood holidays in South Africa. "The time spent here as a kid was amazing," Federer said. "You would go on the road and you never come back for some reason because you've gotta chase that little tennis ball and you've gotta chase your dreams." Tens of thousands of fans showed up early and were ecstatic when Nadal and Federer hit practice balls into the stands. One fan said she brought a wedding ring for Federer to propose to her. "I want to marry Roger," she shouted. Earlier in the afternoon, Federer and Nadal played tennis with children from townships in Hout Bay. The children are part of an afterschool activity program with Zip Zap Circus which develops gross and fine motor skills.

Tennis: Federer, Nadal play to record crowd in Cape Town

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../tennis-news-australian-open-serena-williams- crashes-out-in-third-round-after-a-shocker-276265">Serena Williams</a> enters her fourth decade as a Fed Cup player with the United States on Friday and Saturday as the 2020 qualifiers get underway.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-sports-news-sofia-kenin-makes-fierce-comeback-to-beat-garbine-muguruza-to-win-her-first-grand-slam-at-australian-open-278021">Sofia Kenin fights back to beat Garbine Muguruza in Australian Open final</a>

The 38-year-old icon teams with newly-crowned Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and teenage star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../gauffs-melbourne-run-brought-to-an-end-by- kenin-276624">Coco Gauff</a> as the US tackle Latvia in Everett, Washington.

In total, there are eight ties with the winners earning places in the new-look Fed Cup finals in Budapest from April 15-17 where 2019 champions France, runners-up Australia, hosts Hungary and wildcard Czech Republic will be waiting.

Three talking points ahead of this week's qualifiers:

It was back in 1999 that Serena Williams made her Fed Cup debut in a semi-final win over Italy.

Teammate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../ash-barty-loses-semi-final-to-sofia-kenin-dream -of-winning-aussie-open-shattered-277523">Sofia Kenin</a> was just eight months old while Coco Gauff was still almost five years away from being born.

Williams has a 100 per cent record in singles in the Fed Cup, winning 13 out of 13 rubbers.

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One of the greatest to ever wear the red, white, and blue.<a href="https://twitter.com/serenawilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@serenawilliams</a> hits the practice courts for <a href="https://twitter.com/FedCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FedCup</a> Qualifying in Everett, WA. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamUSATennis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamUSATennis</a>🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/gtcIpqXEwQ">pic.twitter.com/gtcIpqXEwQ</a>
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However, despite her longevity, her relationship with the tournament has been very much on-off, playing only in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018.

Kenin, now the top-ranked US player at seven in the world after her stunning Grand Slam breakthrough in&nbsp;Melbourne, has a Fed Cup singles record of 1-3 while 15-year-old Gauff has yet to make her debut.

&nbsp;Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is making her first Fed Cup appearance since helping Japan defeat Great Britain in the 2018 World Group II play-offs.&nbsp;

The world number 10 has won five out of six singles ties she has contested since her 2017 debut.

However, Japan, whose best Fed Cup run was a semi-final spot in 1996, have a tough task this weekend, facing Spain in La Manga.

The tie is on clay, easily playing into the comfort zone of a Spain team led by Carla Suarez Navarro, her nation's top player in the absence of Australian Open runner-up Garbine Muguruza.

It will be an emotional week for 31-year-old Suarez Navarro as the world number 55 is in her final season as a professional, 12 years after her Fed Cup bow.

Spain are five-time champions, behind the USA (18), Czech Republic (10) and Australia (seven) on the all-time list.

Places at the Tokyo Olympics are also up for grabs on Friday and Saturday in the eight ties.

Under Fed Cup rules, players are required to be part of a nominated team on at least three occasions in a four-year Olympic cycle.

That excludes players who have represented their nation 20 or more times in their careers, who must be nominated on at least two occasions in the Olympic cycle.&nbsp;

Crucially for this week, all players must be nominated at least once in the 2019-20 cycle.

Serena was 2012 Olympic champion in London while Rio 2016 gold medallist Monica Puig comfortably fulfils the basic qualifying criteria despite a current lowly world ranking of 83.

Serena Williams enters her fourth decade as a Fed Cup player with the United States on Friday and Saturday as the 2020 qualifiers get underway. Also read: Sofia Kenin fights back to beat Garbine Muguruza in Australian Open final The 38-year-old icon teams with newly-crowned Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and teenage star Coco Gauff as the US tackle Latvia in Everett, Washington.

Serena Williams enters her fourth decade as a Fed Cup player with the United States on Friday and Saturday as the 2020 qualifiers get underway. Also read: Sofia Kenin fights back to beat Garbine Muguruza in Australian Open final The 38-year-old icon teams with newly-crowned Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and teenage star Coco Gauff as the US tackle Latvia in Everett, Washington. In total, there are eight ties with the winners earning places in the new-look Fed Cup finals in Budapest from April 15-17 where 2019 champions France, runners-up Australia, hosts Hungary and wildcard Czech Republic will be waiting. Three talking points ahead of this week's qualifiers: It was back in 1999 that Serena Williams made her Fed Cup debut in a semi-final win over Italy. Teammate Sofia Kenin was just eight months old while Coco Gauff was still almost five years away from being born. Williams has a 100 per cent record in singles in the Fed Cup, winning 13 out of 13 rubbers. One of the greatest to ever wear the red, white, and blue.@serenawilliams hits the practice courts for @FedCup Qualifying in Everett, WA. #TeamUSATennis🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/gtcIpqXEwQ — USTA (@usta) February 5, 2020 × However, despite her longevity, her relationship with the tournament has been very much on-off, playing only in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018. Kenin, now the top-ranked US player at seven in the world after her stunning Grand Slam breakthrough in Melbourne, has a Fed Cup singles record of 1-3 while 15-year-old Gauff has yet to make her debut. Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is making her first Fed Cup appearance since helping Japan defeat Great Britain in the 2018 World Group II play-offs. The world number 10 has won five out of six singles ties she has contested since her 2017 debut. However, Japan, whose best Fed Cup run was a semi-final spot in 1996, have a tough task this weekend, facing Spain in La Manga. The tie is on clay, easily playing into the comfort zone of a Spain team led by Carla Suarez Navarro, her nation's top player in the absence of Australian Open runner-up Garbine Muguruza. It will be an emotional week for 31-year-old Suarez Navarro as the world number 55 is in her final season as a professional, 12 years after her Fed Cup bow. Spain are five-time champions, behind the USA (18), Czech Republic (10) and Australia (seven) on the all-time list. Places at the Tokyo Olympics are also up for grabs on Friday and Saturday in the eight ties. Under Fed Cup rules, players are required to be part of a nominated team on at least three occasions in a four-year Olympic cycle. That excludes players who have represented their nation 20 or more times in their careers, who must be nominated on at least two occasions in the Olympic cycle. Crucially for this week, all players must be nominated at least once in the 2019-20 cycle. Serena was 2012 Olympic champion in London while Rio 2016 gold medallist Monica Puig comfortably fulfils the basic qualifying criteria despite a current lowly world ranking of 83.

Serena Williams enters fourth decade as Fed Cup player as young guns shine

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