The world is regrouping following the shock of the Coronavirus pandemic and sport is reorganizing to get back.
While soccer leagues are about to resume all over the places, tennis is finding its way. In fact, organizing a tennis event is rather complicated also because players are coming from all over the world and it’s difficult to cope with the widespread travel ban. The tours have been halted until August and both the clay and the grass-court seasons have been canceled. However, the Internazionali d’Italia (Rome) and the Roland Garros are scheduled to be played anyway in September.
During an interview with Super Tennis, Angelo Binaghi, the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, confirmed that the Italian Open is extremely likely to take place this year. Also, Binaghi is elated with the fact that a fellow Italian, Adrea Gaudenza, is the CEO of the ATP. That is making things a bit easier.
“It is a very intense, fruitful conversation. We are also fortunate to have at this time a president and a CEO of the ATP who are two valid fellow countrymen. In particular, Andrea Gaudenzi has a direct, very frequent relationship with us,” he commented.
Binaghi stressed the fact that unless there is a big upheaval (eg. a strong early second wave), the tournament will take place in the middle of September.
“Soon, very shortly, we will know. I believe that, barring major upheavals, we are going to reorganize the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in September. Between mid and late September. They tell me, especially the Romans, that it is an extraordinary period, the best time to play tennis. Certainly better than mid-May, what would have been the natural date without the Coronavirus emergency. Soon I will also have an interview with the Minister of Sport, to try to understand in what terms we will be able to make our audience enjoy this great edition,” he added.
If everything goes according to plans, Nadal will have the opportunity to win the title for the 10th time. He won the Italian Open last year after beating Novak Djokovic 6-0 4-6 6-1.
