Bad news for American tennis after it was confirmed that the Citi Open has been canceled. The rumors were already circulating in the tennis community, and eventually, the event was officially canceled. The key issue was a well-known problem with travel restrictions.
This was the official statement
“After months of tireless work by our team and close collaboration with our many stakeholders, we are heartbroken to announce that we must, unfortunately, postpone the 52nd Citi Open until the summer of 2021.
With only 23 days left until the start of the tournament, there are too many unresolved external issues, including various international travel restrictions as well as troubling health and safety trends, that have forced us to make this decision now in fairness to our players, suppliers and partners, so that they can have certainty around their planning.
We are very disappointed that we could not provide players this competitive opportunity and tennis fans around the world their first chance to once again experience the thrills of watching an ATP Tournament. Sports play a very important role in uniting our communities, inspiring our youth, stimulating our economies and providing joy to fans around the world, and we look forward to bringing that back to the world next year.
We want to express our deepest gratitude for the support of all of our stakeholders who stood with us throughout this unprecedented planning process, in particular the players, ATP and WTA Tours, USTA, Mayor Muriel Bowser and her team across Washington, DC Government, National Park Sevice, WTEF and our partners from Citi, MedStar Health, GEICO, Events DC, Insperity, and Tennis Channel.
We look forward to hosting another memorable Citi Open, an American Summer Tennis Tradition, in August 2021, in front of the enthusiastic, sold-out crowds that our incredible tennis community has generated for over 50 years.”
What about the US Open?
This is a big blow especially for men’s tennis as the Citi Open would have represented the official return of the ATP tour. However, US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster confirmed the full intention of the stage the major that is expected to be played by the end of August after the Western & Southern Open that will also be staged in New York instead of Cincinnati (15-23 August). Still, many doubts remain about the feasibility of the American major in 2020.
