Feliciano Lopez accepts the reality that professional tennis may suffer significant damages and long terms effects because of the Corona virus which has iced the ATP since late March/early February. Lopez shared his thoughts with the BBC.
“The companies and the sponsors, they might have to fire employees,” said Lopez, a seven-time ATP singles champion and Roland Garros doubles champion.
“This is happening everywhere in the world so the first thing they cut is sponsorship, and this is going to be affecting tennis massively. We have to understand that tennis is not going to be the same, at least for one, two, three years. I don’t know how long.”
“But we need to survive this moment and we need to be united,” said the 38 year old Madrid tournament director, who will turn 39 in September.
“The players need to understand that it’s going to be a significant reduction in the prize money. I see now the scenario where tournaments will survive with a significant reduction in prize money – not only for this year, but also for (the) 2021 season.”
The ATP World Tour is currently suspended until August 1, but a revised schedule for the late Summer and Fall autumn is expected to be released next week.
After the four month hiatus, Lopez says he is eager and ready for action.
“I personally would go and play the US Open: I think the majority of players would also do the same,” Lopez said. “I think the US Open know there might be many players that don’t want to go and play there. But I think the US Open is not depending on only the top players playing. My personal opinion is that they are planning to have the event thinking that some of the top players – I don’t know how many – might not play.”
Sam · June 14, 2020 at 11:28 pm
Lopez is probably right. So, do you think they’ll be reducing the prize money for the Grand Slams too??
JohnnyTD · June 15, 2020 at 12:11 am
“Lopez is probably right. So, do you think they’ll be reducing the prize money for the Grand Slams too??”
Good question, maybe it also depends on how many of the big names will skip it. Who wants to watch a GS final played by nonames. If too many of the top players skip it i don’t think they will hold it though. Very interesting situation, the big 3, especially Rafa and Nole wouldn’t want to donate each other a free slam.
Cory Minto · June 15, 2020 at 12:13 am
A majority of the tennis fans do not REQUIRE every top player being there. If the big three, e.g., all decide to skip (and I know Federer is getting surgery), then yeah that’s a huge blow but I think if Djoker or Nadal drops, the other will stay as a shoe-in to win, of sorts. Everyone’s hungry for tennis, especially these competitive players. When the time comes, those now exhorting the US Open will sing a different tune. Notwithstanding if the USA and/or New York is basically ablaze from a civil war. Moreover as I said, the hardcore fan makes up about 50% of the demographic of attendees and I think they would be happy seeing any top 100 players duke it out in a 5-setter. Fannies will be in the seats.
JohnnyTD · June 15, 2020 at 6:55 am
lol Cindy Shmerler said instead of a compromised USO they should do a North American Nationals for US and Canadian players. TV event, no ATP/WTA points but lots of prize money 🤔
Jon King · June 15, 2020 at 8:21 am
I think we predicted this in these comments back in March. Its not rocket science. Sponsors have less money to spend on advertising, tournaments less revenue to pay out in prizes with no or few fans.
We said months ago that the money making cutoff will likely go from the top 120 to the top 80 or even less. The pot is shrinking.
Juniors are effected big time. USTA gutted its development program. Same with other federations. No junior tournaments in sight as its a real problem to host kids and parent from various countries, when standards for each country are different.
Brazil and other Latin American countries used to host lots of junior tournaments. Easy for US kids to go. You think lots of US parents are eager to send their kids and go with them to Brazil these days?
Some of Djokovic’s tour has been canceled because the officials in Montenegro have a different situation than Serbia.
Until all countries have things under control and international sport like tennis is tough. At least baseball and basketball can get its players from outside the US back, quarantine and test them, and let them play. Its hard for tennis to have players and coaches come and go, isolate and test them, and move on from country to country. Maybe slams have the money to do this, but many other tournaments do not.
Scoop Malinowski · June 15, 2020 at 8:42 am
Sam, yes, everything will be reduced. Lopez says it’s inevitable. People are losing jobs with sponsor companies. Tennis clubs are struggling to keep members, two local clubs closed here in the last year or so. Those looted and rioted small business owners will not be able to buy ATP or WTA tickets. I hear Delray Beach is on thin ice. No way the tennis industry picks up where it left off after this coup attempt to remove Trump. Hopefully the sport will survive in USA.
Scoop Malinowski · June 15, 2020 at 8:47 am
It’s a good idea by Schmerler, I would like to see a tournament with just Americans and Canadians competing to see who comes out on top, which tennis nation is ahead right now? But there are a lot of players outside of N America like Lopez who want to play the US Open. Can’t discriminate them of the picture. I’m surprised Schmerler would support excluding non North Americans, pro tennis is supposed to be about inclusion, that’s what Billie Jean King is always preaching.
Scoop Malinowski · June 15, 2020 at 9:17 am
As expected there is outrage by American tennis media that Serbia and Djokovic actually had the guts and courage to stage a pro tennis event without social distancing or masks. People like Wertheim and Nick McCarvel just can’t believe it, they are so indoctrinated by media propaganda that they can’t fathom any man, any people having the courage and guts to not be in fear of an alleged virus on the loose. The Adria Cup was a success and every one involved is ok. Djokovic may have proved the big bad virus is just a big fat media hoax scam coup which was created to try to wreck America and steal an election from Trump. More respect for Djokovic now than ever before, while Nadal, Serena, Federer stay in hiding. Maybe this is enough to wake up media controlled zombies like Harold and Catherine.
Sam · June 19, 2020 at 4:13 pm
“Sam, yes, everything will be reduced. Lopez says it’s inevitable.”
Scoop, since the I think the prize money for the winners of Grand Slams is obscene, I actually don’t mind seeing this. However, I hope the lower-ranked players won’t be hurt too much.