TENNIS’ Big Three are at the centre of the civil war that has broken out because of the Covid-19 crisis.
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have sporting and financial reasons to join the chorus of fury greeting the French Open’s unilateral decision to move the event to the autumn.
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The new dates for Roland Garros, September 20 to October 4, clash directly with the fourth edition of the Laver Cup, the invitation team event devised by Federer and in which he holds a financial stake.
Tickets for the Ryder Cup-style contest, scheduled for Boston’s TD Garden from September 25 to 27 are already sold out.
The Laver Cup responded with a carefully-controlled but powerful volley of a statement, saying: “This announcement came as a surprise to us and our partners – Tennis Australia, the USTA and the ATP.
“It raises many questions and we are assessing the situation.
“At this time, we want our fans, sponsors, broadcasters, staff, volunteerism players and the great city of Boston to know that we intend to hold Laver Cup 2020 as currently scheduled.”
Federer was going to miss the French Open, if it had gone ahead in May, as he recovered from knee surgery. In the event of this new clash, he would undoubtedly prioritise the Laver Cup.
But the row has put Nadal, the 12-time Roland Garros champion but also a keen participant in the Laver Cup, in a difficult position.
Former women’s world No 1 Naomi Osaka and a number of other stars have slammed the French Open’s decision, which was taken without any consultation with the other Slams or tennis authorities.
Australian Open champion Djokovic’s dreams of an historic calendar-year clean sweep of Major titles were already under threat from the coronavirus outbreak.
But the world No 1 is also understood to be angry about the way the French Open is trying to tear up the tennis calendar.
As things stand, the US Open is due to finish on September 14, giving players only a few days of recovery before another Slam would begin in Paris.
Directors of tournaments which are due to be played at the same time as the new dates for the French Open are understandably furious, too.
Acapulco Open chief Raul Zurutuza said: “The decision of Roland Garros to move the tournament to September is, from my point of view, treacherous and selfish.
“It only shows the disdain they have towards the other Tournaments on the Tour and apparently also the players, because they did not consult them.”
