Revised ATP calendar not safe for players, says Murray

Record ID: 1559404

  • Title: Revised ATP calendar not safe for players, says Murray
  • Date: 27th June 2020
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - JUNE 28, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ANDY MURRAY AND HIS DOUBLES PARTNER AT WIMBLEDON IN 2019, PIERRE-HUGUES HERBERT ON COURT PRACTISING LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - NOVEMBER 8, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ROGER FEDERER PRACTISING AHEAD OF ATP TOUR FINALS VARIOUS OF NOVAK DJOKOVIC PRACTISING AHEAD OF ATP TOUR FINALS VARIOUS OF RAFAEL NADAL PRACTISING AHEAD OF ATP TOUR FINALS NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 27, 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM - THE MAIN COURT AT FLUSHING MEADOWS - THE VENUE FOR THE U.S. OPEN PEOPLE WALKING BY SIGN FOR THE U.S. OPEN THE UNISPHERE SCULPTURE (LARGE STEEL GLOBE) IN FLUSHING MEADOWS-CORONA PARK NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 28, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING BY U.S. OPEN SIGNAGE UNISPHERE SCULPTURE PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - MARCH 21, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NEW "SIMONNE MATHIEU" COURT AND SEATS AT ROLAND GARROS - THE FRENCH OPEN VENUE SINGLES TROPHIES MEN'S TROPHY
  • Embargoed: 11th July 2020 20:01
  • Keywords: ATP Andy Murray COVID-19 French Open Tennis U.S. Open coronavirus tennis calendar
  • Location: VARIOUS
  • City: VARIOUS
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sport,Tennis
  • Reuters ID: LVA002CK5B7LR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Three-times Grand Slam champion Andy Murray said on Saturday (June 27) the ATP's revised calendar which includes seven tournaments in as many weeks is not safe for players, who will be forced to skip major events due to the crammed schedule.
    The ATP tour, which was suspended in March due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, is set restart on Aug. 14 with the Citi Open, followed by the Cincinnati Masters, which will be held at Flushing Meadows before the U.S. Open.
    The men's claycourt swing will start on Sept. 8 in Kitzbuhel followed by Masters tournaments in Madrid and Rome on Sept. 13 and Rome Masters on Sept. 20, with the French Open set to begin a week later.
    "It's not safe for players to go from the semi-finals or final in New York... and then play in Madrid at altitude on clay when they haven't competed for a long time," Murray told a news conference during the 'Battle of the Brits' charity tournament.
    "You're going to have the potential where a lot of top players are not competing at many of the biggest events."
    The 33-year-old said with events coming thick and fast changes would need to be made with respect to players' ranking points.
    "It might be worth looking at a two-year ranking for the time being maybe so that guys who have done well last year and are sort of not really able to defend their points properly aren't kind of punished," the twice Wimbledon champion said.
    Murray suggested he will skip the tournament in Cincinnati to get his preparations for the U.S. Open in order.
    "I would rather play Washington and miss the event the week before at the U.S. Open if they all go ahead," he added.
    Murray returned to action following a seven-month injury layoff at the charity event organised by his brother Jamie this week, progressing to the semi-finals before losing 1-6 6-3 10-8 to Dan Evans. Sunday's finals will be shown on Amazon Prime.
    (Production: Tim Hart)
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