Per report, three top-20 players asked for wildcard into Lille Challenger

Lille Challenger Tournament Director Joseph Latacz received wildcard requests from three top-20 players shortly after the Indian Wells Masters got cancelled, per French tennis reporter Eric Salliot. 

The opening Masters event of the season -- which was due to kick off this week in Indian Wells -- became the first major United States sporting event to get cancelled over the coronavirus outbreak. 

"We are very disappointed that the tournament will not take place, but the health and safety of the local community, fans, players, volunteers, sponsors, employees, vendors, and everyone involved with the event is of paramount importance,” Indian Wells Masters Tournament Director Tommy Haas said in a statement. “We are prepared to hold the tournament on another date and will explore options.”

The extreme measures the Indian Wells tournament organizers took in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak came as a surprise to many and now the fear is that more ATP tournaments will get cancelled going forward. 

If that's the case, players with a better ranking -- who usually don't play on the Challenger Tour -- will likely request wildcards into some of the upcoming Challenger events so they are not out of action for a longer period of time. 

The Lille Challenger starts in just less than two weeks from now as it is due to be held from March 23-29. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2xjnr1w