Portuguese Tennis Federation makes big donation to support local players and clubs

The Portuguese Tennis Federation is donating €500,000 to help Portuguese players and clubs affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Tour has been suspended for over a month now and there won't be any events taking place until at least July 13. 

Portugal has only one player ranked inside the top-100 as Joao Sousa sits at No. 66 in the world.

Portuguese Tennis Federation helping affected players, clubs, etc with 500k euros, which is quite a decent amount for the dimension of the sport here.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) April 23, 2020

Portugal's biggest tennis event -- the Millennium Estoril Open -- won't be held this year. 

The ATP 250 event in Estoril was scheduled to take place from April 27 - May 3. 

Portuguese Federation helps to organize around 40 ITF events during the year. They will try to reschedule most of the posponed ones, starting in august.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) April 23, 2020

The Portuguese Tennis Federation is aiming to create a national circuit before the Tour resumes.

But there is a chance that the circuit will also feature players outside Portugal as the Federation is open to bringing international players.

There isn't too much optimism that the Tour will indeed resume once the current suspension expires.

There is a plan for a National circuit with prize-money for our best players, in order to prepare them for the resume of international events.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) April 23, 2020

That circuit may include international players as well.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) April 23, 2020

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2yDJX6b