Feliciano Lopez: Small chance that Madrid Masters may be held at the end of the year

Spanish tennis player Feliciano Lopez, who is also the Tournament Director of the Mutua Madrid Open Masters Series event, says there is a very small possibility that the tournament may be held at the end of the year.

The Madrid Masters was scheduled from May 1 to May 10 prior to the tennis shutdown in March.

Lopez was speaking on Antena 3's 'El Hormiguero' where he said there is " a small chance" that the tournament will be held at the "end of the year",  although he did not offer any possible dates for the rescheduled event. "If we cannot do it, it will be next year. We are very sad, but everyone has been very understanding of the decision. From the players, sponsors, etc., because health comes first."

Lopez and his team did organize a virtual tournament at the end of April which was won by Andy Murray and Kiki Bertens. "We did a tournament that has been a great success with top-level players playing from home. Bertens is the current real champion. She has won it both ways."

The 38 year old added that he was not positive about the return of tennis soon due to the global nature of the sport and the travel involved. "I am not very positive because tennis has a big problem that other sports do not have. It is a very global sport. Players from many different countries participate in the same tournament. The world needs to be completely open so that all tennis players can move freely. We have to be sure that we can all compete on equal terms. I think that tennis players will be one of the last to regain activity."

Lopez also spoke about being confined to his home with his wife, Sandra Gago, whom he married in September during the current lockdown. "One of the positive things I have learned has been enjoying being at home more than two weeks in a row. It is something that I have not been able to do for 20 years in my life. I want to get something good out of this difficult moment. Sandra has accompanied me during my tournaments, not all but many of them. But it is still a test. We are newlyweds, we have been living here together for two months and the test has been passed, so at the moment I cannot complain."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3dvDjxY