SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 17 hrs 29 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Feliciano Lopez confident players will still play in rescheduled French Open

:Headline: Feliciano Lopez confident players will still play in rescheduled French Open: ID:393595: from db_amp
The tournament is now due to begin only a week after the US Open.

Feliciano Lopez does not expect many players to skip the French Open after its controversial move from spring to autumn.

The French Tennis Federation drew sharp rebukes from fellow organisations and players after making the surprise announcement earlier this week without consulting fellow stakeholders.

The tournament is now due to begin only a week after the US Open and clashes with a number of events, including Roger Federer's Laver Cup.

The Laver Cup, a Ryder Cup-style tournament between Europe and the rest of the world that has attracted star-studded fields, responded with a statement saying it would go ahead as planned.

Spaniard Lopez, ranked 56th, told as.com: "It is an emergency situation. If it finally turns out that way, I imagine that tennis players will want to play and few people will skip (it).

"This change of surface has usually happened to us with Davis Cup, who went from one surface to another in less than five days. Even at Wimbledon, because now there are three weeks away from Roland Garros, but before it was two and you went from clay to grass."

As well as maintaining his status as a top player, 38-year-old Lopez is also tournament director of the Madrid Open, which is one of the events to have been called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rafael Nadal has won 12 French Open titles since 2005 (Richard Sellers/PA)

The tournament was due to begin on May 2, and Lopez revealed there is no chance of following the French Open's lead and finding alternative dates for 2020.

He said: "Unfortunately we have no margin to play. People in the organisation are sad, although the situation was not very hopeful seeing the latest events. It is a hard blow, but we are already looking at the 2021 edition."

Lopez does not currently have access to a tennis court but is doing what he can to stay fit.

He said: "I'm doing a lot of cycling. I also have medicine balls, run where I can around here, video conferences with my coach. A little of everything and waiting to see how events unfold."

amp_article__393595 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-03-20 15:54:30:
html db last update - 2020-03-20 15:54:30 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Coronavirus outbreak - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Feliciano Lopez

Share this article now:
Read more about Feliciano Lopez Tennis
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .