Tennis' governing bodies have confirmed the creation of a Player Relief programme to support players affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The fund, which is already worth at least $6m (£4.8m), will target around 800 singles and doubles players from the ATP and WTA Tours.

 

The figure is likely to rise as donations from players, including Briton Andy Murray, will also be added.

 

Novak Djokovic has been campaigning for all of the men's top 100 to donate.

 

The programme has been set up by the men's ATP, the Women's Tennis Association, the International Tennis Federation and the sport's four Grand Slams - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

 

The ATP and the WTA will administer the distribution of the money, with eligibility determined by both a player's ranking and previous earnings.

Roland Garros also talking about playing behind closed doors again.

The Telegraph is now talking of the U.S. Open being played behind closed doors in Orlando at the end of the year with Roland Garros going ahead in September as planned also behind closed doors.

Georgian tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili has been charged with assaulting his former wife.

 

Basilashvili, 28, is accused by Neka Dorokashvili of attacking her in front of their five-year-old son.

 

Basilashvili, ranked 27th in the world, denies all the allegations, saying that the truth will be proven in court.

 

On Sunday, he was released on a 100,000 Georgian lari ($31,300; £25,700) bail by the court in the capital Tbilisi. If guilty, he faces three years in jail.

 

A preliminary court hearing has been scheduled for 16 July.

A series of domestic tennis tournaments will be held behind closed doors at the National Tennis Centre in July.

 

Each event will be open to the 16 highest ranked men and 16 highest ranked women in Britain.

 

The tournaments, organised by British tennis' governing body the LTA, will generally run from Friday to Sunday.

 

Andy Murray would be eligible to play his first match since November, although none of the top players have so far committed to taking part.

 

The LTA is hoping to stage best-of-three-set singles matches on a knockout basis, which means players may at times be asked to play two matches in a day.

Another interesting tournament - let's hope some of the bigger names decide to take part.

I hope so, to see Konta, Murray, Edmond, Heather Watson and Dan Evans take part in this.

Roger Federer will miss the rest of the 2020 season if there is one after having a further operation on his right knee.

 

The 20-time Grand Slam winner had the initial arthroscopic surgery in February but said he suffered a "setback" with his rehabilitation.

 

Professional tennis has been suspended since March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

"I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season." the 38-year-old Swiss said.

 

Federer has not played since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.

Decision on the US Open on the 15th June.

Serena Williams says she intends to play at the behind-closed-doors US Open in August and bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam.

 

The event will be held without fans in New York from 31 August, despite some players voicing concerns.

 

But Williams, 38, said: "I really cannot wait to return to New York and play the US Open 2020."

Novak Djokovic has lost a lot of credibility now that he has contracted COVID-19 from the tournament. :lol:

I saw a bit of his match on Eurosport. The stands were full of people. Coric,Dimitrov and Troicki have got it as well. Some players were dancing together in a nightclub in Belgrade after the previous tournament. They need to be a lot more responsible than this.

Djokovic is an absolute tool. I understand the rules in Serbia are a bit different but when you are represting your sport and you're the best player it is a shocking decision. The whole event was aimed as a big FU to Covid. Hope none of them have any serious problems relating to it, but it was a stupid decision to flaunt it all so publically.

What an idiot, Novak. What a bonehead move that was from him. Angered by the scenes of him partying at the nightclub in Belgrade. I understand there were 4,000 people in the crowd who came to see that tournament. This must put a dent in the chances of the US Open or French Open going ahead.

 

 

 

Wheelchair events will be held at this year's US Open after a majority of players endorsed the US Tennis Association's change of heart.

 

Australia's quad world number one Dylan Alcott had described an initial decision to scrap the wheelchair events as "disgusting discrimination".

 

But after admitting it should have consulted players, the USTA offered a choice between three options.

 

A majority of players have voted in favour of staging the event as usual.

 

It will take place in New York between 10 and 13 September, with a formal announcement expected shortly.

British number one Dan Evans overcame a strong start by Andy Murray to beat the three-time Grand Slam champion and reach the Battle of Brits final.

 

Evans was outplayed by Murray in the opening set but won 1-6 6-3 10-8 to set up a final with Kyle Edmund.

 

Number two Edmund fought back to beat Cameron Norrie 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 10-8.

Sounds like two good matches. It's a shame the BBC were not able to show it.

Yes same thing here I was a bit disappointed the BBC didn't show it. Understand Amazon Prime showed it. Nothing about highlights of the tournament I don't think on the BBC.

 

Certainly going to feel odd with.no Wimbledon this year. They'll be an Wimbledon Rewind show in the evening with Sue Barker and classic matches in the afternoon similar to Euros Rewind.

American Frances Tiafoe has become the latest tennis player to test positive for coronavirus.

 

The world number 81 had been playing in the All-American Team Cup in Georgia, the first event in the US to allow fans to attend since the Covid-19 shutdown.

 

Tiafoe, 22, won his match on Friday but confirmed his withdrawal from the tournament on social media on Saturday.

All August ITF tournaments in America cancelled, must surely put the tour resumption/US Open in severe doubt.

 

https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/n...-of-events.html