French Open is put back one week

The French Open has been postponed by a week with the main tournament now due to start on May 30, the French Tennis Federation has announced.

France president Emmanuel Macron announced on March 31 that a schedule for the return of sporting events would start from mid-May onwards.

The qualifying rounds will be held from May 24-28, with the main draw due to start on May 30 and finish on June 13.

French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton said: “I am delighted that the discussions with the public authorities, the governing bodies of international tennis, our partners and broadcasters, and the ongoing work with the WTA and ATP, have made it possible for us to postpone the 2021 Roland-Garros tournament by a week.

“I thank them for this.

“It will give the health situation more time to improve and should optimise our chances of welcoming spectators at Roland-Garros, into our newly transformed stadium that now covers more than 30 acres.”

The Grand Slam in Paris had been scheduled to take place between May 17 and June 6, but France was placed in a third national lockdown earlier this month after a sharp rise in coronavirus cases.

In 2020, the tournament was moved to October from its usual slot due to the first wave of Covid-19, with a limited amount of fans allowed in.

The decision affects the rest of the tennis season, with an alreadyfull calendar having to be readjusted.

The WTA and ATP, who respectively organise the heavily packed women’s and men’s tours, have said they will work alongside the French Tennis Federation.