The suspension of ATP & WTA tours has been postponed until Jun 7, 2020 ruling out the entire clay-court season. Prior to the new notice the ATP and WTA tours were cancelled until April 27 and May 2, 2020 respectively. The extension would now hit sistering clay tournaments in Madrid and Rome plus women’s events in Strasbourg and Rabat and men’s events in Munich, Geneva, Lyon and Estoril; the events include both ATP Masters and Challengers. All men’s and Women’s rankings are frozen by the ATP, the body governing the professional tennis tours.

On Tuesday, French Tennis Federation officials announced that clay grand slam is pushed back to September, one week after the end of US Open. As per new schedule, the coveted clay tourney will now commence on Sunday, Sep 20, 2020 and end on Sunday, Oct 4, 2020.

Announcing the surprise suspension, the statement from the Association of Tennis Professional (ATP) and Women’s Tennis Associations (WTA) read: “now is not a time to act unilaterally, but in unison.”

“The challenger presented by the Covid-19 pandemic to professional tennis demand greater collaboration than ever from everyone in the tennis community in order for the sport to move forward collectively in the best interest of players, tournaments and fans,” the statement added.

“All decisions related to the impact of the coronavirus require appropriate consultation and review with the stakeholders in the game, a view that is shared by ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation, All England Lawn Tennis Club, Tennis Australia, and United States and Tennis Association.”

Tournaments starting on June 8, 2020 onwards are intended to go ahead as per schedule. Nottingham would host a WTA tourney that week with events at Queen’s due to start on June 15, 2020 while Eastbourne would be starting on June 20, 2020.

Wimbledon is expected to be held from June 29m to July 12, 2020.