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2020 Laver Cup cancelled, US Open yet to make 2020 decision

By Brandon Daniels

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Team Europe pose with the trophy after winning the Laver Cup in the final match of the tournament during Day Three of the Laver Cup 2019 at Palexpo on September 22, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Laver Cup will see six players from the rest of the World competing against their counterparts from Europe. Team World is captained by John McEnroe and Team Europe is captained by Bjorn Borg. The tournament runs from September 20-22. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Team Europe pose with the trophy after winning the Laver Cup in the final match of the tournament during Day Three of the Laver Cup 2019 at Palexpo on September 22, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Laver Cup will see six players from the rest of the World competing against their counterparts from Europe. Team World is captained by John McEnroe and Team Europe is captained by Bjorn Borg. The tournament runs from September 20-22. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images) /
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With the coronavirus pandemic yet to see any major improvement since it began in the US, the event organizers of the Laver Cup have announced that the tennis tournament will not be held in 2020, but will be back on schedule for 2021 in Boston. It was announced following ATP Tour CEO Andrea Gaudenzi’s plan for a packed end of 2020 to play as many major tournaments as possible. Gaudenzi’s controversial plan to play the French Open in 2020 has clashed not only with the Laver Cup, but with the US Open, as well. It’s possible that both events will be canceled for 2020 with the new schedule plan in mind.

Roger Federer, a key backer and creator of the team event, put out a statement regarding the situation.

"“Although disappointing, the good news is that TD Garden will still be able to host the event next year and I really look forward to finally playing in Boston for the first time at Laver Cup 2021,” Federer said in a statement released by Cup organizers."

With both the WTA and ATP tours shut down until mid-July at the earliest and Gaudenzi pushing for a packed schedule once play resumes, many decisions had to be made regarding some events. The French Open is now planning to be held from September 20th-October1st, which would fall only one week after the end of the US Open (usually the final major of the year held in September).

"“Obviously our ambition is to run the tournament. It’s the engine that drives our organization, our governing body. Having said that, that won’t be the driving factor,” Mike Dowse, who took over at the USTA on Jan. 1, said on a conference call with reporters. “The driving factor will be the health and well-being of the players, the fans and our staff.”"

It’s yet to be decided whether or not the tournament will be played in 2020. However, if it does, Dowse and the USTA are pushing for a normally-run tournament held with fans.

"“We’re not taking anything off the table, but right now, I’d say that’s a highly unlikely scenario,” he said.“If the medical experts come back and say, ‘Here is a foolproof way of running a very safe tournament; unfortunately, it has to be without fans,’ we may reconsider and look at it.”"

When plans surface on the US Open in 2020, it will likely shift the entire scope of Gaudenzi’s proposed schedule. It comes down to which major tournament is more important for the game: Roland Garros or the US Open? That’s a completely different topic in its own right, but definitely one that needs to be discussed. It’s highly unlikely that players will play both two-week major tournaments back-to-back as it’s currently proposed. If both were still scheduled, many players would possibly skip one of the two tournaments in favor of being well-rested for one. That won’t fly with the USTA or Gaudenzi.

Changes need to made to the schedule. Whether it’s canceling the US Open, pushing it back, or even canceling Roland Garros, it’ll likely be solved soon, as it’s one of tennis’ highest sources of revenue and two of the most critical tournaments of the year.

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