Roger Federer's major announcement in tennis virus controversy

Organisers have been forced to cancel the 2020 Laver Cup due to the controversial clash of dates with the rescheduled French Open.

In a move that sparked uproar, the French Tennis Federation switched the clay court grand slam tournament to September 20-October 4 from its May start due to the coronavirus outbreak.

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The new Roland Garros dates clashed with the September 25-27 Laver Cup, which is a team event co-created by Roger Federer and featuring the best of Europe against a World team.

Boston's TD Garden will remain host for the fourth edition of the event, which will now be held from September 24-26 in 2021.

“It's unfortunate that the Laver Cup has to be pushed back a year, but at this stage it's the right thing to do for everyone concerned,” Federer said in a statement from the organisers.

“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.”

Uncertainty surrounds suspended tennis tours

The men's ATP Tour and the WTA, which runs the women's circuit, suspended all tournaments until mid-July after countries started locking down borders to contain the spread of the flu-like virus which has infected over two million people.

Wimbledon has been cancelled while the French Open's new slot means the tournament will start a week after the US Open takes place on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows in New York.

In recent weeks tennis governing bodies have discussed the scheduling logjam with little clarity on when the sport can restart.

Tennis Australia, who run the opening Grand Slam of the year at Melbourne Park, and US Open organisers, the United States Tennis Association, are stakeholders in the Laver Cup, which was part of the 2020 ATP Tour calendar.

Organisers said the tickets purchased for the 2020 Laver Cup will be valid next year or fans can receive a full refund.

“We needed to make a decision now on our event,” said Laver Cup Chairman Tony Godsick, who is also Federer's agent.

“We know our passionate fans will be disappointed that they have to wait an extra year for the Laver Cup in Boston, but this is the responsible course of action, necessitated by the emerging calendar conflicts.”

French Open postponement slammed

The cancellation of the Laver Cup is the latest twist in the ugly saga surrounding the French Open’s postponement.

Laver Cup organisers previously said they were surprised by French Open’s move.

“This announcement came as a surprise to us and our partners - Tennis Australia, the USTA and the ATP. It raises many questions and we are assessing the situation,” they said in a statement last month.

“At this time, we want our fans, sponsors, broadcasters, staff, volunteers, players and the great city of Boston to know that we intend to hold Laver Cup 2020 as currently scheduled.”

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) also released a statement which said there were no plans to alter the schedule for the US Open and went on to blatantly criticise the French Open for making ‘unilateral changes’ to the calendar.

“At a time when the world is coming together, we recognise that such a decision should not be made unilaterally,” the statement read.

“Therefore the USTA would only do so in full consultation with the other Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP, the ITF and our partners, including the Laver Cup.”

Players were also unimpressed.

with AAP