“I pray for the health and cure of all. Hopefully God can cure the disease, be it physical, mental or spiritual, the world No. 1 Serb said on social media.
“We live a high-paced modern life. We are constantly passing through, we seldom stop and contemplate our lives. We have become addicted to the idea that we always need to be somewhere doing something productive.
“We are all one. We all live in the same world. Please treat people and nature as you would like to be treated. God bless you all. We will come out stronger and more united. I’m sure.”
Meanwhile Rafael Nadal is having to consider a tough call regarding the defence of his 2019 titles at both Roland Garros and the US Open when tennis gets back on track in the coming months,
With the Open in New York so far still set for its regular August-September dates and the hastily and unilaterally re-set French Open now to be played starting September 20, there is only one week between the end of one and the start of the other.
The unprecedented scheduling due to the COVID-19 outbreak around the world could press Spain’s world No. 2 king of clay to the limit between the two Grand Slams.
Former Swiss player Marc Rosset, a television commentator for his country’s French language network, believes the 33-year-old will pick the clay over the American hardcourts if push comes to shove
Nadal owns a record 12 titles in Paris and bases his entire year around the clay-court major in the now-locked down French capital.
“We can wonder if a player like Rafael Nadal will remove the US Open from his calendar and focus on clay,” Rosset said on the RTS network. “Roland Garros is a tournament that is close to his heart.”
Feliciano Lopez, new tournament director of the now virus-cancelled Madrid Masters in May, called the current chaos caused by the virus “an emergency situation.”
The current player who has assumed a double role in the sport, told Spin’s AS newspaper:
“If it finally turns out that way (Paris being played in September), I imagine that tennis players will want to play and few people will skip (Roland Garros).
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) in second round match
Photo Anne Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
http://www.grandslamtennis.online
“This change of surface has usually happened to us with Davis Cup, who went from one surface to another in less than five days.
“Even at Wimbledon, now there are three weeks away from Roland Garros, but before it was two and you went straight from clay to grass.”
