As might be feared, the ATP circuit has also been affected by the coronavirus epidemic and has decided to take a break for the next six weeks. It is therefore, among others, Indian Wells, Miami, Barcelona and even Monte-Carlo that will be missed this year by tennis enthusiasts. For the players also the situation is difficult to manage. But not everyone will suffer the same consequences.
Novak Djokovic (1st) comforted but frustrated
Untouchable since the start of the season and winner of his 17th Grand Slam at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic is the man of this start to the season. He had also admitted in half-words to want to make this year 2020 one of all records for him, and is finally already a little prevented by the coronavirus. Because even if he manages to remain undefeated by the end of the year (which is far from certain), he will not be able to win all the big titles on the calendar anyway. A certain frustration for the Serb, who can nevertheless be satisfied by saying that this suspension of the circuit benefits him in the race for first place in the world. Beaten in the third round at Indian Wells, in the round of 16 in Miami and in the quarterfinals at Monte-Carlo in 2019, he has practically no point to defend over the period compared to his competitors.
Rafael Nadal (2nd) deprived of land
Number one in the world at the start of the season, Rafael Nadal was taken over by Novak Djokovic, and was impatiently awaiting the start of the clay court season in an attempt to move up the world ranking. Missed. This year, the Spaniard will be deprived of two of his favorite tournaments, Barcelona and Monte-Carlo, which he has won eleven times each. A very unfortunate situation for him, especially since he had not managed to win in these two tournaments last year and he could therefore potentially win precious points compared to Djokovic. He will also concede ground compared to the Serb since he will not be able to defend his semi-final of the Australian Open 2019. And while Nadal hopes to conquer his 20th Grand Slam title in his garden of Roland -Garros, he would suffer enormous disillusionment if the suspension was extended and the Paris Grand Slam was also impacted.
Dominic Thiem (3rd) stopped in his tracks
If there is one who should be in a hurry to return to competition, it is him. Dominic Thiem is making the best start of his season in his career so far, and has never been closer to winning a Major than at the last Australian Open. Beaten in the final by Djokovic after a fight in five sets (6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4), the Austrian could rightly be frustrated, but took advantage of this first final in Melbourne and its title in Dubai to reach its best ATP ranking (3rd). He surely hoped then to be able to take advantage of this good momentum to chain the good results in the United States, then in Europe on clay, its favorite surface. He will not have the opportunity, and will be particularly affected in the coming weeks by the suspension of the circuit. Thiem had indeed obtained very good results over the period last season, culminating in the Master 1000 title from Indian Wells, and will not be able to defend these precious points.
Roger Federer (4th), an operation at the best of times
One wonders if he had not seen everything again before everyone else. Having undergone a knee arthroscopy in February, Roger Federer will be away from the field for many months and will miss the competition until Roland-Garros, or even after. A complicated situation for the Swiss, already doubled to third place by Dominic Thiem, and who should have continued to lose ground compared to his competitors. This will not really be the case with all cancellations, and Federer can thus be satisfied with having chosen the best possible time to treat his knee.
What about the French?
Gaël Monfils is probably the tricolor most directly affected by this suspension of the circuit. Brilliant since the start of the season, it is now 9th in the world thanks in particular to a crazy series of twelve consecutive victories in February. He misses the opportunity to capitalize on this dynamic, and will be deprived of two big tournaments on clay, his favorite surface, notably Monte-Carlo where he had disputed the final in 2016. The situation is also quite similar for Benoît Pair, also in good shape since the beginning of 2020 and which will have to work its brakes in the months to come. When Richard Gasquet and Lucas Pouille, this cancellation is very bad when the two French have just returned from injury and are now trying to follow the meetings to find their best level.
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