The Madrid Masters 1000, suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic, is replaced by a virtual tournament which will distribute 200,000 euros to fight the disease, the organizers announced on Monday. The organization of the Madrid tournament announced "the creation of the Mutua Madrid Open Virtua Pro, an innovative tournament which will reproduce the tennis competition in a virtual way, and will allow the best players in the world to compete from home (...) Therefore, the stars ATP and WTA will play matches at the Manolo Santana stadium, recreated in every detail in the video game Tennis World Tour, but will trade the racket for a joystick, "presented the organization of the tournament in a press release , without specifying the names of the participants.
50,000 euros to reduce the social impact
This virtual tournament will last from April 27 to 30 and "aims to help tennis players in need at the moment, those who have no income to cope with all these months of inactivity, and those who have the Covid-19, "said the press release. As a contribution, the tournament will "make a donation of 150,000 euros on both tables (ATP and WTA), and the winners will then decide what share to offer to tennis players and tennis players with the most economic problems". In addition to this amount, "50,000 euros will also be used to reduce the social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic," said the organizers.
The tennis world is currently paralyzed, like almost all the sport, by the epidemic of new coronavirus, with tournaments canceled, like Wimbledon, or postponed, like Roland-Garros, moved to November. “We organized a competition between professional players which does not require them to leave their home, as faithful as possible to the traditional Mutua Madrid Open. And with a purpose other than that of entertaining. We are looking to make our contribution to the building, in these difficult times for all, "added tournament director Feliciano Lopez, quoted in the press release. "We are particularly pleased that the benefits of this initiative are helping to support players who are facing critical times in these difficult times," said ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi.
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