With Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II, Vasek Pospisil says he would be thrilled if his next tennis match happened in August at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.
“In my mind that’s the best-case scenario,” the Vancouver resident told CBC Sports, referring to the coronavirus pandemic that has shut down the sports world.
“There are so many unknowns (about the virus) and variables in play that it’s almost better to do what you can every day to help the community, help the cause and stop the spread of the virus. I’m not too stressed about timelines.”
Pospisil was in California preparing for the BNP Paribas Open when the tournament at Indian Wells was cancelled on March 8 over COVID-19 concerns. Four days later, the men’s ATP Tour and the WTA, which runs the women’s circuit, suspended tournaments until June 7. On Wednesday, the suspension was extended until at least July 13.
Rogers Cup organizers are “optimistic” the women’s and men’s tournaments will be played in Montreal and Toronto, accordingly, while Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age it would be tough for tennis to return in 2020.
While it is not inconceivable to imagine the season being lost, as Pospisil said, the 2014 Wimbledon doubles champion believes it would be premature to call off the season now.
Pospisil is prepared for an extended break, agreeing with Tiley that tennis probably would be the last professional sport to resume play, given its reliance on global travel.
Tennis was put on hold with Pospisil sporting an 8-5 record in ATP tournaments in the first months of his 14th season.
He also played for his first tour title since 2014 at the Open Sud de France after winning two lower-tier events last fall that preceded a strong show in November at the Davis Cup Finals in Madrid.
