French tennis ace says abandoning 2020 season would be catastrophic

Frenchman Benoit Paire says it would be 'a catastrophe' if the 2020 tennis season is wiped out due to the coronavirus outbreak.

At the moment, tennis will not return until the American hardcourt swing at east in August, but with the coronavirus crisis still exerting a vice-like grip on the world, it is very doubtful whether even that will be possible.

The ATP and WTA rankings have been frozen indefinitely, with many industry insiders claiming it seems inevitable that tennis will remain off the calendar until 2021, mainly due to air-travel restrictions.

Paire, though, is not ready to give up on 2020 yet.

"I'm really against cancelling the season," Paire told francetvinfo.fr.

"A complete cancellation would be truly catastrophic.

"As soon as possible, you will have to play tennis even if it is in October or November. Try to cram as many tournaments as possible.

"As soon as possible, we must show that it has started again, that it is not the disease that will stop us.

"I sincerely hope that the season will not be wiped out."

- TEAMtalk media