Even though the latest 2020 provisional tour calendar lists Chinese tournaments to be played in October and November, the word is out that all those events will be canceled due to the recent decision by China’s General Administration of Sport that the country will not host any international sporting events this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision affects seven WTA tournaments, starting from the China Open (Beijing), planned to begin the week of October 12th, and then the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, Jiangxi Open (Nanchang), Zhengzhou Open, Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen, Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, and Guangzhou Open.
WTA is cancelling all China Tennis tournaments this season, including China Open, sources confirmed to Lanxiong Sports. pic.twitter.com/q4rSLX7UKf
— Lanxiong Sports (@LanxiongSports) July 23, 2020
The WTA website has still not confirmed this news. It was first reported by Lanxiong Sports, who tweeted a document with quotes from WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon:
We are extremely disappointed that our world-class events in China will not take place this year. Unfortunately, this decision also includes the cancellation of the Porsche Race to Shenzhen and the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen. We do however respect the decision that has been made and are eager to return to China as soon as possible next season.
When it comes to other tennis tournaments, the schedule is set to resume on August 3rd in Palermo, Italy. The following week Prague will host an event, and then the tour moves to the United States where we’ll have the Top Seed Open in Lexington, the Western & Southern Open in NYC and the US Open.
UPDATE: Soon after I published this, the WTA confirmed that the tournaments in China will not be played. Here is the new 2020 provisional calendar:
