ATP cancels all tennis events in China

• ATP cancelled all events due to China’s continued implementation of its zero-covid policy
• China has maintained their stringent restrictions
• China is not going to host any foreign events unless there are significant limits placed on them

Due to China’s continued implementation of its zero-covid policy, the ATP Tour has decided not to go to China this year as originally planned.

While some other countries have loosened their rules and some events have allowed supporters back in, China has maintained their stringent restrictions. The Asian country resolve is to maintain these measures until they attain zero cases of Covid-19.

After a precipitous increase in the number of cases of COVID that were reported in China in April, the number of new infections had significantly levelled by June.

On the other hand, China will not host any foreign events unless significant limits are placed on them. These were expected to be deal breakers for the majority of the best players on the ATP Tour.

They relished the removal of limitations, which many players claim put significant pressure on their mental health.

ATP Tour. Photo/Eurosport

The ATP Tour is the most recent organization to cancel or postpone events in China. As a result, the Shanghai Masters and three other men’s tournaments that were scheduled to take place in China will not take place this year.

China has not hosted a major international sporting event since the Winter Olympics in February. The Winter Olympics were governed by stringent standards which are now repelling major international sporting events

In June, the tour’s leadership clarified that COVID-19 continues to be the primary hurdle to returning to China. Before the Shanghai Masters, China was supposed to hold the China Open in Beijing from October 3-9, as well as the Chengdu Open and the Zhuhai Championships, both of which would have begun on September 26.

On Thursday, the ATP officially announced that the Chinese swing will not be taking place.

“This marks the third year of cancellation for the ATP’s China swing, typically hosted in September and October and last staged in 2019, before the pandemic,” a statement by ATP read.

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) will grant out six 250-level event certificates on a one-year basis to cover the gap in their calendar. The tour added that it continues to handle the repercussions of the pandemic, which has had a significant impact on the sport.

ATP Tour. Photo/Open Court

While this happens, it is tremendously heartening that several outstanding cities are stepping up to host ATP Tour tennis in 2022.

Regarding the situation with Peng Shuai, the ATP is content with the official account of events that has been provided by the Chinese government, and they intend to restart their contact with each other soonest possible.

Peng, accused former Deputy Premier Zhang Gaoli last year of sexual assault before going missing. Her disappearance sparked a debate among tennis stakeholders about state oppression.

Months later, she appeared in an hour-long interview with L’Equipe and claimed Gaoli never assaulted her as earlier claimed. Nevertheless, pundits said the whole interview appeared to be stage-managed.