Argentinian great Gabriela Sabatini says return of professional tennis unlikely in 2020

The professional tennis season was halted in mid-March following recommendations from the World Health Organisation.Gabriela Sabatini, an Argentinian tennis legend, believes the professional tennis circuit will not return in 2020 owing to the global Covid-19 pandemic, which has halted practically all sporting events around the world.

“In the coming months, I think it will be difficult to hold any sporting event,” Sabatini said on Sunday’s Subidos a la Red podcast.

“I have my doubts that something can be done this year in tennis,” she said afterwards.

The professional tennis season was delayed in mid-March following World Health Organisation guidelines, and the WTA and ATP have announced that the suspension will now be extended until June 7. Wimbledon has been cancelled, while the French Open has been postponed till August.

“It’s difficult to think about the future and what may happen because precisely what you have to try is to avoid a lot of people coming together and in all these events that happens,” according to Sabatini.

“This is quite desperate. You don’t know how or when it will end, and as much as we enjoy thinking about the future, we can’t do so right now. The good news is that we are all facing the same scenario because it is global, therefore the most important thing today is to stay at home and be healthy,” she said.

The 49-year-old, who retired in 1996 after winning the US Open in 1990 and reaching 11 Grand Slam singles semi-finals, peaked at No. 3 in February 1989.