PARIS: The French government has discussed a possible ‘delay of a few days’ of this year’s French Open with the event organisers, the sports ministry said on Tuesday.

Discussions between the ministry and Roland Garros officials also included how the tournament might be able to accommodate fans who were largely locked out of the delayed 2020 edition.

This year’s event is due to take place between May 23 and June 6, with qualification rounds starting earlier.

“Discussions are underway with the organisers on the methods used, in particular for the reception of the public,” the ministry spokeswoman said. “A delay of a few days is under discussion.”

At the end of March, Gilles Moretton, the new president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), had indicated that he was working on almost all the scenarios.

He said the only ones he ‘dared not’ consider were the extremes — a 100 percent spectator level and outright cancellation.

“At the moment, we are on track, the tournament is on the scheduled date,” he said. “But if we go into total lockdown for two months, we will obviously need to take measures — the worst being the outright cancellation, but I dare not imagine that.”

Coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions were tightened across France last Wednesday although all professional sport is carrying on albeit behind closed doors.

President Emmanuel Macron has expressed a wish to re-open cinemas, museums and theatres in mid-May.

Last year the French Open was delayed by four months and held in September and October instead of its longstanding May-June slot with the crowds limited to just 1,000 spectators each day.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2021