Tennis NRS: No vax for Novak

It’s been a huge week of sports news. Rafa, Roger, and Andy chatted on Instagram Live, though not before Rafa dealt with some technical difficulties. ESPN released The Last Dance documentary about Michael Jordan. And, perhaps the most surprising headline, is that all four Grand Slams, the ITF, ATP, and WTA are in talks to create a relief fund for lower ranked players. They said they “look forward to finalizing and sharing the further details of a plan in due course.”

In other news: 

• Current ATP world #1 Novak Djokovic was recently asked what would happen if vaccines become compulsory for players as the Tour reopens. “I have my own thoughts about the matter,” said Djokovic. “And whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.” This is definitely a time when players have a lot of time to think, to consider their thoughts, and to perhaps change their minds about anything.
• Think you’ve got good hands? Check out what Denis Kudla can do with a tennis ball and a wine bottle. 
• Want live tennis? It’s coming. The tide of exhibition events featuring ATP players is rising and it’s starting in Europe before arriving in the States. We’ve heard of a series of matches held at Mouratoglou Academy in France; European retailer TennisPoint is the title sponsor of an event in Germany held on indoor clay; and the German Tennis Federation itself is looking to host a series of events starting in June. We wonder where the first US-based exhibition event will be.
• Nadal has publicly expressed frustrations with his inability to train during the Covid-19 crisis. In Spain, where some members of society have been able to return to work, Nadal has questioned what would prevent him and a trainer from being on opposite sides of a court. He, however, recognizes that “the last thing [the Spanish government will] think of is who can train and who cannot train.”

Tennis NRS is short for Tennis News, Rumors, and Speculation. This series is your place for tennis updates during the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic. Stay tuned for frequent briefs here and on social media: follow us on Facebook to hear when new posts are published.

Photo: Carine06 on Flickr