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The French government isn’t ruling out the postponement of the calendar Grand Slam extravaganza at French Open 2021 amid a surge in Covid-19 cases.

The country is set to go under a third phase of confinement, whereby all schools will be closed and citizens won’t be allowed to venture beyond 10kms from their homes.

French minister for sport says talks are on with officials to rejig dates for French Open 2021

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Given the current scenario, the existing schedule for the French Open, between May 24 and June 6, looks most likely to be altered.

French Minister for Sport Roxana Maracineanu, a former world swimming champion, said on public radio that the French Open could be postponed in view of the ongoing pandemic situation.

“We’re in talks with them (French Tennis Federation) to see if the dates have to change in order to tune them with a global schedule for sports,” the minister said during the radio interview.

via Reuters

The decorated former athlete added that while high-level sports, of which tennis is a part, are “safeguarded” through enforcement of tough protocols and provision of biosecure bubbles during tournaments, the current situation in the country might force a rethink on dates and schedule.

“We do everything to avoid (Covid) clusters in sports organizations,” Maracineanu said.

Rafael Nadal is eyeing a successful title-defense at French Open 2021

French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton was quoted as saying this week that holding the Grand Slam closed doors was the “worst (case) scenario”.

France was among the countries severely hit by the pandemic last year, and the French Open had to be pushed to a September-October window from its normal scheduling slot between May and June.

The country was in the initial stages of the second wave of the pandemic when the tournament was staged and the organizers limited the crowd attendance to 1,000.

The US Open, which was held entirely behind closed doors last year, passed off without a hitch.

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Limited crowds were allowed at the Australian Open this year, barring a five-day period when Melbourne went under a surprise lockdown, but the Grand Slam was spared.

Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal clinched a record 13th French Open title last year and will be eyeing an encore this time.

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Read More: “Dare Not Imagine That”: French Tennis Chief Worried About the Cancellation of French Open 2021

Defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek would also have an eye on another superlative campaign at Roland-Garros.