Local tennis on hold

With the deadly coronavirus continuing to spread locally, John Azar, president of Tennis Jamaica (TJ), says its offices are now closed and all tournaments that were scheduled for this month have been postponed.

"All the events that we have planned between March and April have been cancelled pending further notice, and the staff have been sent home with pay," said Azar. "Everything has been cancelled by the ITF (International Tennis Federation) and certainly all overseas events are on hold."

He added: "The Fed Cup, which was scheduled for this summer, is not officially cancelled. But like with anything else, we are expecting that to be the case."

Jamaica has 38 confirmed cases of the virus. Three people have died.

Azar noted that with a number ofl tournaments being postponed or cancelled, that has certainly hampered the growth and development of the sport locally.

"It will delay the development of the sport as it is delaying other things. I certainly don't think it will have a negative effect on the sport," said Azar.

He noted no Jamaican player is in quarantine and they are all looking forward to returning to the courts very soon.

"All of the players who we have spoken to thus far, including those who are here and those who are abroad, are thankfully safe now," Azar said. "A lot of overseas-based players who play at universities were able to get back home to Jamaica, and I think a lot of them are happy to be here in light of what is taking place elsewhere."

"Like with anybody else, there is a lot of anxiety around and nobody in their right mind would like what is going on. But I think that we all just need to do what is in the best interest of the country," Azar added.