By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday April 16, 2021
The WTA has released an extended 2021 calendar, and confirmed that tournaments in Cologne and ‘s-Hertogenbosch have been cancelled for 2021.
WTA Cologne, planned for May 14-21, and ‘s-Hertogenbosh (a joint WTA-ATP event), scheduled for the week of June 7-13, could not operate in the current conditions, both have been postponed to 2022.
“With the current restrictions in The Netherlands, it is impossible to welcome spectators and hospitality guests, key elements to the success of the tournament,” tournament director Marcel Hunze said in a statement. “Without the presence (of) enthusiastic fans, the characteristic atmosphere of Libéma Open is missing. The decision of Roland-Garros to move up a week would have further impacted our event. The focus now is on preparing for a great edition in 2022. The Libéma Open will be held from 4 till 12 June 2022.”
The WTA says that Nottingham, also scheduled for June 7-13 (the second week of Roland-Garros after the tournament pushed back by one week), is undergoing talks.
Here are some other notes from the WTA calendar update:
• Week 20 (May 17) – Anning, China moves to Belgrade, Serbia (2021 only)
• Week 21 (May 24) – Strasbourg moves to week 21 with Roland Garros taking place in weeks 22-23
• Week 23 (June 7) – Nottingham under discussion, update forthcoming
• Week 28 (July 12) – WTA 250 tournament in Bucharest, Romania moves to Budapest, Hungary
• Week 28 (July 12) – WTA 250 Prague moves from May to the summer and changes from clay to hardcourt
• Week 29 (July 19) – Washington, DC moves to Gdynia, Poland and changes from hardcourt to red clay
• Week 34 (August 23) – New WTA 250 hardcourt event in Cleveland, Ohio
The 2021 edition of tournaments in Cologne and ‘s-Hertogenbosch will unfortunately not operate this year but look forward to returning to the calendar in 2022.