Tennis Hall of Fame inductions may be deferred to 2021 should coronavirus crisis continue

Michael Graham
Goran Ivanisevic

The tennis calendar may be further hit by the corionavirus crisis with the International Hall of Fame inductions deferred to 2021 should the ATP tournament in Newport be cancelled.

At present, Newport is the first tournament scheduled for after the current coronavirus suspension expires, on July 13.

The IHOF is located in Newport, though, and the annual ATP event there is used for the induction ceremonies, and there are no plans to move the formalities to another venue if needs must.

“If ATP Newport is cancelled, IHOF CEO Todd Martin tells me the induction ceremony for Goran Ivanisevic and Conchita Martinez will be deferred,” tennis journalist Ravi Ubha wrote on Twitter.

“(Quoting Martin) ‘Our inductees would be well celebrated. We’re working on a massive virtual project but the actual induction would be deferred to 2021.’

Former Wimbledon champions Goran Ivanisevic and Conchita Martinez are the two players being inducted, and who would be affected should it be put back twelve months.

“I am proud and humbled to become the first ever Tennis Hall of Famer from Croatia,” Ivanisevic said in January.

“I am grateful to the committee for selecting me for this honour and so thankful to the fans who supported me in the Fan Vote and throughout my entire career, especially so many great fans in Croatia.

“I am honoured and excited to become a Hall-of-Famer.”

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