Lexington’s pro tennis tournament called off for 2020, promises ‘big return in 2021’

The Kentucky Bank Tennis Championships, Lexington’s annual men’s and women’s professional tournaments played at the University of Kentucky, have been canceled for 2020 because of COVID-19.

After discussions with the USTA, UK, local officials and sponsors, the tournament board felt that it was in the best interest of all parties, as well as the local community, to not hold the event this year. The tournament was scheduled to be played Aug. 3-9.

“The decision to cancel this year’s Kentucky Bank Tennis Championships after 28 consecutive years of this professional tennis tournament in Central Kentucky was difficult but it is the right call,” tournament director Brooks Lundy said in a news release. “This event attracts players from around the world to our backyard and combines amazing tennis with wonderful fan interaction. We all agree that the health and safety of the players, support staff and local community is our top priority and thus our attention now goes toward a big return in 2021.”

The Kentucky Bank Tennis Championships is a USTA Pro Circuit event and is one of the stops leading to the U.S. Open each summer. Tournament alumni include John Isner, Naomi Osaka, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Francis Tiafoe, Lleyton Hewitt and James Blake.

Professional tennis worldwide has been shut down since the start of the pandemic. The hiatus is scheduled to end Aug. 14 with the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., followed the next week by the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.

The U.S. Open is set for Aug. 31-Sept. 13 in New York City and will be this year’s first major since the Australian Open last January. The French Open, normally played in May, was rescheduled for Sept. 27-Oct. 11. Wimbledon was canceled this year.