"This schedule is completely crazy": Gasquet on crammed restart plans

Having had no events to compete in for months, tennis players now have a lineup of big back-to-back events to play if the tours return as scheduled.

That includes Cincinnati and the US Open, both played in New York, followed by Madrid, Rome and the French Open—seven straight weeks of top-level events.

It's all a bit much for Richard Gasquet, though he understands the position tournaments are in.

"This schedule is completely crazy," he told *Le Parisien*. "So many tournaments in so little time, it's grotesque. But everybody wants to save their tournament. It's normal because it's economically vital. But players will have to make choices, especially the best, who play the most matches."

According to Gasquet, lower-ranked, lower-earning players are likely to try to play most events, while top names will want to avoid going deep at two events in a row. There have been questions about whether a lot of players will choose not to play the US Open, which is implementing extensive safety protocols.

"The No. 100 will go to New York, obviously, but for the others... it seems obvious in any case that it's impossible to compete for the US Open, then Madrid the following week," he said. "Same with Rome, which is the week before the French Open. If you want to win a Grand Slam, you cannot."

Getty Images

The 34-year-old Frenchman says he's recovered from a string of injuries while off the tour. But he still has concerns about resuming play, especially about tournaments being affected by players testing positive for coronavirus during competition.

"Yes, but it's easier for me than No. 100," he said. "There are a lot of questions, few answers. If there are no problems, I will play New York. But if it was tomorrow, I wouldn't."

Still, Gasquet added it was "important that tennis restarts" as sports leagues also get underway, even if there are no fans in the stands.

"It's better to do it than not do it, though it isn't very exciting. And there is TV to broadcast the matches. People have need of sport," he said.

The former three-time Grand Slam semifinalist has returned to competition at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, playing the past two weekends in France. Gasquet, who has been as high as No. 7 in the rankings, currently tops the event's running leaderboard.