By Erik Gudris
The European clay court season, with two events in Kitzbuhel and Istanbul, resumes this week. That’s even as the US Open enters its second week of competition over in New York.
With Roland Garros now starting at the end of September, players are already getting their shoes dirty on the red clay in lead up tournaments to Paris.
More: Roland Garros To Cap Attendance
In Kitzbuhel, Austria, the Generali Open is the first ATP 250 men’s event to take place since the shutdown.
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Kei Nishikori played his first match since last year’s US Open and after undergoing elbow surgery in October. Nishikori planned to play at the US Open before testing positive for COVID-19.
The former US Open finalist then tested negative a few days later, but decided to focus on the upcoming clay court events.
“After such a long break I feel that returning in a best of 5 long-match setting is not smart until I am fully ready to do so," Nishikori's said on his website. "It's disappointing as I love the US Open and have great memories there. I will start on the clay. Thank you.”
Though he lost his first-round singles match to Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, he’s also competing in the doubles with fellow countryman Yoshihito Nishioka.
Top seed Fabio Fognini will play his first event since Dubai back in February. The Italian recently underwent ankle surgery in May.
Other top players in the men’s draw include Diego Schwartzman and Jannik Sinner.
The WTA resumes at the TEB BNP Paribas Tennis Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. This WTA international event features a 32 player singles draw.
Top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova will face off in her second round match against Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard.
Other top seeds include Rebecca Peterson, Polona Hercog, and Caroline Garcia.
Photo credit: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters Facebook