Coronavirus Outbreak: Rogers Cup called off due to Quebec's restrictions on sporting events, says Tennis Canada

The Rogers Cup women’s tennis tournament will not be played this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [caption id=“attachment_8125961” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Tennis Canada announced Saturday that the event, scheduled for 7-16 August in Montreal, is off the schedule. Quebec’s government announced Friday that no sporting events could be held through 31 August, though it left the door slightly open for pro teams. “At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis we were hoping that the situation would be resolved in time to be able to host our tournament as initially planned on the calendar, but we knew that the chances were getting smaller and smaller in recent weeks,” Montreal tournament director Eugene Lapierre said in a statement. “Our priority in the management of this crisis has always been to ensure the safety and well-being of our players, fans, volunteers, partners and employees. It is thus with a heavy heart that we received this news, but we understand that this decision was necessary.” Tennis Canada says the women’s event will return to Montreal in August 2021. The women’s and men’s Rogers Cup traditionally rotate between Toronto and Montreal. As of Saturday, the men’s event in Toronto in August was still on the schedule. **_Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak_**