Orleans challenger postponed but other French events stay on schedule

The ATP Challenger event in Orleans has been postponed because of local government restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but another French event will fill in on the schedule.

Organizers of the tournament called it a "big disappointment" in an interview with the TennisMajors website, but said they were still looking to hold at least one edition this season. The 125 event was scheduled to be played the first week of February, but could now be rescheduled to April, and is still scheduled for its usual slot in September.

But the 100 ATP Challenger in Quimper, scheduled the week before Orleans, will now hold two back-to-back events, though it will be played with no crowds. The final of the 100 event will be brought forward by a day, and an 80 ATP Challenger event added to the following week.

The Cherbourg challenger, scheduled the week following Orleans, is also on course. No. 71 Lucas Pouille—who is not playing the Australian Open and underwent elbow surgery last summer—is entered for both events, as is 2020 French Open breakthrough Hugo Gaston.

The three events had been part of a reorganized challenger schedule for the first two months of season.

There is also a WTA event in Lyon the first week of March, with organizers confirming the dates but "the possibility of having the public depends on the restrictions in place" during the tournament.

Sofia Kenin is scheduled to be the top seed in the field.