2020 Fed Cup Finals  postponed

The 2020 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals have been postponed by the ITF in response to COVID-19 health concerns. The ITF remains committed to holding the event, which was scheduled for April 14-19 in Budapest, at a later date in 2020.

The announcement comes on the heels of the Hungarian government's ordering a state of emergency for the country, including a ban on indoor events with more than 100 people attending.

Team USA became one of 12 teams to qualify for the finals, after a 3-2 win over Latvia in a February qualifier. A star-studded team featured in that tie in Everett, Wash., with Serena Williams, Sonya Kenin, Alison Riske, Coco Gauff and Bethanie Mattek-Sands all on captain Kathy Rinaldi's squad. The U.S. team for the finals has not been named.

The Fed Cup playoffs, which were set for April 17-18 at eight locations throughout the world, have also been postponed.

"We are extremely disappointed to have to make this decision, but we will not risk the safety and welfare of players, captains, event staff or spectators," said ITF President David Haggerty. "This decision has not been made lightly; the threat posed by the COVID-19 is a serious one and calls for us to act responsibly as a federation and as human beings. This situation goes beyond sport.

“New dates for the Finals and for the playoffs will be announced in due course and will primarily be guided by the length of time that tennis as a whole is affected by COVID-19. We will continue to collaborate with our colleagues across the sport to ensure that the impact on players, tournaments, rights holders and fans is as minimal as possible. 

“In the meantime, the ITF COVID-19 Advisory Group will continue to monitor the situation closely, and further decisions will be based on the facts, official data and expert advice.”