Players concerned about earnings during tour suspension, says Chardy

Players want to have a discussion with the tour about earnings and ranking points during the suspension of play for coronavirus, says Jeremy Chardy.

Starting with this week's BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, ATP tournaments including the Miami Open, Monte Carlo and Barcelona have been canceled along with lower level ATP and Challenger events. Players, among others, were generally caught by surprise.

"I thought it was a joke," Chardy told L'Equipe about hearing of the cancellation of Indian Wells. "But the ATP came and confirmed it. Nobody was expecting it."

The 33-year-old Frenchman noted that the suspension reflects the wider effects of the virus.

"The whole economy suffers, and we also suffer," he said, adding he was concerned about potential problems with events like Madrid, Rome and the French Open. "If we cancel our fifth biggest tournament like this, it's because we expect we are going to have difficult moments."

Chardy, whose wife, Susan, recently had their first child, will have just three events in six months if play does not restart as scheduled. Players do not earn if they don't play, he said, and his fellow pros have been in the same position.

"I no longer know, actually, if I am unemployed, on paternity leave, or a tennis player," said Chardy. "Many players want to talk about it. It's not our fault what's going on. If many tournaments are canceled, it can be difficult if you're not an employee. And for ATP points, it can also be complicated."

Chardy wants ranking points from tournaments not to drop off while no tournaments are being played.

The tour has not announced any ranking adjustments or supplementary earnings for players.