Players will be fresh but lack rhythm when they return, says Lepchenko

Since the WTA tour was suspended by the coronavirus pandemic, Varvara Lepchenko has been staying at her home in Pennsylvania.

The 33-year-old, who is coached by her dad Peter, is working out and practicing in an empty park. She is assuming she'll be staying where she is for a while.

“I don’t really see us playing anything till next year. Perhaps we will have smaller events, but it’s hard to envision that any Grand Slam or the Olympic Games will take place,” Lepchenko told TENNIS.com last week. “I personally would love to see at least the US Open. People will be very fresh! But definitely without any rhythm. Tennis is a game of rhythm and playing tournament matches helps in that aspect.

"[But] this is tough moments that we are facing.”

For now, the veteran must content with recalling some of the best wins of her career. In 2012 at the French Open, she upset No. 14 seed and 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone in the third round—8-6 in the third set. Four months later, the American reached a career-high ranking of No. 19.

“That match was my whole career!,” she said.

She also reached the fourth round at the 2015 US Open, and particularly enjoyed upending former No. 2 Aga Radwanska at Stanford, saying of the latter, “I finally beat her mentally.”

Those types of contests are what keep Lepchenko on tour.

“I love playing with the big crowd and when the match is really tight, you have to dig deep in order to win,” she said.

Until those crowds are gathering again, Lepchenko will train in the park, by herself.