The hard-court tournament in the nation�s capital that was supposed to mark the official return of men�s professional tennis amid the pandemic was scrapped Tuesday � but the group in charge of the U.S. Open immediately said the tuneup�s cancellation �in no way impacts� its Grand Slam event.

The Citi Open, scheduled to start with Aug. 13 qualifying, was called off because of what tournament manager Mark Ein said are �too many unresolved external issues, including various international travel restrictions as well as troubling health and safety trends.�
Calling the cancellation of the Washington tournament �disappointing,� ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: �Unfortunately for the moment, there are still large factors at play, which are outside of our control.�

The men�s and women�s pro tours both have been suspended since March because of the COVID-19 outbreak and have been eyeing a return to action next month. The first event on the most recently announced version of the sport's 2020 slate is a women�s clay-court tournament in Palermo, Italy, starting Aug. 3, and WTA spokeswoman Amy Binder said Tuesday that tour's �provisional calendar remains on course to proceed at this time.�

�Our current approach to the season is to provide opportunities where possible irrespective of travel restrictions,� Binder wrote in an email, �so that as many players that do have the ability and desire to travel can compete during this unique and difficult time.�

As of now, the week of Aug. 10 includes women's tournaments in Lexington, Kentucky � where 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams is among the announced entrants � and the Czech Republic. But no official men's competition.