The Slovenian Tennis Association (TZS) said on Tuesday that the cancellation was a mutual decision reached by the organiser Tenis Slovenija and the principal sponsor, the insurance company Zavarovalnica Sava.

Cancelling the international tournament with the prize fund of US$50,000, its director Aljaž Kos that the "current situation with the coronavirus pandemic does not allow us to organise a safe tournament."

The health of competitors, organisers and all other participants comes first. Unfortunately, the new coronavirus won this year," he added.

Kos explained that the financial investment was too high for the organisers to wait with the cancellation any longer, as cancellation just as the tournament was to begin would be a huge financial blow.

He promised that next year the tournament in the coastal resort of Portorož would be even richer and more attractive.

This is the first time the event has been cancelled since its induction in 2013, but there will be some tennis nevertheless in Portorož in the second half of August as the TZS will organise a national championship for seniors.